altogether. They've got plenty of plunder and scalps at the
settlements, and their attacking us here in such force looks as if
the hull of 'em were on their way back to their villages. If they
could have tuk our scalps easy they would have done it; but War Eagle
aint likely to risk losing a lot of men when he aint sartin of
winning, after all. He has done good work as it is, and has quite
enough to boast about when he gets back. If he were to lose a heap of
his braves here it would spoil the success of his expedition. No, I
think as he will give it up now."

"He will be all the more anxious to catch the children," Mrs. Welch
said despondently.

"It can't be denied, ma'am, as he will do his best that way," Pearson
answered. "It all depends, though, on the boy. I wish I was with him
in that canoe. Howsomever, I can't help thinking as he will
sarcumvent 'em somehow."

The night passed without any further attack. By turns half the
garrison watched while the other lay down, but there was little sleep
taken by any. With the first gleam of daylight Mrs. Welch and her
husband were on the lookout.

"There's two canoes out on the lake," Pearson said. "They're paddling
quietly; which is which I can't say."

As the light became brighter Pearson pronounced, positively, that
there were three men in one canoe and four in the other.

"I think they're all Injuns," he said. "They must have got another