eemskerk； and driven back on the center。 They could not retreat except straight on the town； and the riflemen followed them step for step。 The moan of the distant thunder went on； and the soft rain fell； but the deadly crackle of the rifles formed a sharper； insistent note that claimed the whole attention of both combatants。
It was now the turn of the riflemen to receive help。 Twenty or more scouts and others abroad in the forest were called by the rifle fire； and went at once into the battle。 Then Wyatt was helped a second time by a band of Senecas and Mohawks； but； despite all the aid； they could not withstand the riflemen。 Wyatt； black with fury and despair； shouted to them and sometimes cursed or even struck at them； but the retreat could not be stopped。 Men fell fast。 Every one of the riflemen was a sharpshooter； and few bullets missed。
Wyatt was driven out of the forest and into the very corn field through which Henry had passed。 Here the retreat became faster； and； with shouts of triumph； the riflemen followed after。 Wyatt lost some men in the flight through the field； but when he came to the orchard； having the advantage of cover； he made another desperate stand。
But Shif'less Sol and Heemskerk took the band on the flanks； pouring in a destructive fire； and Wyatt； Coleman； and a fourth of his band； all that survived； broke into a run for the town。
The riflemen uttered shout after shout of triumph； and it was impossible to restrain their pursuit。 Henry would have stopped here； knowing the danger of following into the town； especially when the army was near at band with an irresistible force； but he could not stay them。 He decided then that if they would charge it must be done with the utmost fire and spirit。
〃On； men！ On！〃 he cried。 〃Give them no chance to take cover。〃
Shif'less Sol and Heemskerk wheeled in with the flanking parties； and the riflemen； a solid mass now； increased the speed of pursuit。 Wyatt and his men had no chance to turn and fire； or even to reload。 Bullets beat upon them as they fled； and here perished nearly all of that savage band。 Wyatt； Coleman； and only a half dozen made good the town； where a portion of the Iroquois who had not yet fled received them。 But the exultant riflemen did not stop even there。 They were hot on the heels of Wyatt and the fugitives； and attacked at once the Iroquois who came to their relief。 So fierce was their rush that these new forces were driven back at once。 Braxton Wyatt； Coleman； and a dozen more； seeing no other escape； fled to a large log house used as a granary； threw themselves into it； barred the doors heavily； and began to fire from the upper windows； small openings usually closed with boards。 Other Indians from the covert of house； tepee； or tree； fired upon the assailants； and a fresh battle began in the town。
The riflemen； directed by their leaders； met the new situation promptly。 Fired upon from all sides； at least twenty rushed into a house some forty yards from that of Braxton Wyatt。 Others seized another house； while the rest remained outside； sheltered by little outhouses； trees； or inequalities of the earth； and maintained rapid sharpshooting in reply to the Iroquois in the town or to Braxton Wyatt's men in the house。 Now the combat became fiercer than ever。 The warriors uttered yells； and Wyatt's men in the house sent forth defiant shouts。 From another part of the town came shrill cries of old squaws； urging on their fighting men。
It was now about four o'clock in the morning。 The thunder and lightning had ceased； but the soft rain was still falling。 The Indians had lighted fires some distance away。 Several carried torches。 Helped by these； and； used so long to the night； the combatants saw distinctly。 The five lay behind a low embankment； and they paid their whole attention to the big house that sheltered Wyatt and his men。 On the sides and behind they were protected by Heemskerk and others； who faced a coming swarm。
〃Keep low； Paul；〃 said Henry； restraining his eager comrade。 〃Those fellows in the house can shoot； and we don't want to lose you。 There； didn't I tell you！〃
A bullet fired from the window passed through the top of Paul's cap； but clipped only his hair。 Before the flash from the window passed； Long Jim fired in return； and something fell back inside。 Bullets came from other windows。 Shif'less Sol fired； and a Seneca fell forward banging half out of the window； his naked body a glistening brown in the firelight。 But he hung only a few seconds。 Then he fell to the ground and lay still。 The five crouched low again； waiting a new opportunity。 Behind them； and on either side； they heard the crash of the new battle and challenging cries。
Braxton Wyatt； Coleman； four more Tories； and six Indians were still alive in the strong log house。 Two or three were wounded； but they scarcely noticed it in the passion of conflict。 The house was a veritable fortress； and the renegade's hopes rose high as he heard the rifle fire from different parts of the town。 His own band had been annihilated by the riflemen； led by Henry Ware； but he had a sanguine hope now that his enemies had rushed into a trap。 The Iroquois would turn back and destroy them。
Wyatt and his comrades presented a repellent sight as they crouched in the room and fired from the two little windows。 His clothes and those of the white men had been torn by bushes and briars in their flight； and their faces had been raked； too； until they bled； but they had paid no attention to such wounds； and the blood was mingled with sweat and powder smoke。 The Indians； naked to the waist； daubed with vermilion； and streaked； too； with blood； crouched upon the floor； with the muz'zles of their rifles at the windows； seeking something human to kill。 One and all； red and white； they were now raging savages； There was not one among them who did not have some foul murder of woman or child to his credit。
Wyatt himself was mad for revenge。 Every evil passion in him was up and leaping。 His eyes； more like those of a wild animal than a human being； blazed out of a face； a mottled red and black。 By the side of him the dark Tory； Coleman； was driven by impulses fully as fierce。
〃To think of it！〃 exclaimed Wyatt。 〃He led us directly into a trap； that Ware！ And here our band is destroyed！ All the good men that we gathered together； except these few； are killed！〃
〃But we may pay them back；〃 said Coleman。 〃We were in their trap； but now they are in ours！ Listen to that firing and the war whoop！ There are enough Iroquois yet in the town to kill every one of those rebels！〃
〃I hope so！ I believe so！〃 exclaimed Wyatt。 〃Look out； Coleman！ Ah； he's pinked you！ That's the one they call Shif'less Sol； and he's the best sharpshooter of them all except Ware！〃
Coleman had leaned forward a little in his anxiety to secure a good aim at something。 He had disclosed only a little of his face； but in an instant a bullet had seared his forehead like the flaming stroke of a sword； passing on and burying itself in the wall。 Fresh blood dripped down over his face。 He tore a strip from the inside of his coat； bound it about his head； and went on with the defense。
A Mohawk； frightfully painted； fired from the other window。 Like a flash came the return shot； and the Indian fell back in the room； stone dead； with a bullet through his bead。
〃That was Ware himself；〃 said Wyatt。 〃I told you he was the best shot of them all。 I give him that credit。 But they're all good。 Look out！ There goes another of our men！ It was Ross who did that！ I tell you； be careful！ Be careful！〃
It was an Onondaga who fell this time； and he lay with his head on the window sill until another Indian pulled him inside。 A minute later a Tory； who peeped guardedly for a shot； received a bullet through his head； and sank down on the floor。 A sort of terror spread among the others。 What could they do in the face of such terrible sharpshooting？ It was uncanny； almost superhuman； and they looked stupidly at one another。 Smoke from their own firing had gathered in the room； and it formed a ghastly veil about their faces。 They heard the crash of the rifles outside from every point； but no help came to them。
〃We're bound to do something！〃 exclaimed Wyatt。 〃Here you； Jones； stick up the edge of your cap； and when they fire at it I'll put a bullet in the man who pulls the trigger。〃
Jones thrust up his cap； but they knew too much out there to be taken in by an old trick。 The cap remained unhurt； but when Jones in his eagerness thrust it higher until he exposed his arm； his wrist was smashed in an instant by a bullet； and he fell back with a howl of pain。 Wyatt swore and bit his lips savagely。 He and all of them began to fear that they were in another and tighter trap； one from which there was no escape unless the Iroquois outside drove off the riflemen； and of that they could as yet see no sign。 The sharpshooters held their place behind the embankment and the little outhouse； and so little as a finger； even； at the windows became a sure mark for their terrible bullets。 A Seneca； seeking a new trial for a shot； received a bullet through the shoulder； and a Tory who followed him in the effort was slain outright。
The light hitherto had been from the fires； but now the dawn was coming。 Pale gray beams fell over the town； and then deepened into red and yellow。 The beams reached the room where the beleaguered remains of Wyatt's band fought； but； mingling with the smoke； they gave a new and more ghastly tint to the desperate faces。
〃We've got to fight！〃 exclaimed Wyatt。 〃We can't sit here and be taken like beasts in a trap！ Suppose we unbar the doors below and make a rush for it？〃
Coleman shook his head。 〃Every one of us would be killed within twenty yards；〃 he said。
〃Then the Iroquois must come back；〃 cried Wyatt。 〃Where is Joe Brant？ Where is Timmendiquas； and where is that coward； Sir John Johnson？ Will they come？〃
〃They won't come；〃 said Coleman。
They lay still awhile； listening to the firing in the town； which swayed hither and thither。 The smoke in the room thinned somewhat； and the daylight broadened and deepened。 As a desperate