The Mohegan Maiden — page 66: what you’re looking at

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

68 THE MOHEGAN MAIDEN. in the defenses, so that the few shots exchanged were gener- ally in their favor. ; | Archibald, feeling that he owed a debt of gratitude to the Mohegans, had taken a gun, and was among the first to greet the assaulting party. The Indians had scarcely looked for this decided act upon the part of their guest, and when he im- proved the calm which followed in walking about the town, and giving various good stiggestions for the defense, they be- gan to regard him as especially sent by the Great Spirit to protect their people from the common foe. ee But the Narragansetts, confident in the superiority which numbers gave, had no intention of relinquishing the attack. Safe beyond rifle-shot, their leaders pleaded ant urged till the braves were wrought up to something like a frenzy, and were eager to be led upon the town once more. | Soon a body of them burst from the forest covert, and ad- vanced a short distance with wild yells. Here they paused, firing several futile shots from such weapons as they possessed, evidently in the hope of drawing a reply from the defenders before they should be sufficiently near to suffer severely. But Archibald had warned them against any such rashness, know- ing that a close volley, steadily given, would not fail to send the assaulting party back again in confusion. The Mohegans behaved unusually well,'for:they had much faith in the gen- eral sagacity of the whites; and Archibald owas everywhere present among them. eto) } 7 The Narragansetts, finding that the attempt did not suc- ceed, withdrew, and rushed forth again next moment, with fresh yells and an evident purpose ofat’ once attacking the town. But, they stopped a pacesfurther in advance than pe- fore, and the same pantomime was repeated. © This was really dull work, but as it was uncertain at what’ moment the savy- age force would make another forward movement, the defend- ers had but to wait in silence and watch the progress of events. Suddenly there came a cry of alarm, and a victorious yell . from the other side of the town. The main body of the In- dians, taking advantage of the feint made by their brothers, - had stolen around to that quarter, and rushed upon the de- fenders before their presence was really understood. The few comicbooks.conn