Jones fed the children once each day, against the trapper's advice.
One day, while Rea was absent, a dozen braves succeeded in forcing an entrance, and clamored so fiercely, and threatened so desperately, that Jones was on the point of giving them food when the door opened to admit Rea.
With a glance he saw the situation.

He dropped the bucket he carried, threw the door wide open and commenced action.

Because of his great bulk he seemed slow, but every blow of his sledge-hammer fist knocked a brave against the wall, or through the door into the snow.

When he could reach two savages at once, by way of diversion, he swung their heads together with a crack.

They dropped like dead things.