nearly midnight before
He felt sure that the Indians would prolong the siege for some time , as they would be sure that no re-enforcements could possibly arrive in aid of the garrison . Moreover , he by no means felt so sure as he had pretended to his companion of the power of the defenders of the house to maintain a successful resistance to so large a number of their savage foes . In the daylight he felt certain they could beat them off , but darkness neutralizes the effect both of superior arms and better marksmanship . It was nearly midnight before he lay down with the determination to sleep , but scarcely had he done so when he was aroused by an outburst of distant firing . Although six or seven miles from the scene of the encounter , the sound of each discharge came distinct to the ear along the smooth surface of the lake , and he could even hear , mingled with the musketry fire , the faint yells of the Indians . For hours , as it seemed to him , he sat listening to the distant contest , and then he , unconsciously to himself , dozed off to sleep , and awoke with a start , to find Nelly sitting up beside him and the sun streaming down through the boughs . He started to his feet .