of fire, without however, seeming to threaten the slightest
injury. Attracted by the novel sight, a dozen warriors
sprang to the spot, and fastened their gaze upon it with
all the childish wonder and curiosity of men in a savage
state. One, more eager and restless than his fellows,
stooped over it to feel with his hand of what it was
composed. At that moment it burst, and limbs, and head,
and entrails, were seen flying in the air, with the
fragments of the shell, and prostrate and struggling
forms lay writhing on every hand in the last, fierce
agonies of death.

A yell of despair and a shout of triumph burst at the
same moment from the adverse parties. Taking advantage
of the terror produced, by this catastrophe, in the
savages, Captain Erskine caused the men bearing the corpse
to retreat, with all possible expedition, under the
ramparts of the fort. He waited until they got nearly
half way, and then threw forward the wheeling sections,
that had covered this movement, once more into single
file, in which order he commenced his retreat. Step by
step, and almost imperceptibly, the men paced backwards,
ready, at a moment's notice, to reform the square. Partly
recovered from the terror and surprise produced by the
bursting of the shell, the Indians were quick in perceiving
this movement: filled with rage at having been so long
baulked of their aim, they threw themselves once more
impetuously from their cover; and, with stimulating yells,
at length opened their fire. Several of Captain Erskine's
men were wounded by this discharge; when, again, and