For hour after hour the battle went on. Occasionally there came a lull, and the English would think the Indians were retreating. But then would come those mad war-whoops, and the painted red men would leap into the open as if by magic and pour in their deadly fire. They also lost heavily, especially through the fire of the sharpshooters and experienced hunters, who picked them off whenever the chance showed itself.
At five o'clock the little body of soldiers, hemmed in on all sides, was almost exhausted. Dave and Rodney were so dry they could scarcely talk, and not a drop of water was to be obtained. Some of the soldiers were resting on the ground, unable to stand because of the terrible strain endured.
"We can't keep this up much longer!" panted Rodney. He was deathly pale from exhaustion.
"We've got to keep up!" replied Barringford. The teeth of the old frontiersman were set and his eyes gleamed like those of some wild beast. He was thoroughly aroused and ready to fight as never before.
Soon came another attack, and, led by Barringford, the rangers rushed upon one band of Indians and drove them deep into the woods. In the meantime the regular troops fought with renewed vigor, and, as a consequence, the red men retreated. Then darkness fell, and gradually the battle came, for the time being, to an end.
"Perhaps this night will be our last." Such was the thought of more than one soldier. The troops did not dare to move, for fear of falling into some trap. Gathering his men around him, Colonel Bouquet made a short speech.
"We must be on our guard to-night," he said. "I expect every man to do his duty. Should one man fail, it may cost all of us our lives."
In the pack-train were a number of bags of flour, and of these an inclosure was made, into which were carried the wounded. All told the English had lost sixty in killed and wounded. How much the Indians had suffered never became known. Rodney had been hit in the side by an arrow, and Dave and Barringford had received numerous scratches.
"Rodney, is the wound bad?" asked Dave.
"Not very, Dave. But I wish I had some water."