Chapter 23 - Page 2

line, the savages were finally beaten back, from
stump to stump, from hillock to hillock, and fence to fence, until they
had fairly entered the margin of the forest. Further the experienced eye
of the borderer saw he could not follow. Many of his men were bleeding,
and growing weaker as their wounds still flowed. The protection of the
trees gave the enemy too great an advantage for their position to be
forced, and destruction would have been the inevitable consequence of the
close struggle which must have followed a charge. In this stage of the
combat, Dudley began to cast anxious and inquiring looks behind him. He
saw that support was not to be expected, and he also saw, with regret,
that many of the women and children were still busy, transporting
necessaries from the village into the fort. Falling back to a better line
of covers, and to a distance that materially lessened the danger of the
arrows, the weapons used by quite two-thirds of his enemies, he awaited,
in sullen silence, the proper moment to effect a further retreat.

It was while the party of Dudley stood thus at bay, that a fierce yell
rung in the arches of the forest. It was an exclamation of pleasure,
uttered in the wild manner of those people; as if the tenants of the woods
were animated by some sudden and general impulse of joy. The crouching
yeomen regarded each other in uneasiness, but seeing no sign of wavering
in the steady mien of their leader, each man kept close, awaiting some
further exhibition of the devices of their foes. Ere another minute had
passed, two warriors appeared at the margin of the wood, where they stood
apparently in contemplation of the different scenes that were acting in
various parts of the valley. More than one musket was levelled with intent
to injure them, but a sign from Dudley prevented attempts that would most
probably have been frustrated by the never-slumbering vigilance of a North
American Indian.

There was however something in the air and port of these two
individuals, that had its share in producing the forbearance of Dudley.
They were evidently both chiefs, and of far more than usual estimation.
As was common with the military leaders of the Indians, they were men
also of large and commanding stature. Viewed at the distance from which
they were seen, one seemed a warrior who had reached the meridian of his
days, while the other had the lighter step and more flexible movement of
a much briefer existence. Both were well armed, and, as was usual with
people of their origin on the war-path, they were clad only in the
customary scanty covering of waist-cloths and leggings. The former,
however, were of scarlet, and the latter were rich in the fringes and
bright colors of Indian ornaments. The elder of the