In spite of every command and entreaty a man would raise his head now and then, and one, as he did so, received a bullet between the eyes, falling back quietly, dead before he touched the ground.
"A brave lad has been lost," whispered Tayoga to Robert, "but he has been an involuntary example to the rest." The Onondaga spoke in his precise school English, but he knew what he was saying, as the soldiers now became much more cautious, and controlled their impulse to raise up for a look, after every shot.
Another man was wounded, but the hurt was not serious and he went on with his firing.

Robert, seeing that the line on the flank could be held without great difficulty, left Tayoga in command, and crept back to the main force, where the bullets were coming much faster.
Two of the soldiers in the center had been slain, and three had been wounded, but Captain Colden had not given ground.

He was sitting behind a rocky outcrop and at the suggestion of Willet was giving orders to his men.

Oppressed at first by the ambush and weight of responsibility he was exulting now in their ability to check the savage onset.

Robert was quite willing to play a little to his pride and he said in the formal military manner: "I wish to report, sir, that all is going well on the southern flank.
One of our men has been killed, but we have made it impossible for the enemy to advance there." "Thank you, Mr.Lennox," said the young captain with dignity.