r dropped from his grasp.
Browne promptly set his foot upon it, and the owner, astonished and
mortified, rather than intimidated at his repulse, shrunk back without
any attempt to regain it.

This attack was so sudden, and so soon foiled--being but a blow aimed,
parried, and returned, in a single breath--that no one on either side
had an opportunity to interfere or join in it. The other savages now
uttered a yell, and were about to rush upon us: but the leader, as he
appeared to be, motioned them back, and they drew off to a short
distance. If we were for a moment inclined to hope that we should now
be left unmolested, we soon learned the groundlessness of such an
expectation. The discomfited savage, instead of being discouraged by
the rough treatment he had received, was only rendered more dangerous
and resolute by it; and he prepared to renew the attack at once, having
taken from one of his companions a club somewhat heavier and longer than
his own.

"I wish," said Max, drawing a long breath as he eyed these ominous
proceedings, "that we had a few of Colt's revolvers, to keep these
fellows at a respectable distance: I confess I don't like the notion of
coming to such close quarters with them as they seem to contemplate."

"A genuine Yankee wish!" answered Browne, grasping his club with both
hands, and planting himself firmly, to receive the expected onset; "to
make it completely in character you have only to wish, in addition, for
a mud breastwork, or a few cotton bags, between us and our friends
yonder."

"Which I do, with all my heart!" responded Max, fervently.

"Let Kaiser Maximilien represent the high Dutch on this occasion," said
Morton, edging himself forward abreast of Browne, who had stationed
himself a trifle in advance of the rest of us; "he has no claim to speak
for the Yankees except the mere accident of birth. Archer and I will
uphold the honour of the stars and stripes without either revolvers or
cotton bags."

"Fair play!" cried Max, pushing Browne aside, "I won't have you for a
breastwork at any rate, however much I may desire one of turf or cotton
bales." And we arranged ourselves side by side.

"Really," said Morton, with a faint apology for a smile, "it appears
that we have to do with tacticians--they are going to outflank us."
This remark was caused by our antagonists separating themselves; the
leader advancing directly towards us, while the others approached, two
on the right and tw