few enemy patrols, but the enemy seemed more interested in hunting, than looking for The Children of Spirit's army. The scouts easily avoided contact.
21 Finally, from a safe hiding place, Gray Dove viewed the enemy camp. They had come out of the valley, and travelled north for some distance to a grassy flat area that went right up to the mountainside. Here, they had placed their tents. Half circle after half circle came out from the sheer wall of the mountain. Some distance from the last row of tents engineers were working with measuring lines. They were setting out a double row of pegs all around the camp.
22 "They're getting ready to build earthworks," said Gray Dove, "we must attack before they can complete them, while they are still in a weak position, or we will have no hope against such numbers. Let us return."
23 Gray Dove was glad to see more troops marching in as he entered camp. The battle would be joined soon, and he would need every person he had. But how could he attack? Against such numbers even if he had his full strength, his people would have little chance. He needed something, ANYTHING that would give him the advantage and keep the enemy from fighting effectively. His thoughts were broken by a Damon hollering at a young fighter.
24 "Be careful with that fire!" he shouted. "There's been no wild fire in this grass for three or four seasons, and it is tinder dry. The last thing we need is a grass fire to reveal our position to the enemy!"
25 Gray Dove took off his boots and his jacket. Spreading his mat before the fire, he began to sit and rock again and again, repeating a prayer. Those around him became very quiet. Some began to sit and pray themselves. It was several hours before Gray Dove heard a whisper in his mind. "Look to the fire," it said, "look to the wind."
26 Gray Dove suddenly stopped rocking. "Swift Turtle!" he screamed, "What way does the wind blow here?"
27 "Most of the time," the Warlock told him, "it can come from any direction, but in the morning it always blows to the west, as if to greet the rising sun."
28 "To the west," muttered Gray Dove, "towards the cliffs!" He rose and reached for his boots. "Look to the fire," he whispered, to himself. "Look to the wind. Yes..the fire and the wind."
29 He remembered the easy travelling to the enemy's camp, the broad trails through the forest. "Swift Turtle," he snapped, "get every Warlock and every Damon we have here, now! Hurry!"
30 It was not long before they were all gathered. "As soon as it is light tomorrow," Gray Dove told them, "take your people out and have them cut tall grass. Then, I want them to gather twigs and leaves from the forest, roll them up in the grass, and make two or three good bundles that they can easily carry. Then, after that is done, I want them to get as much rest as they can. We march tomorrow." The Warlocks and Damons looked bewildered. Never had they heard such strange orders! But without question, they obeyed.
31 Through the morning and into the afternoon the men worked, until all the bundles were ready. In the meantime, Gray Dove was instructing a handful of his Warlocks in what they were going to do. "Tonight," he explained, "we will move into position. Just before dawn we will take out their sentries, move in close to the camp, and quietly cut a gap in the grass between them and us. Then, when the wind shifts, starts to blow towards their camp, we will fire the grass and advance behind the flames. With our arrows and spears we will keep the enemy from fighting the flames. Then, he will either have to surrender, or burn..he will have no choice."
32 The Warlocks listened to the plan and liked it. "If we can take them by surprise," they agreed, "if we can get in close to the camp, it should work!"
33 So as dusk came, the army marched out. Fighters just arriving had no time to rest, but quickly made up bundles and followed after the others. Swiftly, silently, they made their way towards the enemy. They moved into position, then settled down to wait. Gray Dove became nervous. He knew his plan was good, but what if something went wrong? What if the wind didn't change in time, or they were discovered before they were ready? He knew he couldn't think such thoughts and pushed them from his mind.
34 The hour came and they slowly moved up. The enemy's sentries fell without a sound, and the men were quickly attaking the grass with their knives. With every scrape of stone against stone, everyone fell silent and listened; but no cries of alarm came from the enemy camp.
35 Finally they were done, and Gray Dove lay in his position, his hand on the slowly burning torch concealed in a pot. But the wind steadily blew from their left, not their backs. He continued to wait. Then, the wind stopped. The air was deathly quiet. They could hear the sound of the enemy rising in the camp. It was becoming lighter by the moment. Soon, they would be seen.
36 Suddenly there was a breeze on the back of his head that grew steadily until it became a brisk wind. Gray Dove took out his torch, lit those of the men on either side of him, then put it to the grass. The flames leapt up it, and the men had to quickly extinguish the fire that leaped across their little ditch and kindled the grass on their side.
37 For long moments nothing seemed to happen. The fire had almost reached the first row of tents before they heard the enemy crying "Fire! Fire! The damned grass is on fire!" Men appeared from inside the camp with buckets of water, and wet blankets, but before they could act, arrows or spears cut them down.
38 "It's the enemy!" somebody screamed, "It's the enemy! They're on us! To arms! To arms!" Great confusion erupted in the enemy's camp. Already his first row of tents was a blazing inferno. Some arrows came flying out, but the archers were blinded by the smoke, and could not find their marks. The Children of Spirit had no such problem. As their arrows whizzed through the smoke, they found flesh. "Withdraw!" the enemy leader cried, "Withdraw!"
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