never before witnessed. For a moment, alarm spread through the ranks.
But courage--action was now necessary. Death or victory was before
them. The officers called them to rally--to stand their ground--and
they did so. They opened a well directed fire upon their savage foes,
and only a short time passed before the latter were glad to retreat.

"The savages having retired, the men were ordered to throw up a breast
work, near the place, to shelter themselves from the guns of the fort.
This was done expeditiously. Trees were felled, and drawn to the spot
by some; while others were employed in throwing up earth.

"During these labours of the Americans, the enemy continued to annoy
them, by throwing shells from the fort."

_William_. "Pray, father, what are shells? I have read of them; but I
do not know more than that they are a kind of shot."

_Gen. P_. "Shells are often called _bombs_, a word which signifies
_great noise_; because, when they burst, they make a great noise. They
consist of a large shell of cast iron, which is round and hollow. A
hole is made through the shell to receive a _fusee_, as it is called;
this is a small pipe, or hollow piece of wood, which is filled with
some combustible matter. When a bomb is about to be fired, it is
filled with powder, after which the fusee is driven into the vent, or
hole of the shell."

_William_. "How are bombs fired, father?"

_Gen. P_. "They are thrown from a kind of cannon called a _mortar_. It
has its name from its resemblance to a common mortar. The lower part