"
The mortar was ready charged, and they beheld Gideon, with a lighted
match, springing towards them. Several of the men drew aside in dismay;
but as Providence willed it, he was prevented from his purpose, the
light being struck from his hand, and himself tumbled backwards into a
deep and muddy ditch, extinguishing both light and life apparently
together. But he arose, and would have run a tilt at them in this
unsavoury condition, had he not been caught by one of his enemies, who
waggishly exclaimed--
"Let us yoke this great Amalekite to the gun. He'll help us well over
the ditch."
This goodly piece of advice was not neglected; and the unhappy Gideon,
fastened between two yoke-fellows, was dragged on by main force, the
hindmost threatening to shoot him if he made any resistance.
In vain did he cry out for vengeance upon them. His gods were deaf--no
miracle was wrought for his deliverance; and though he would have called
down fire from heaven upon his adversaries, the thunders he impiously
desired died harmless on his own tongue.
We again quote the words of the journal:--
"This action continued an houre, with the loss of two men on our part,
who, after they were mortally wounded, still fired upon the enemy, till
all retreating.
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