noon
The children were secured where they would be out of the way of flying bullets . They were huddled together silent and frightened ; pale-faced but resolute women passed up and down the length of the block-house ; some carried buckets of water and baskets of food ; others were tearing bandages ; grim-faced men peered from the portholes ; all were listening for the war-cry . They had not long to wait . Before noon the well-known whoop came from the wooded shore of the river , and it was soon followed by the appearance of hundreds of Indians . The river , which was low , at once became a scene of great animation . From a placid , smoothly flowing stream it was turned into a muddy , splashing , turbulent torrent . The mounted warriors urged their steeds down the bank and into the water ; the unmounted improvised rafts and placed their weapons and ammunition upon them ; then they swam and pushed , kicked and yelled their way across ; other Indians swam , holding the bridles of the pack-horses .