"Thar, I got another!"
The Iroquois, yielding slowly at first, began now to give way
faster. Some sought to dart away to right or left, and bury
themselves in the forest, but they were caught by the flanking
parties of Shif'less Sol and Heemskerk, and driven back on the
center. They could not retreat except straight on the town, and
the riflemen followed them step for step. The moan of the
distant thunder went on, and the soft rain fell, but the deadly
crackle of the rifles formed a sharper, insistent note that
claimed the whole attention of both combatants.
It was now the turn of the riflemen to receive help. Twenty or
more scouts and others abroad in the forest were called by the
rifle fire, and went at once into the battle. Then Wyatt was
helped a second time by a band of Senecas and Mohawks, but,
despite all the aid, they could not withstand the riflemen.
Wyatt, black with fury and despair, shouted to them and sometimes
cursed or even struck at them, but the retreat could not be
stopped. Men fell fast. Every one of the riflemen was a
sharpshooter, and few bullets missed.
Wyatt was driven out of the forest and into the very corn field
through which Henry had passed.
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