"I would not do it, Captain," Fred said calmly; "if I were in command of the troops. Your men are worn out by the march, while the Indians are no doubt ready for an attack. Then, too, if the attack should fail, the night would intervene and disconcert us. My advice would be to give the troops a thorough rest, start out when darkness has set in, and attack the Pequot village toward the morning. This will not give them any time to gather their forces." "That advice seems good to me," the Captain says; "I myself entertained similar thoughts. But pray, tell us more of the plan." "We may start fires," Fred resumed, "since the storm rages and the woods hide the smoke. Also from the Indian village the smoke can not be seen, since it is closed in by trees. So the soldiers can thoroughly rest. When we attack I would supply a number of brave and enterprising men with burning fire brands. These will proceed to the village and set it on fire. The rest is a matter for all of us who fight." The plan was adopted, and the march was not resumed until late at night. Just before daybreak the white men surrounded the slumbering village. Due to the severe storm the Indians had not even placed guards around the village, since they did not expect the enemy to attack them. So it happened that the attack worked out successfully. Fred himself led those who carried the fire brands, and they succeeded in entering the palisaded village and setting it on fire. Eggleston in his "History of the United States and Its People" reports the battle, and says: "In the war which followed this attack, the whole Pequot tribe was broken up, and the other Indians were so terrified that New England had peace for many years after." All this is true, for Eggleston is a fine historian, who always relates the events truthfully and accurately. Yet the matter was not as simple as all that. In fact, there was much marching and lighting and suffering, before peace was restored. Fred and Matthew took part in it, until all was ended, and the troops returned to the settlements. But they were heartily glad that the fight was over, for war was very distasteful to them, and their aim in life was not to be good soldiers and kill, but to be useful citizens who could serve both whites and Indians with the more blessed and valuable arts and pursuits of peace. How eager they were to accomplish these, will be learned from the last chapter of our story, in which we find our three young pioneers back at the trading post on the Connecticut River. CHAPTER XIV CHRISTMAS AT THE TRADING POST Christmas Day is always a day of great joy and blessed peace. Fred was glad that it could be celebrated in a peaceful manner, the only way which becomes this great peace day of the Prince of Peace. Let us note how Fred with Matthew and Agnes, spent this day in glorifying their Lord.