Why, Lord bless you, the Indians might ambush and tomahawk the lot, before they had time to think of opening their lips to give a shout." The second three boats had now disappeared among the trees, and Colonel Parker gave the word for the rest to advance in a body.
"Look to your firelocks, lads," James said.

"Whatever happens, keep perfectly cool.

You at the oars, especially, sit still and be ready to obey orders." The boats were within fifty yards of the trees when, from beneath the drooping boughs, a volley of musketry was poured out, and, a moment later, a swarm of canoes darted out from beneath the branches, and the terrible Indian war whoop rang in the air.
Appalled by the suddenness of the attack, by the deadly fire, and the terrible yells, the greater portion of the men in the boats were seized with the wildest panic.

Many of them jumped into the water.

Others threw themselves down in the bottom of the boats.