This was how Rodney Shaw came to be at Barker's Creek, which was the worst place he could possibly be found in.
'These blacks will do for us,' said Dalton, savagely; 'and it is all the fault of you fellows keeping the gins here.'
'We must fight it out,' said Shaw. 'Curse the blacks!'
He took a steady aim and fired at Jim Dennis, but missed.
The tumult was tremendous. The black fellows, now they were let loose and had a chance of revenge, were so many infuriated savages. They yelled and danced, brandishing their spears, and rushed upon the houses, heedless of the shots fired at them.
In the blacks' camp at the creek there was a regular pandemonium. The gins shrieked with terror and thought their end was at hand, and so it was for many of them. Some of these black women had left behind in King Charlie's camp husbands and brothers, and they now took their revenge by spearing or clubbing them. It was a horrible scene, but King Charlie took no heed of it, nor did he attempt to stay the slaughter. In his savage way he regarded it as an act of justice, and he may have been right.
Round Dalton's house the fight was fierce. At the rear the blacks were forcing an entrance, at the front the police had already battered in the door.
All were on foot now and it soon became a hand-to-hand conflict.
Seeing the game was up, Rodney Shaw thought of his own safety.
At the back of the house several horses were stabled, and these had not been injured, although they were frightened. Shaw thought if he could make a rush for it he might reach them and gallop off. They were all saddled and bridled ready for an emergency.