fence, as I have already set down.

But whatsoever might be their intentions, certain it was they were
coming with as much show of determination as ever before, and we must
perforce stand against them so long as our ammunition lasted, and what
then?

My heart sank within me as I tried to answer my own question even while
making ready to do my share in the faint hope of repulsing the
Britishers.

CHAPTER XI

THE RETREAT

I believe of a verity that we on Breed's hill might have driven back the
Britishers once more, even though our store of ammunition was so small,
had it not been for the enemy's artillery which, as I have already said,
swept the interior of the breastwork from end to end, forcing us into
the redoubt.

Grimly we awaited the oncoming of those lines of red coats. I believe
our people fired with truer aim than at any other time during the
action, for each knew only too well how necessary it was that every
bullet should count.

As they advanced, and the word for us to fire had been given, among the
first that fell was one of their colonels, and then two of their majors,
after which Hiram set up a shout of triumph, claiming that he had
wounded General Howe himself. Even amid the smoke of the battle I could
see that the British leader was moving painfully, yet I must confess
bravely, in order to remain at the head of his men.

The breeze from the westward, which had come up just in time to blow
from our eyes the smoke of the burning buildings in the town, still
continued, and the battle field was more clearly in view than ever
before.

During mayhap ten minutes we of the American army did quite as great
execution as during the previous assault, cutting great gaps in their
lines, and bringing down officer after officer in rapid succession.

Then it was that we could see the beginning of the end. Glancing quickly
around to the right and left as I rammed home my last charge, I could
see this man and that standing idle, and it was the idleness of
impotence and despair, for they had come to the end of their ammunition.

There was no longer anything to be done save await that final assault,
with the poor hope of beating back troops armed with bayonets, by the
use of clubbed muskets.

Nearer and nearer came the red lines, swarming like hornets over the
breastworks, and we all powerless to prevent them!

Could we have had at that moment but half the powder and balls with
which we began this b