Nothing could be gained by heeding the riflemen.
All his sight and strength must now be used to watch and guard the only ascent by which their position could be reached without the highest scaling ladders, and of such mechanical appliances there was no danger.
Sam placed Ike and Wah Shin in position again, and whispered to them not to hurl a stone till he gave the word.
This done he brought his rifle to a half cock, and making sure that his cartridges were within reach, he knelt down with the muzzle of his gun covering the trail.
The dry, still air carried every sound.
Though Badger and Shirley moved with the stealth of Indians, yet their labored breathing, and, now and then, the fall of their feet came to Sam's ears.
He was sure he could hear two men whispering under the rocks. He took a firmer hold of his rifle and tried to look through the intense darkness that covered the route by which the attack must be made.
The strain of that long wait was more trying to strength and courage than would have been a prompt attack.
Five, ten, fifteen minutes passed, and still the riflemen to the east kept up their desultory, but harmless firing.
The darkness that added to the difficulties of the defense, was not a great advantage to the attacking party.