But they were doomed men.  With a yell the American boys swept down upon them.  Frank and his comrades rushed into the water, and there was a battle that must have resembled those of the old Vikings.  Back and forth the combatants struggled, shooting, hacking, swinging their gun butts.  Some of them, locked in a death grip, went down together in the water that was taking on a reddish tinge.  Others floated away on the stream.  Others of the enemy, seeing that the fight was going against them, leaped back into the boats and strove desperately to push out into the river.  But Frank leaped at the bow of one boat and held it, while Bart and Billy with their comrades did the same to others.