"That's something," said Henry. "One or two Iroquois at least
will not wear the scalp of white woman or child at their belts."
"Wish they'd try to rush us," said Shif'less Sol. "I never felt
so full of fight in my life before."
"They may try it," said Henry. "I understand that at the big
battle of the Oriskany, farther up in the North, the Iroquois
would wait until a white man behind a tree would fire, then they
would rush up and tomahawk him before he could reload."
"They don't know how fast we kin reload," said Long Jim, "an'
they don't know that we've got these double-barreled pistols,
either."
"No, they don't," said Henry, "and it's a great thing for us to
have them. Suppose we spread out a little. So long as we keep
them from getting a lodging on the solid earth we hold them at a
great disadvantage."
Henry and Paul moved off a little toward the right, and the
others toward the left. They still had good cover, as fallen
timber was scattered all over the oasis, and they were quite sure
that another attack would be made soon. It came in about fifteen
minutes. The Iroquois suddenly fired a volley at the logs and
brush, and when the five returned the fire, but with more deadly
effect, they leaped forward in the mud and attempted to rush the
oasis, tomahawk in hand.
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