ve_ of the Van Arsdales and Van
Bummels, who had remained behind to digest the enormous dinner they
had eaten. These now trudged manfully forward, smoking their pipes
with outrageous vigor, so as to raise the awful cloud that has been
mentioned, but marching exceedingly slow, being short of leg, and
of great rotundity in the belt.

"And now the deities who watched over the fortunes of the
Nederlanders having unthinkingly left the field, and stepped into a
neighboring tavern to refresh themselves with a pot of beer, a
direful catastrophe had wellnigh ensued. Scarce had the myrmidons
of Michael Paw attained the front of battle, when the Swedes,
instructed by the cunning Risingh, leveled a shower of blows full
at their tobacco-pipes. Astounded at this assault, and dismayed at
the havoc of their pipes, these ponderous warriors gave way, and
like a drove of frightened elephants broke through the ranks of
their own army. The little Hoppers were borne down in the surge;
the sacred banner emblazoned with the gigantic oyster of Communipaw
was trampled in the dirt; on blundered and thundered the
heavy-sterned fugitives, the Swedes pressing on their rear and
applying their feet _a parte poste_ of the Van Arsdales and the Van
Bummels with a vigor that prodigiously accelerated their movements;
nor did the renowned Michael Paw himself fail to receive divers
grievous and dishonorable visitations of shoe-leather.

"But what, oh Muse! was the rage of Peter Stuyvesant, when from
afar he saw his army giving way! In the transports of his wrath he
sent forth a roar, enough to shake the very hills. The men of the
Manhattoes plucked up new courage at the sound, or, rather, they
rallied at the voice of their leader, of whom they stood more in
awe than of all the Swedes in Christendom. Without waiting for
their aid, the daring Peter dashed, sword in hand, into the
thickest of the foe. Then might be seen achievements worthy of the
days of the giants. Wherever he went the enemy shrank before him;
the Swedes fled to right and left, or were driven, like dogs, into
their own ditch; but as he pushed forward, singly with headlong
courage, the foe closed behind and hung upon his rear. One aimed a
blow full at his heart; but the protecting power which watches over
the great a