d, one and all, observe their usual
custom of shutting their eyes, and turning away their heads at the moment
of discharge.

The Swedes followed up their fire by leaping the counterscarp, and falling
tooth and nail upon the foe with furious outcries. And now might be seen
prodigies of valor, unmatched in history or song. Here was the sturdy
Stoffel Brinkerhoff brandishing his quarter-staff like the giant Blanderon
his oak tree (for he scorned to carry any other weapon), and drumming a
horrific tune upon the hard heads of the Swedish soldiery. There were the
Van Kortlandts, posted at a distance, like the Locrian archers of yore,
and plying it most potently with the long-bow, for which they were so
justly renowned. On a rising knoll were gathered the valiant men of
Sing-Sing, assisting marvellously in the fight, by chanting the great song
of St. Nicholas; but as to the Gardeniers of Hudson, they were absent on a
marauding party, laying waste the neighboring water-melon patches.

In a different part of the field were the Van Grolls of Anthony's Nose,
struggling to get to the thickest of the fight, but horribly perplexed in
a defile between two hills, by reason of the length of their noses. So
also the Van Bunschotens of Nyack and Kakiat, so renowned for kicking with
the left foot, were brought to a stand for want of wind, in consequence of
the hearty dinner they had eaten, and would have been put to utter rout
but for the arrival of a gallant corps of voltigeurs, composed of the
Hoppers, who advanced nimbly to their assistance on one foot. Nor must I
omit to mention the valiant achievements of Antony Van Corlear, who, for a
good quarter of an hour, waged stubborn fight with a little pursy Swedish
drummer, whose hide he drummed most magnificently, and whom he would
infallibly have annihilated on the spot, but that he had come into the
battle with no other weapon but his trumpet.

But now the combat thickened. On came the mighty Jacobus Varra Vanger and
the fighting men of the Wallabout; after them thundered the Van Pelts of
Esopus, together with the Van Riepers and the Van Brunts, bearing down all
before them; then the Suy Dams and the Van Dams, pressing forward with
many a blustering oath, at the head of the warriors of Hell-gate, clad in
their thunder and lightning gaberdines; and, lastly, the standard-bearers
and body-guards of Peter Stuyvesant, bearing the great beaver of the
Manhattoes.

And now commenced the horrid