"It sounds like the dirge of the people of the Long House," said
Paul, upon whose sensitive mind the scene made a deep impression.
The others nodded. At that moment they did not feel the flush of
victory in its full force. It was not in their nature to rejoice
over a fallen foe. Yet they knew the full value of the victory,
and none of them could wish any part of it undone. They returned
slowly to the camp, and once more they heard behind them the howl
of the wolves as they invaded the battlefield.
They were glad when they saw the cheerful lights of the camp
fires twinkling through the forest, and heard the voices of many
men talking. Heemskerk welcomed them there.
"Come, lads," he said. "You must eat-you won't find out until
you begin, how hungry you are-and then you must sleep, because we
march early to-morrow, and we march fast."
The Dutchman's words were true. They had not tasted food since
morning; they had never thought of it, but now, with the
relaxation from battle, they found themselves voraciously hungry.
"It's mighty good," said Shif'less Sol, as they sat by a fire and
ate bread and meat and drank coffee, "but I'll say this for you,
you old ornery, long-legged Jim Hart, it ain't any better than
the venison an' bulffaler steaks that you've cooked fur us many a
time.
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