At the sight he rushed downstairs, and found the boys hastily gathering in the dark living room, arming themselves from the gun rack, and taking their places beside the windows.
In the middle of the room stood the major, supporting with one arm the unsteady form of his brother Frederic, who had risen at the first alarm in spite of his wound, and who insisted upon fighting with the rest.
"The Gray Wolves have come," he said. "They will be hard to drive off. But you must do it, or go yourselves."
Stella and the young Japanese girl were standing at one of the windows peering fearfully out.
"Come away from there, Stella," said Ted. "They might see you and fire."
"All right, Ted, but you can bet that I will be in this somewhere," said Stella. "It's my business to defend this girl, and I'm going to do it."
Ted smiled, but said nothing, and passed on around the room, seeing that the boys were properly placed to resist the attack when it came.
Outside all was quiet again. The howls had ceased, and not a man was in evidence anywhere. It was the calm before the storm.
"What's the plan?" said Bud, coming up to Ted, for he and Clay had run into the house at Ted's shot from the cupola.
"I hardly know," answered Ted. "My plan is somewhat upset. I thought at first that they were going to attack us immediately in this room. But they seem to have changed their minds."