then, stood straight out in the enemy's
direction. Bright Star looked at The Hawk and shrugged. There was not
much time for pleasantries, though. The enemy was on them, but, not for
long!
12 The first cloud of powder hit them, and their forward ranks
collapsed! The defenders rushed forward, knocking any on their feet
senseless, charging over them into the terrified ranks behind.
13 The enemy, though terribly bewildered, managed to withdraw. The Hawk
was not that ready to press them. He watched the captives being carried
off, bound and screaming.
14 Those with clubs took them to the nearest water, washed out their
eyes, tied wet cloths over them, and threw them into boats, then
strapped on their swords, tossing their clubs aside. The enemy's second
charge fared a little better. Their men covered their mouths with damp
cloths, but this did nothing for their eyes. The results were
practically the same.
15 By now, many of their men had been captured. The third assault they
got clever. They waited for the front ranks to drop, then their own
ranks knelt, and bowmen, concealed behind them, loosed their shafts at
the powder throwers.
16 Several were wounded. Their powder fell short, landing in The Hawk's
people, but they had been trained exactly what to do. They fell to the
ground, covered themselves with their shields, and counted on those
behind them to be over them before the enemy. They were not
disappointed.
17 For the third time the enemy withdrew. Now, he had lost over half
his numbers, and was totally bewildered. The fourth time he split into
two sections, and came in from the flanks, trying to stay out of the
powder, but it really didn't matter. The powder containers were just
about empty.