For a day or so there had been random shots in front, but what did these two lone reports mean? The soldiers jumped to their arms. A bugle had rung clearly and sharply at the bottom of the hill. It was a strange call it played.
"Steady!" was the word that came down the line. "Keep your fire until they are close to us. Aim low. Keep cool."
Such were the instructions that were passed along by the officers. Colonel Hand had stationed himself behind George's company. He was standing so close that the latter could overhear what passed.
"I know not what those two guns mean," said Colonel Hand to a Major Chauncey, "but signals of some kind, I judge they must be, from Sullivan's forces over to the eastward."
But little did he know that it was those two signal-guns that had set on foot the action, and that the sound had caused a feeling of exultation to run through the English lines.
Now at the bottom of the hill could be seen moving troops; strange tall hats extended above the shrubbery, and a line of brilliantly uniformed soldiers burst out into the meadow. The green coats, the white and red facings, and the glitter of brass told who they were.
"The Hessians!" exclaimed Major Chauncey. "Steady, lads. We can lick the Dutchmen."
On they came. The clicking of the locks could be heard along the redoubt. The men, trembling, but cool under the influence of their commander, were settling themselves in easy positions for taking aim, when suddenly a spreading volley was heard in the rear.
What could it mean? Surely there were none of the enemy behind them. Why should the forces be firing?
"Here, some one climb a tree! Take this glass!" shouted Colonel Hand.