The warriors suddenly leaped from the undergrowth and rushed straight toward them, a white man now in front.
The light was sufficient for Robert to see that the leader was not St.Luc, and then without hesitation he raised his rifle and fired.
The man fell, Tayoga stopped the rush of a warrior, and the bullets of the soldiers wounded others.

But their white leader was gone, and Indians have little love for an attack upon a sheltered enemy.

So the charge broke, before it was half way to the defenders, and the savages vanished in the thickets.
The soldiers began to exult, but Robert bade them reload as fast as possible, and keep well under cover.

The warriors from new points would fire at every exposed head, and they could not afford to relax their caution for an instant.
But it was a difficult task for the youthful veterans of the forest to keep the older but inexperienced men from the city under cover.

They had an almost overpowering desire to see the Indians who were shooting at them, and against whom they were sending their bullets.