at the same time discharging an ineffective charge of small shot at the
front robber. At this the leader shouted, “This is too hot, boys, we must
take to the woods,” and all hastened back up the bank. But as they moved
away, they must have heard the retreat of the pickets, who broke and ran,
one leaving his time-honored Prussian musket in the brush, and another
losing his valuable set of false teeth, for after moving up into the woods
for a distance of not more than twenty rods, they wheeled and crossed the
ford in the coolest and most deliberate manner. The alarm was immediately
carried to Waterville, and the base of operations were soon changed. In
the meantime the St. Paul party, with several active and intrepid
Northfield men, had been actively on the trail, and just at dusk a sight
of the enemy was obtained as they were breaking across a distant cornfield
for the cover of the woods.