sudden report of rifle fire. When they reached
the boats they found the water red with blood, but it was the enemy's
blood. They lay in the water
dead, or, dying, and from behind the boats the women and children
emerged, their rifles still smoking. "you know," praised Shining
Blossom, "these things work damned good!"
67 "And WE were worried about THEM?" laughed Sorrowful Dove. "We should
have been pitying the enemy! Come on! Let's get out of here! There may
be more of them coming, and we might not take them by surprise again!"
68 They headed back through the wastelands twice ambushing sizable
enemy forces. One of them had a supply train, and the ox carts were a
blessing to the women and children.
69 When they reached Fin they were greeted with cheers of joy, when
the Warlock there saw the captured cannon, the repeating rifles, and
heard that there was more just a short distance away, he praised The
Lords. "Now," he cried, "we're not going to sit here and take it any
more! We're going south! Let's let the enemy feel OUR sting for a
change!"
70 So they swept down through the forest, found the survivors from
Wood, joined with them, and took on the enemy. In skirmish after
skirmish they drove them south, inflicting heavy casualties.
71 The enemy was now aware of their presence, but it seemed to do them
no good. With each passing day their number of heavy cannon and
repeating rifles grew.
72 Finally the enemy was sick of these scattered conflicts. He withdrew
all of his forces from the field and concentrated his defenses around
Ftr and Fo. Here the defenders were stopped.