The report had scarcely died away ere it was repeated and repeated from without in a scattering volley , shot behind shot , like a string of geese , from every side of the enclosure . Several bullets struck the log-house , but not one entered ; and as the smoke cleared away and vanished , the stockade and the woods around it looked as quiet and empty as before . Not a bough waved , not the gleam of a musket-barrel betrayed the presence of our foes . `` Did you hit your man ? '' asked the captain . `` No , sir , '' replied Joyce . `` I believe not , sir . '' `` Next best thing to tell the truth , '' muttered Captain Smollett . `` Load his gun , Hawkins . How many should say there were on your side , doctor ? '' `` I know precisely , '' said Dr. Livesey . `` Three shots were fired on this side . I saw the three flashes -- two close together -- one farther to the west . '' `` Three ! '' repeated the captain . `` And how many on yours , Mr. Trelawney ? '' But this was not so easily answered . There had come many from the north -- seven by the squire 's computation , eight or nine according to Gray . From the east and west only a single shot had been fired . It was plain , therefore , that the attack would be developed from the north and that on the other three sides we were only to be annoyed by a show of hostilities .
But Captain XXXXX made no change in his arrangements .
Hawkins Joyce Livesey Smollett Trelawney attack captain computation sir stockade