Richmond planet. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1883-1938, 1906-09-29

Eight 90 thc eDccft.g party lrcrc ran
ning nth their hcuds bcnt
had best have all ready TO retire to the
house II they carry the stockade We
can scarce hope TO hold 1t when they
are twenty 10 one"
"All Is ready"
"And with our cannon we can keep
their-canoes from passing. so we might
send our women away tonight"
Il had intended 20 do so. VIII you
take charge OF the north side7 You
might come across 20 me with ten Of
your men now"
The firing came IN one continuous
rattle now from the edge Of the wood.
and the air was full Of bullets The
assailants were all trained shots. men
who had lived by their guns and 70
whom a shaking hand or n dim eve
meant poverty and hunger on the
other hand. the defenders were also
skilled in Indian lighting and wise In
every trick and lure which could pro-
tcct themselves or tempt their enemies
10 show. They Kept well 10 the sides
or the loopholes. watching through 1T
tie crevices OF the wood and firing
swiftly when a chance offered red
leg sticking straight up into the air
from behind a log showed where one
bullet at least had gone home. but
there was little 10 aim at save pun
and dash from among the leaves or the
shadowy figure OF a warrior seen for
an instant as he darted from one tree
trunk 10 the other. Seven OF the Cana
dams had already been hit, but only
three were mortally wounded. The
other four still kept manfully TO their
loopholes. The women sat IN n line
upon the ground. beneath the level OF
the holes. each with a saucerful OF bull
lets and canister OF powder passing
up the loaded guns to the lighting men
At first the attack had been all upon
the south face. but us fresh bodies OF
the lroquols came up their line spread
and heightened until the whole east
lace was grit with ire. which gradual
~ developed the north also The fort
was hinged in by "A great loop Of smoke
save only where the broad river flowed
past them. over near the farther bank
the canoes We're lurking. and one. man
ned by ten warriors. attempted 20 pass
up the stream. but a good shot from
the brass gun dashed in her side and
sank her while a second Of grape left
only four OF the swimmers. whose high
scalp locks stood out above the water
like the back fms OF some strange fish.
On the inland side. however, the selgn-
eur had ordered the cannon 10 be
served no more. for the broad embra-
sures drew the enemys fire, and OF the
men who had been struck half were
among those who worked the guns
The old nobleman strutted about
with his white ruffles and his clouded
cane behind the line OF parched, smoke
grimed men. tapping his snunbox and
shooting out his little jests.
What do you think of it. Du Lhut?"
he asked.
They seem TO be drawing closer
upon the east face. and / think that
they will make rush there before
long" said Du Lhut.
The fire had indeed grown much
hercer upon the side which was de-
Tended by De Catinat. and it was plain
that the main force OF the IroQuois
was gathered at that point. From
every log and trunk and cleft and
bush came the red flash with the gray
halo, and the bullets sang in contin-
uous stream through the loopholes.
Amos had whitfield little hole for
himself about foot above the ground
and lay upon his face. loading and
firing in his own quiet, methodical
fashion Beside him stood Ephraim
Savage. his mouth set grimly. his eyes
flashing from under his down drawn
brows and his whole soul absorbed IN
the shifting OF the Amalekites. De
Catinat was bearing himself Ike an
experienced soldier, walking up and
down among his men with short words
OF praise or precept-those fire words,
rough and blunt. which bring a glow
10 the heart and a flush 10 the cheek.
Seven OF his men We're down, but as
the attack grew iercer upon ais side
1t slackened upon the others. and the
seigneur. with his son and Du Lhut.
brought ten men to reinforce him. De
la Nouc was holding out his snuffbcx
10 De Catinat when a shrili scream
from behind them made them both
look round Omega. the Indian wife.
was wringing her hands over thu body