Grant County herald. [volume] (Lancaster, Wis.) 1850-1968, 1890-11-20

AZzs -
THE MOHAWK CHIEF MUTTERED IN his
EAR.
Mohawks in reserve. The stars began
TO pale, yet the two scouts had not re-
turned. In the gray dawn the little
army was invisible behind the breast
works Brant, gliding to the side of
the commander, pointed to an object
like dusky mist creeping along tho
ground and over the rocks; then it broke
into fragments, still crouching like
wolves
Reserve fire till they reach the
creekw whispered Selwyn, and the
order ran along the line. Still the wolf
ish pack came on, until within a few
PAGES Of the stream, tall figure sprang
to the front waving a tomahawk. In
stantly the war-whoop burst with vol
canic echoes, each crouehing figure
stood erect and sprang forward with the
ecstacy of assured triumph.
Fire. shouted Selwyn, and long
line Of red light fringed theredoubt, and
the sharp, cracking roar Of hundred
rifles drowned the charging yell, and
while the serried ranks one after an
other poured in their deadly showers,
the Mohawk reserve sprang through the
canopy of smoke and completed the rout
Of the terror-stricken foe.
When the smoke cleared away, Selwyn
was surprised TO see Renwick and Ariel
at his side. I'VE came in behind the
nd l. !.
on the ground when the firing began.
The redskins passed over us in their
hasty retreat, not having time to inves-
tigate or to take our scalps along with
them, and here we are, tired and hun
cry"
The sun came up and showed the re-
suit of the conflict The banks of the
creek were thiokly strewn with the bod
les of the slain, while the rocky span
between IL and the woods was dotted
with the forms of men arrested in their
flight by the tomahawk or knife of the
pursuing Mohawks.
ut is not often that the redskins fall
into such trap" said Renwick, land /
congratulate you on your success; but
this is not the end Of the campaign,
my afriend, and VIC will soon have a
more determined foe to deal with. Ariel
and | found their camp, and | think
there must be at least two hundred
French regulars there"
How do you account for their not aid
ing their allies in their attack?" asked
Selwyn.
We'll, the Indian is usually cautious
enough; but he is also jealous of the
white man, and when he thinks he sees
chance to steal march on him and snatch
his laurels and a few scalps. he is apt to
lose his head. But the Frenchman has
the laugh on him this time"
I'VE must strike while the iron is
hot, cried Selwyn; I'VE will attack the
enemy at once before the Indians re-
cover from their panic"
The Mohawks, struggling in from the
pursuit, were collected by their chief.
while the rangers, flushed with victory,
were eager for another dash at the enc
my. These, marching in open order,
while the Mohawks formed skirmish
line in front, forded the creek and
moved forward silently TO the attack.
1t was apparent that the decentralization
of the redskins was complete. for the
attacking force met with no impediment
until, within few hundred yards of the
French camp, the Mohawks drove in the
outposts.
The French. though taken by sur
prise, and having no breastworks to
check their assailants, fell into ranks
with the instinct of veterans, and pre-
sented a serried front before which the
Indians recoiled for moment and
cleared the way for the rangers who
came on steadily and delivered volley,
which the French returned and then
charged with the bayonet; but the
steady fire of rifles which were not
aimed at random checked their advance
while the Mohawks with Brant at their
head stormed their TANKS with toma-
hawk and rife. Retiring slowly with
their faces to the foe. they gained the
shelter of the heavy timber, which aid
ed their retreat. Sclwyn halted his
rangers and left the pursuit to the Mo-
hawks.
at is my belief, said Renwick, .sthat
this is the advance guard of stronger
force, TO whom the redskins fled whom
you defeated this morning, instead of
reinforcing these regulars
Late in the afternoon the Mohawks
returned with the news that they had
pursued the enemy within the lines of a
force the numbers of which could not be
estimated. A council of officers was
called 10 whom Selwyn submitted the
alternatives of an immediate march to
~.
position and send q messenger to the
fort for instructions. The latter pro-
posal found favor with the majority, as
Renwick suggested that they would
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