With the darkness of night a certain degree of anxiety came over us, for we knew not what devilish plan the Indians might hit upon; I placed sentries in every corner of the block-house, and we waited in silence; while our enemies, having lighted a large fire, cooked their victuals, and though we could not hear the import of their words, it was evident that they considered the post as in their power.  Half of them, however, laid down to sleep, and towards midnight the stillness was uninterrupted by any sound, whilst their half-burnt logs ceased to throw up their bright flames.  Knowing how busy we should be in the morning, I thought that till then I could not do better than refresh myself by a few hours’ repose.  I was mistaken.

I had scarcely closed my eyes when I heard the dull regular noise of the axe upon trees.  I looked cautiously; the sounds proceeded from the distance, and upon the shores of the river, and behind the camp of the savages, dark forms were moving in every direction, and we at last discovered that the Umbiquas were making ladders to scale the upper doors of our little towers.

This, of course, was to us a matter of little or no consideration, as we were well prepared to receive them:  yet we determined not to let them know our strength within until the last moment, when we should be certain with our firearms to bring down five of them at the first discharge.  Our Indians took their bows and selected only such arrows as were used by their children when fishing, so that the hostile party might attribute their wounds and the defence of their buildings to a few bold and resolute boys.

At morn, the Umbiquas made their appearance with two ladders, each carried by three men, while others were lingering about and giving directions, more by sign than word.  They often looked towards the loop-holes, but the light of day was yet too faint for their glances to detect us; and besides, they were lulled into perfect security by the dead silence we had kept during the whole night.  Indeed, they thought the boat-house had been deserted, and the certain degree of caution with which they proceeded was more the effect of savage cunning and nature than the fear of being seen or of meeting with any kind of resistance.

The two ladders were fixed against one of the towers, and an Indian ascended upon each; at first they cast an inquisitive glance through the holes upon both sides of the door, but we concealed ourselves.  Then all the Umbiquas formed in a circle round the ladders, with their bows and spears, watching the loop-holes.  At the chiefs command, the first blows were struck, and the Indians on the ladders began to batter both doors with their tomahawks.  While in the act of striking for the third time, the Umbiqua on the eastern door staggered and fell down the ladder; his breast had been pierced by an arrow.  At the same moment, a loud scream from the other tower showed that there also we had had the same success.