Frostburg mining journal. [volume] (Frostburg, Md.) 1871-1913, 1884-05-03

fallen back, and he was safe from
their fire. The scout set the example
Of pressing on their retreat, by dis
charging his rifle, and dartlng from
tree to tree, as his enemy slowly
yielded ground.
1t would seem that the assault had
been made by very small party of
the Hurons, which, however, con-
tinued to increase In numbers, until
the return fire was nearly, if not
quite, equal to that maintained by
the advancing Delawares. Hayward
threw himself among the combatants
and made quick discharges with his
own rifle. The contest now grew
warm and stationary. Few were in
jured, as both parties kept their
bodies close behind the trees. But
the chances were gradually growing
unfavorable to Hawk-eye and his
band. The quick-sighted scout per-
ceived his danger, without knowing
how to remedy it. He saw it was
more dangerous to retreat than to
maintain his ground while he found
his enemy throwing out men on his
flank, which rendered the task of
keeping themselves covered SO very
difficult to the Delawares, as nearly
to silence their fire. At this em-
barassing moment, when they began
the whole of the hostile tribe was
gradually cncircling them, they
heard the yell Of combatants, and the
rattling of arms, echoing under the
arches of the wood, at the place where
Uncas was posted; bottom which,
in a manner, lay beneath the ground
on which Hawk-eye and his party
were contending.
The effects of this attack were in
stantaneous, and the scout and his
friends greatly relieved. 1t would
seem that, while his own surprise had
been anticipated, and consequently
failed, the enemy, in their turn hav-
ing been deceived in its object and
in his numbers, had left too small
force to resist the impetuous onset of
the young Mohican. This fact was
doubly apparent, by the rapid man
ner in which the battle in the forest
rolled upwards to the village, by an
instant falling off in the number of
their assailants, who rushed to assist
in maintaining the front, and, as it
now proved to be, the principal point
of defence.
Animating his followers by his
voice, and his own example, Hawk
eye then gave the word to bear down
upon their foes. The charge, in that
rude species of warfare, consisted
merely in pushing from cover to
cover, higher to the enemy; and in
this maneuvre he was instantly and
successfully obeyed. The Hurons
were compelled to withdraw, and the
scene of the contest rapidly changed
from the more open ground on which
it had commenced, to the spot where
the assailed found q thicket to rest
upon. Here the struggle was pro-
tracted, arduous, and seemingly of
doubtful issue; the Delawares, though
none of them fell, beginning to bleed
freely, in consequence of the disad-
vantages at which they were held.
In this crisis, Hawk-eye found
means to get behind the same tree
as that which served for q cover to
Hayward; most of his own combat
ants being within call, little on his
right, where they maintained rapid,
though fruitless discharge on their
sheltered enemies.
"You are young man, major"
said the scout, dropping the butt of
"Kill-deer" to the earth, and leaning
on the barrel, a little fatigued with
his previous industry; "and it may
be your gift to lead armies at some
future day, ag'in these imps, the Min
goes. You may here see the philos-
ophy of an Indian fight. 1t consists
mainly, in ready hand, Il quick eye
and good cover. Now if you had
a company of Royal Americans here,
in what manner would you set them
to work in this business"
"The bayonet would make road"
GAY, there is white reason in what
you say but a man must ask HIM
self, in this wilderness, how many
lives he can spare. No-horse"*
continued the scout, shaking his head,
"horse, l am ashamed to say, must