Chapter Three
At the edge of the forest Bright Sword built earthworks, put his last
twenty cannon into position, and waited for the enemy. They did not
take long
in coming. Out of range of his own batteries they sat up their cannon,
but well within their own. The number of their soldiers filled The Children of Spirit with dread,
for they outnumbered them heavily. And with the repeating rifles it was
like they faced one-hundred to one.
2 Under a heavy barrage the enemy charged. Brave as the defenders were,
they couldn't hold. Driving over the earthworks they pushed The
Children of Spirit back, but Bright Sword was ready. "Reatreat to the
forest!" he cried, "Fall back! Light the charges!"
3 Buried in the earthworks were small kegs of gunpowder over which had
been placed thousands of pebbles. When they went off, they killed many
of
the enemy in the earthworks and gave The Children of Spirit time to
flee.
4 The Head Cannoneer, Swift Dog, hitched his dogs to his twelve
remaining guns, and sped away. The enemy followed, but Bright
Sword had buried
two more lines of mines, as he called these weapons, behind the
earthworks, and as the enemy approached, they touched them off. It made
them hesitant to follow, but the enemy's Cannoneers were not hesitant.
5 Cluster shot and air bursts exploded among them, killing many, but as
The Children of Spirit began to enter the woods, they passed beyond the
range of the enemy's cannon. Here, one Drummer Boy stopped. Being swift
of foot, he was far ahead of the others and realized that here the
enemy's cannon couldn't reach them. Here, they might make a stand.