“I see it,” he replied.
“There was a stone beside it three minutes ago,” I proceeded, “but it is gone now.”
“Did the stone move?” he asked.
“Or the stump,” I suggested, and then he knew what I meant.
Every stump, and there were three score, hid an Indian. As the red men slowly wiggled along after the manner of snakes, they pushed the dead wood ahead of them to deceive us and protect themselves. It was a clever ruse, but we must consider how to beat it. We could not hope to hit the savages while they were so well protected. I said so, and the Captain agreed with me. Then I called to mind his remark about traitors.
“It is perhaps ill for one accused of treason to advise what to do,” I said stiffly.
“Tut, tut, man, I have not judged you yet,” he spoke quickly. “Every man is innocent until he is proved guilty. To me you are what you seem, a brave soldier. That is enough for us now.”
I liked him better after that, and told him a plan I had formed. It would need to be put into operation quickly, as the stumps were approaching nearer.
It was the plan of the Indians to get as near to the stockade as possible under cover of the stumps, and then to make a rush. Then the block would be turned to a shambles, for we could not cope with the overwhelming numbers that would clamber in, once all our force was engaged on one side. The only way I saw to defeat the enemy was to fire as many volleys as we could just as they charged on us, throwing them into a panic as quickly as possible[possible], and breaking up their ranks.
I thought, as did the Captain, that we could safely draw most of the men to the south side of the stockade, leaving a few on the other sides to keep up a slow fire, so that the Indians would not see that we had discovered their ruse. Carteret agreed that this was the best to be done.