"I ken hear de bullets a whistlin' ober head, an' it do 'peah ez ef dey was comin' lower down."
"W'at mattle if dey no comee low nuff down to hult? Let 'em singee, lat's alle lite," grunted Wah Shin, as he crouched closer to the rock, and hugged to his breast a big stone, which he intended to use to the best advantage when the proper time came.
Sam Willett was by instinct a soldier.
This useless attack had a purpose in it, and he was not long in reaching a right conclusion.
To encourage Ike and Wah Shin, he gave them the benefit of his reasoning.
"That firing, off there, is all a dodge," he said.
"Tink dey're shootin' foh fun, Mistah Sam?"
"No, Ike, they are in dead earnest, but their object is to take our attention away from the point of danger."
"De odder side."
"Yes; the attack will be made along the trail leading from the ground to the top of the rock, and we must be prepared for it," said Sam.