Now it rushed upon him that if he would escape the wrath of the maddened creoles and the vengeance of Alice's lover, he must quickly throw himself upon the mercy of Clark.
It was his only hope.

He chafed inwardly, but bore himself with stern coolness.

He presently sought Farnsworth, pulled him aside and suggested that something must be done to prevent an assault and a massacre.

The sounds outside seemed to forebode a gathering for a desperate rush, and in his heart he felt all the terrors of awful anticipation.
"We are completely at their mercy, that is plain," he said, shrugging his shoulders and gazing at the wounded men writhing in their agony.
"What do you suggest ?" Captain Farnsworth was a shrewd officer.

He recollected that Philip Dejean, justice of Detroit, was on his way down the Wabash from that post, and probably near at hand, with a flotilla of men and supplies.
Why not ask for a few days of truce?
It could do no harm, and if agreed to, might be their salvation.