Turning his horse's head towards the gates, he plunged spurs into his side, and with a pistol in each hand, dashed through the savage ranks, firing as he went.

Blowing a blast upon his horn to recall those of his dogs which were still alive, he escaped on foot into the fort, just in time to let the gate shut in the face of the foremost Indian.
His horse, history tells us, was killed under him, and he had five bullet holes through his clothes, but his skin was unbroken.
[Illustration: SAM'S PARTY.] Francis and his followers were balked but not beaten.

Retiring for a few minutes behind the hill, they rallied and came again to the assault, more furiously than ever.

Their savage instincts were thoroughly aroused by the unexpected defeat they had sustained in the very moment of their victory, and they were determined now to take the fort at any cost.
Their plan of attack showed the skill of their leader, who was really a man of considerable ability in spite of his fanatical belief in his own prophetic gifts.

He avoided both the errors usually committed by Indian leaders in storming fortified places.