bows, and arrows, pitchforks, axes, knives; very
poor weapons against repeating rifles, but they would come. Nothing
would turn them back.
50 They had that look in their eye that Screaming Hawk had seen
before, that determination. Many of them might die, but the enemy would be destroyed.
51 It was late in the night when they marched quietly into position on
three sides of the village. The enemy had sat their cannon up, on two
flanks commanding the field before the village. But the most of the
cannoneers were drinking and seeking pleasure in the village. The guns
were lightly guarded.
52 Screaming Hawk called Little Deer over. "Split the lightly armed
people into two groups," he ordered. "At dawn they will rush the cannon. Send a few men with
them that know how to use the cannon, so if the enemy counter attacks
them, they can use their own pieces against them. The rest of us will
charge the village. We will wait until the first light.
53 Lords, I want to go in and free those women now, but in the dark we
may end up shooting them, or, each other. Bed everybody down, but put
out the sentries. Give me two men up here. I want to be where I can watch the
village. Relieve my guard in two hours."
54 Screaming Hawk dozed off, but a strange rustling sound awoke him. He
sat up to find both of his guards asleep at their post. He was about to
awaken them, when he became aware of another presence. Someone stood a
short distance away, wearing long robes and a deep hood that covered
his face.
55 "Be at peace," he announced. "I mean you no harm. Do not rebuke them
when they awaken. We caused sleep to come on them, so we could speak to
you without causing alarm."