第98章

The crest of the earthwork was lined with fierce, dark faces, and here and there among the brown Iroquois were the green uniforms of the Royalists.

Henry saw both Thayendanegea and Timmendiquas, the plumes in their hair waving aloft, and he felt sure that wherever they stood the battle would be thickest.

The Americans were now pushing forward their cannon, six three-pounders and two howitzers, the howitzers, firing five-and-a-half-inch shells, new and terrifying missiles to the Indians.The guns were wheeled into position, and the first howitzer was fired.It sent its great shell in a curving line at and over the embankment, where it burst with a crash, followed by a shout of mingled pain and awe.Then the second howitzer, aimed well like the first, sent a shell almost to the same point, and a like cry came back.

Shif'less Sol, watching the shots, jumped up and down in delight.

"That's the medicine!" he cried."I wonder how you like that, you Butlers an' Johnsons an' Wyatts an' Mohawks an' all the rest o' your scalp-taking crew! Ah, thar goes another! This ain't any Wyomin'!"The three-pounders also opened fire, and sent their balls squarely into the rifle pits and the Indian camp.The Iroquois replied with a shower of rifle bullets and a defiant war whoop, but the bullets fell short, and the whoop hurt no one.

The artillery, eight pieces, was served with rapidity and precision, while the riflemen, except on their flanks, where they were more closely engaged, were ordered to hold their fire.The spectacle was to Henry and his comrades panoramic in its effect.

They watched the flashes of fire from the mouths of the cannon, the flight of the great shells, and the bank of smoke which soon began to lower like a cloud over the field.They could picture to themselves what was going on beyond the earthwork, the dead falling, the wounded limping away, earth and trees torn by shell and shot.They even fancied that they could hear the voices of the great chiefs, Thayendanegea and Timmendiquas, encouraging their men, and striving to keep them in line against a fire not as deadly as rifle bullets at close quarters, but more terrifying.

Presently a cloud of skirmishers issued once more from the Indian camp, creeping among the trees and bushes, and seeking a chance to shoot down the men at the guns.But sharp eyes were watching them.

"Come, boys," exclaimed Henry."Here's work for us now."He led the scouts and the best of the riflemen against the skirmishers, who were soon driven in again.The artillery fire had never ceased for a moment, the shells and balls passing over their heads.Their work done, the sharpshooters fell back again, the gunners worked faster for a while, and then at a command they ceased suddenly.Henry, Paul, and all the others knew instinctively what was going to happen.They felt it in every bone of them.The silence so sudden was full of meaning.

"Now!" Henry found himself exclaiming.Even at that moment the order was given, and the whole army rushed forward, the smoke floating away for the moment and the sun flashing off the bayonets.The five sprang up and rushed on ahead.A sheet of flame burst from the embankment, and the rifle pits sprang into fire.The five beard the bullets whizzing past them, and the sudden cries of the wounded behind them, but they never ceased to rush straight for the embankment.

It seemed to Henry that he ran forward through living fire.

There was one continuous flash from the earthwork, and a continuous flash replied.The rifles were at work now, thousands of them, and they kept up an incessant crash, while above them rose the unbroken thunder of the cannon.The volume of smoke deepened, and it was shot through with the sharp, pungent odor of burned gunpowder.

Henry fired his rifle and pistol, almost unconsciously reloaded, and fired again, as he ran, and then noticed that the advance had never ceased.It had not been checked even for a moment, and the bayonets of one of the regiments glittered in the sun a straight line of steel.

Henry kept his gaze fixed upon a point where the earthwork was lowest.He saw there the plumed head of Thayendanegea, and he intended to strike if he could.He saw the Mohawk gesticulating and shouting to his men to stand fast and drive back the charge.

He believed even then, and he knew later, that Thayendanegea and Timmendiquas were showing courage superior to that of the Johnsons and Butters or any of their British and Canadian allies.

The two great chiefs still held their men in line, and the Iroquois did not cease to send a stream of bullets from the earthwork.

Henry saw the brown faces and the embankment coming closer and closer.He saw the face of Braxton Wyatt appear a moment, and he snapped his empty pistol at it.But it was hidden the next instant behind others, and then they were at the embankment.He saw the glowing faces of his comrades at his side, the singular figure of Heemskerk revolving swiftly, and behind them the line of bayonets closing in with the grimness of fate.

Henry leaped upon the earthwork.An Indian fired at him point blank, and he swung heavily with his clubbed rifle.Then his comrades were by his side, and they leaped down into the Indian camp.After them came the riflemen, and then the line of bayonets.Even then the great Mohawk and the great Wyandot shouted to their men to stand fast, although the Royal Greens and the Rangers had begun to run, and the Johnsons, the Butlers, McDonald, Wyatt, and the other white men were running with them.

Henry, with the memory of Wyoming and all the other dreadful things that had come before his eyes, saw red.He was conscious of a terrible melee, of striking again and again with his clubbed rifle, of fierce brown faces before him, and of Timmendiquas and Thayedanegea rushing here and there, shouting to their warriors, encouraging them, and exclaiming that the battle was not lost.