thering
clouds and falling rain. The men had but just taken their stations,
behind the intrenchments which had been so prudently raised, when the
shrill war-whoop burst from apparently hundreds of savage lips; and
from the impenetrable darkness a shower of arrows came whizzing through
the air. They all fell harmless in and around the spot where the men
stood, behind their ramparts, with muskets loaded and primed.

Though the savages kept up an incessant yell, and threw their arrows
almost at random into the narrow enclosure, they were so concealed by
the darkness and the thick cane-brake, that not one was to be seen. The
French kept perfect silence. Not a loud word was spoken. Not a musket
was fired. It was very important that every bullet should accomplish
its mission and lay a warrior dead in his blood. The Indians were to be
taught that every flash and peal was the sure precursor of the death or
the serious wound of one of their number.

Soon the day began to dawn. With the increasing light the savages were
revealed, as they dodged from point to point. There was no random
firing of the guns. Deliberate aim was taken. The savages were very
cautious in exposing themselves. The Frenchmen were perfectly protected
from their arrows by the rampart of logs. For two hours this strange
battle raged--twenty Frenchmen against hundreds of savages. Ten Indians
were shot dead. Many others were dreadfully wounded with shattered
bones. It is probable that every bullet hit its mark. Not an arrow of
the savage had drawn blood.

As the sun rose, revealing the deadly fire of the guns and the utter
impotence of the missiles of the Indians, the savages were again thrown
into a panic, and fled precipitately. La Salle, with nearly all his
force, pursued them up to the village, where, with axes, he speedily
demolished all their boats, so that they could not pursue, as he should
continue his voyage. His men urged him to burn the village of his
treacherous foes. But he refused, saying that he would inflict no
farther injury upon them than was absolutely necessary in self-defence.

At the close of this day of gloom, battle, and blood, another night
came, of darkness and rain. Enveloped in the shades of night, the
French reembarked. Silently they passed the village. Not a savage
"opened his mouth or peeped." The storm passed away. And when the sun
of another lovely morning shone down upon them, the voyagers were far
beyond the reach of their