ATTACK, AND REPULSE, 625

had not perceived it, we found they had been joined by some more
of the same, so that they were near fourscore horse, whereof, how-
ever, we fancied some were women. ‘They came on till they were
within half shot of our little wood, when we fired one musket
without ball, and called to them in the Russian tongue to know
what they wanted, and bid them keep off. But, as if they knew
nothing of what we said, they came on with a double fury, directly
up to the wood-side, not imagining we were so barricaded that
they could not break in. Our old pilot was our captain. as well
as he had been our engincer, and desired of us not to fire upon
them till they came within pistol-shot, and that we might be sure
to kill; and that, when we did fire, we should be sure to take good
aim. We bade him give the word of command, which he delayed
so long that they were, some of them, within two pikes’ length of
us when we fired.

We aimed so true, or Providence directed our shot so sure, that
we killed fourteen of them, and wounded several others, as also
several of their horses; for we had all of us loaded our pieces with
two or three bullets at least.

They were terribly surprised with our fire, and retreated im-
mediately about one hundred rods from us, in which time we
loaded our pieces again; and seeing them keep that distance, we
sallied out, and caught four or five of their horses, whose riders,
we suppose, were killed, and, coming up to the dead, we could
easily perceive they were Tartars, but knew not from what country,
or how they came to make an excursion such an unusual length.

About an hour after, they made a motion to attack us again,
and rode round our little wood to see where else they might break
in; but finding us always ready to face them, they went off again,
and we resolved not to stir from the place for that night.

We slept little, you may be sure, but spent the most part of the
night in strengthening our situation, and barricading the entrances
into the wood, and keeping a strict watch. We waited for day-
light, and when it came it gave us a very unwelcome discovery
indeed; for the enemy, whom we thought were discouraged with
the reception they had met with, were now increased to no less
than three hundred, and had set up eleven or twelve huts and