We fired again, but they had planted their ladders. Before we could
snatch the loaded muskets from the women a dozen painted figures
appeared above the sharpened stakes. A moment, and they and a
score behind them had leaped down upon us.
It was no time now to skulk behind a palisade. At all hazards, that
tide from the forest must be stemmed. Those that were amongst us
we might kill, but more were swarming after them, and from the
neck came the exultant yelling of madly hurrying reinforcements.
We flung open the gates. I drove my sword through the heart of an
Indian who would have opposed me, and, calling for men to follow
me, sprang forward. Perhaps thirty came at my call; together we
made for the opening. A party of the savages in our midst
interposed. We set upon them with sword and musket butt, and
though they fought like very devils drove them before us through
the gateway. Behind us were wild clamor, the shrieking of women,
the stern shouts of the English, the whooping of the savages;
before us a rush that must be met and turned.
It was done. A moment's fierce fighting, then the Indians wavered,
broke, and fled. Like sheep we drove them before us, across the
neck, to the edge of the forest, into which they plunged. Into that
ambush we cared not to follow, but fell back to the palisade and
the town, believing, and with reason, that the lesson had been
taught.
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