Some hastily arrayed in their war dress, with coronets of fluttering feathers, and their bodies smeared with paint; others naked and only furnished with the weapons they had snatched up.

The women and children gathered on the tops of the lodges and heightened the confusion of the scene by their vociferation.

Old men who could no longer bear arms took similar stations, and harangued the warriors as they passed, exhorting them to valorous deeds.

Some of the veterans took arms themselves, and sallied forth with tottering steps.

In this way, the savage chivalry of the village to the number of five hundred, poured forth, helter-skelter, riding and running, with hideous yells and war-whoops, like so many bedlamites or demoniacs let loose.
After a while the tide of war rolled back, but with far less uproar.
Either it had been a false alarm, or the enemy had retreated on finding themselves discovered, and quiet was restored to the village.