or his
courage. He showed on that morning all the qualities of a great general.
He rallied the warriors and posted them in bands here and there.
Hundreds threw themselves upon the ground, and from that less exposed
position sent their bullets into the charging force. Timmendiquas
himself stood near the center with the veterans, Red Eagle and Yellow
Panther, on either side of him. He scorned to seek cover, but remained,
at his full height, where all could see him, shouting his orders and
directing the battle. Behind him were the renegades firing their rifles,
but protecting themselves, with the caution upon which they had
resolved.

Henry and his comrades kept their place in the front of the charge, and,
according to their plan, close together. The darkness was now lighted up
so much by the incessant firing that the boy could see very well not
only the long line of his friends, but the black masses of the enemy as
well. He felt the resistance harden as they came into the prairie, and
he knew that the Indians had been rallied. He thought he heard the voice
of Timmendiquas calling to them, and then he believed that it was only
his fancy. Because he knew that Timmendiquas would do it, his active
brain made a picture of him doing it.

He was suddenly seized and pulled down by the strong arms of Tom Ross.
All his comrades were already stretched flat upon the earth. The next
instant a great volley was fired by the Indians. The bullets from
hundreds of rifles swept over their heads, and many struck true behind
them. Some men fell, and others staggered back, wounded. There were
cries and groans.

The Indian yell, poured from many throats, arose. It was long,
high-pitched, and it seemed to Henry that it had in it a triumphant
note. They had stopped the white advance, and they were exulting. But
the little army, rising up, rushed forward again, and then threw itself
flat upon its face once more to escape the withering fire of the
Indians. From their own recumbent position the white men replied,
sending in the bullets fast.

It was a confused and terrible scene in the intermittent light and
darkness, white men and red men shouting together in their deadly
struggle. The front of the conflict lengthened, and the clouds of smoke
drifted all through the forest. It entered the throats and lungs of the
combatants, and they coughed without knowing it.

Henry lay long on the ground, pushing forward a few feet at a time,
loading and