An hour before me in the race.

He wrung my hand and told me all—

“Look out,” said he, “for a rain of ball

And the thickest shower that well can fall.

“For Brant is watching round about,

And long ere this, by many a scout,

He knows his foes are armed and out.

“We’ll have it heavily, by-and-by;

But that’s no matter—one can but die,

And safer it is to fight than fly.”