met his army poling up the river in flatboats. We
ran into them coming around a bend, and didn't have time to do
anything. We got all tangled up fighting and drifting. Then the whole
mess of us piled up on a sand bar.
63 Then it really got fun! It went on for two or three hours, none of
us would retreat, or, advance, so we just kept fighting. Some of 'em
got on a ledge above us and one of their spear men pinned my foot to the
bottom of the boat! Somehow, we came out the winner, but what a mess!
Stuck with prisoners, dead, caught in the middle of a river, cliffs on
both sides of us.
64 Well, we finally got the boats off the sand, decided to put our dead
up on the ledges, until we could send people back for them, and made
our way
down river. WE got off the damned river, made for the road, and ran
head on into the enemy's reinforcements.
65 Well, we took them by surprise and they were mostly kids, but those
kids could fight! When it was over, we had more dead, more prisoners,
and we were almost a day behind schedule. So, leaving some men to bring
up the prisoners, and making the prisoners care for our wounded, we
made time up here. The rest you know."
66 "Never have I heard of so many things going wrong!" Bay Blossom
gasped. "And it still is turning out to be a victory! Your men are
exhausted. I'll send some down to help with the wounded and prisoners.
Then, we'll get the boats, pole up the river, and recover the dead. YOU
find a tent, and get some sleep!"
67 "Who made YOU Warlock Commander?" asked Thundering Dove.
68 "The enemy did," announced Bay Blossom, "when they so neatly put
that spear through your foot! Until