Give back my child, my Nellie!” the frantic woman said;
Then on her panting bosom her daughter’s head she laid,
Then both sank[112] down in silence, looked up and mutely prayed;
That was the fatal signal, for on, like a sweeping hell[113]
They came with knife and hatchet, with rifle-shot and yell.
Bravely they fought, yet vainly, that fated settler band,
Clubbing their empty rifles, meeting them hand to hand;
Roderick reeled and staggered, then fell[114] ’neath a crushing blow,
And a whoop of fiendish malice told the triumph of the foe;
Then like a flash they vanished[115] and Roderick bleeding lay,