The Mohegan Maiden — page 34: what you’re looking at

Machine-transcribed from the original scan — historical spelling and the odd misread are preserved.

36 THE MOMEGAN MAIDEN. more, the gate leading to tive forest, was thrown epen, and a fear-struck multitude appeared, caver to rush out. Swinging his gun above his: head, Archibald placed him- self in the opening, Christian quickly following his example. The assault had taken place ipon the north side, and unable ty withstand it, the fear-stricken ones had conceived the idea of fleeing into the forest upon the southern side of the town. , bf ; ; ) “Back! back !” Archibald shouted, comprehending the state of affairs, and swinging his clubbed gun in the faces of the foremost. “ Go back, I tell yout These woods are full of ambushed Indians; and every man of you will be killed if you try to flee! ~ Go back and show yourselves men! Beat off the foe; 1 will show you that it can be done, Baek and meet then!’ , 3 7 By pressing back the foremost, Archibald had sueceeded in getting within the gate, and closing it. Several of the men, learning the fate which awaited them Without, turned back and began the battle again, while others were follow exainple. : The Indians in the edge of the forest, see the gate, and realizing that they could not a settlers, now rushed forward with loud yell gault, Certainly, the situation of the defe desperate. : In order to comprehend it more fy]] to advert to the plan of the Indians in making the attack. Dividing their forces, the Narragangetts had placed a. party in ambuscade upon the south side of the town, while the main body made an assault upon the north end, The object was the complete destruction of the Settlers, since if the savages could surprise them on one side they woujq be very certain to rush forth upon the other, and thus fall into the snare pre- pared for them. ® In the early gray of dawn the sentinels heard a lively at- tack made upon the palisades, Confounded, they perceived that the savages had actually stolen up unperceived, and were busily engaged in cutting their way into the enclosure. Hor- rified at the discovery, they fired their Pieces, but without any effect, and, before the sleeping inhabitants gould rouse and ‘ ing their ing the scene at mbush a party of 8 to join in the as nders was getting y, it will be necessary conmmiclooks.con