"
"All trained warriors and soldiers. And at the best we cannot
raise more than three hundreds including old men and boys, and
our men, too, are farmers."
"But we can beat them. Only give us a chance, Colonel!"
exclaimed Captain Ransom.
"I'm afraid the chance will come too soon," said Colonel Butler,
and then turning to the five: "Help us all you can. We need
scouts and riflemen. Come to the fort for any food and
ammunition you may need."
The five gave their most earnest assurances that they would stay,
and do all in their power. In fact, they had come for that very
purpose. Satisfied now that Colonel Butler and his officers had
implicit faith in them they went forth to find that, despite the
night and the darkness, fugitives were already crossing the river
to seek refuge in Forty Fort, bringing with them tales of death
and devastation, some of which were exaggerated, but too many
true in all their hideous details. Men had been shot and scalped
in the fields, houses were burning, women and children were
captives for a fate that no one could foretell. Red ruin was
already stalking down the valley.
The farmers were bringing their wives and children in canoes and
dugouts across the river.
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