"I'll get some if I can."
To get water was not easy, and Dave and Barringford spent half an hour before they found a tiny pool. They scooped up what they could in a cup and gave it to Rodney, going thirsty themselves.
Completely exhausted, the soldiers took turns in resting, while the others remained on guard. Occasionally a distant shot was heard, but that was all. The Indians were holding a council of war, to decide upon the plan of action for the morrow.
At the first streak of dawn, all the soldiers were called together and placed in a wide circle around the improvised camp. Some were behind hillocks of dirt, while others had cut brushwood with which to screen themselves.
The movement came none too soon, for just as the troops took their positions, the Indians again raised the war-cry and came rushing forward, bent upon breaking into the camp and scattering the soldiers. They had been reinforced during the night by some red men from around Venango, and soon the battle broke forth with a fury that is indescribable. Men and horses fell on all sides, and for a while the English were on the verge of becoming panic-stricken.
"Sam, this is terrible!" panted Dave. "I never had to fight so in my life! I wonder how much longer it is going to last?"
"It can't last much longer," said Rodney. The blood was running down his cheeks from a cut in the temple.
"If we could only get the Indians into the open," said the old frontiersman. "The Highlanders can shoot well enough, but they can't fight redskins behind the trees."
By ten o'clock in the morning the situation was desperate, and Colonel Bouquet realized that something must be done, or he would be defeated and annihilated. More Indians were coming up, and the little army was caught like a rat in a trap.
"It is one chance in a hundred, but we must try it," he murmured to himself, and riding forth, gave orders for several of his companies to retreat. At the same time other companies were scattered along on either side of the roadway, taking positions behind the nearest trees. The bugles sounded the retreat, but it was understood this was only a ruse.