but at that time of day he knew they were accustomed to stop work and
come out upon the prairie for the purpose of enjoying the cool breeze
of evening. At the same time, when such constant danger threatened,
they were accustomed to have one of their number, either all or a part
of the time, on the ground above, where the approach of enemies could
be detected.

The absence of anything like a sentinel increased the boy's
apprehensions, and when he had waited some fifteen minutes without
seeing anything of his friends he became painfully uneasy.

'What if they had been killed? What if they were prisoners? What if a
hundred Indians were at that moment in the possession of Wolf Ravine?

Such and similar were the questions which the affrighted boy asked
himself, and which, with all his shrewdness, he was unable to answer.

In the hope of attracting attention he set up a shrieking with the
whistle, which sounded so loud on the still evening air that it must
have gone miles away over the level prairie.

There being no response to this he kept it up for some time, but it
still failed, and all this confirmed him in the belief that 'something
was up.'

What that particular something was it was impossible to say, so long
as he sat in the wagon, and for five minutes he endeavored to decide
whether it was best to get out and make a reconnoissance on his own
hook or remain where, in case of danger, he could seek safety in
flight.