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Chapter 17
Theflowofbloodmightbelikenedtotheoutbreakingofatorrent;and,asthenativesbecameheatedandmaddenedbythesight,manyamongthemevenkneeledtotheearth,anddrankfreely,exultingly,hellishly,ofthecrimsontide.
Thetrainedbodiesofthetroopsthrewthemselvesquicklyintosolidmasses,endeavoringtoawetheirassailantsbytheimposingappearanceofamilitaryfront.Theexperimentinsomemeasuresucceeded,thoughfartoomanysufferedtheirunloadedmusketstobetornfromtheirhands,inthevainhopeofappeasingthesavages.
Insuchascenenonehadleisuretonotethefleetingmoments.Itmighthavebeentenminutes(itseemedanage),thatthesistershadstoodrivetedtoonespot,horror-stricken,andnearlyhelpless.Whenthefirstblowwasstruck,theirscreamingcompanionshadpressedupontheminabody,renderingflightimpossible;andnowthatfearordeathhadscatteredmost,ifnotall,fromaroundthem,theysawnoavenueopen,butsuchasconductedtothetomahawksoftheirfoes.Oneverysidearoseshrieks,groans,exhortations,andcurses.AtthismomentAlicecaughtaglimpseofthevastformofherfather,movingrapidlyacrosstheplain,inthedirectionoftheFrencharmy.Hewas,intruth,proceedingtoMontcalm,fearlessofeverydanger,toclaimthetardyescortforwhichhehadbeforeconditioned.Fiftyglitteringaxesandbarbedspearswereofferedunheededathislife,butthesavagesrespectedhisrankandcalmness,evenintheirfury.
