in the moonlight, the frozen, snow-laden plateau of the lake.

It was a weirdly beautiful scene which lay spread like a panorama
before them in the winter moonlight; but they had no time to think
of that now. All eyes were fixed upon the stirring scene enacted in
the middle of the lake, or at least well out upon its frozen
surface, where a band of resolute men, sheltering themselves behind
a few sledges, which made them a sort of rampart, were firing
steadily, volley after volley, at a band of leaping, yelling
Indians who had partially surrounded them, and who were slowly but
steadily advancing, despite their heavy loss, returning the fire of
the defendants, though by no means so steadily and regularly, and
whooping and yelling with a fearful ferocity.

It was easy to see, even by the moonlight alone, that the men
behind the sledges were white men. A sudden enthusiasm and
excitement possessed our little band of Rangers as this sight burst
upon them, and Stark gave the instant word:

"Steady, men, but lose not a moment. Form two lines, and rush them
from behind. Reserve your fire till I give the word. Then let them
have it hot, and close upon them from behind. When they find
themselves between two fires, they will think themselves trapped.
They will scatter like hunted hares. See, they have no notion of
any foe save the one in front. Keep beneath the shadow of the
forest till the last moment, and then rush them and fire!"

The men nodded, and unslung their guns. They made no noise gliding
down the steep snow bank upon their long shoes, and then out upon
the ice of the lake.