ADVENTUKES IN LOUISIANA. 203 



" ' Then cut it short,' cried Asa, sternly. ' You'd 

 have done better to explain before you burned down 

 our houses, like a pack of Mohawks on the war- 

 path.' 



" As he spoke, three bullets whistled from the edge 

 of the forest and struck the stockades within a few 

 inches of the loophole at which he stood. They 

 were fired by the Creoles, who, although they could 

 not possibly distinguish Asa, had probably seen his 

 rifle-barrel or one of his buttons glitter through the 

 opening. As soon as they had fired they sprang be- 

 hind their trees again, craning their heads forward to 

 hear if there was a groan or a cry. They'd have done 

 better to have kept quiet ; for Righteous and I caught 

 a sight of them, and let fly at the same moment. 

 Two of them fell and rolled from behind the trees, 

 and we saw that they were the Creole called 

 Croupier, and another of our horse-dealing friends. 



" When the Spanish officer heard the shots he ran 

 back to his men, and shouted out, ' Forward ! To 

 the assault ! ' They came on like mad a distance of 

 thirty paces, and then, as if they thought we were 

 wild geese to be frightened by their noise, they fired 

 a volley against the blockhouse. 



" ' Now, then ! ' cried Asa, ' are you loaded, Nathan 

 and Righteous ] I take the captain you, Nathan, 

 the lieutenant Righteous, the third officer James, 

 the sergeant. Mark your men, and waste no 

 powder. ' 



