THE BETTER PART OF VALOUR. 483

ammunition they had, and retreated towards the place in the wood
where their wives were sent, keeping at a distance, yet so that
they might see, if possible, which way the savages took.

They had not gone far, but that from a rising ground they could
see the little army of their enemies come on directly to their habi-
tation, and in a moment more could see all their huts and house-
hold stuff flaming up together, to their great grief and mortifica-
tion; for they had a very great loss, to them irretrievable, at least
for some time. They kept their station for a while, till they
found the savages, like wild beasts, spread themselves all over the
place, rummaging every way and every place they could think of
in search for prey, and in particular for the people, of whom it
now plainly appeared they had intelligence.

The two Englishmen seeing this, thinking themselves not secure
where they stood, because, as it was likely some of the wild people
might come that way, so they might come too many together,
thought it proper to make another retreat about half a mile further,
believing, as it afterwards happened, that the further they strolled,
the fewer would be together.

The next halt was at the entrance into a very thick grown part
of the woods, and where an old trunk of a tree stood, which was
hollow and vastly large; and in this tree they both took their
standing, resolving to see there what might offer.

' They had not stood-there long but two of the savages appeared
running directly that way, as if they had already had notice where
they stood, and were coming up to attack them; and a little way
further they spied three more coming after them, and five more
beyond them, all coming the same way; besides which they saw
seven or eight more at a distance, running another way; for, in
a word, they ran every way like sportsmen beating for their game.

The poor men were now in great perplexity whether they should
stand and keep their posture or fly; but after a very short debate with
themselves, they considered that if the savages ranged.the country
thus before help came, they might perhaps find out their retreat
in the woods, then all would be lost; so they resolved to stand
them there: and if they were too many to deal with, then they
would get up to the top of the tree, from whence they doubted