"
"We've dried the muskets after a fashion," said Collins,
as he now approached Jackson and Philips. "Give us a
cartridge, and let's see if we can't match the varmint
at that sort of work." Then, having loaded, he, without
asking the corporal's permission, leaned his musket
against the tree, and taking a steady aim at the man who
had fired from the point first noticed by Weston, drew
the trigger.
The shot had evidently taken effect, for two other Indians
were now seen going to the assistance of their comrade,
whom they raised from the ground (where all had secreted
themselves after the yell), and hurried to the rear.
A loud cheer burst from the lips of Collins, which was
answered immediately by the whole of the savages, who,
from various contiguous points, sprang again to their
feet, and vociferating the war-whoop, dashed into the
river nearly up to their necks, seemingly thirsting to
overcome the only obstacle which prevented them from
getting at their desired victims.
But, at the very moment, when several of them were holding
their rifles aloft with their right hand, securing their
powder-horns between their teeth, while Corporal Nixon
issued to his men injunctions, not to pull another trigger
until the savages should begin to swim, to the astonishment
of all, came the sullen and unusual booming of the cannon
from the Fort.
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