"Then your time is up, and we shall attack at once," returned the leader of the desperadoes. "Am I not right, White Ox?"
"You have spoken truly," came from the Indian chief. "Soon the blood of the white soldiers will flow freely."
Without another word White Ox galloped away, and Matt Gilroy went after him.
"We are up against a battle now!" exclaimed Lieutenant Bacon.
"I have done my best to delay the contest—I can do no more," said Captain Moore.
When he returned inside of the stockade he was immediately surrounded.
"Boys, we must fight," he said in a loud, clear voice. "They will wait no longer. But re-enforcements must be on the way by this time. Can I depend upon your standing by me?"
"Yes! yes!" was the cry.
"We know how to do our duty to Uncle Sam and the flag!"
"Let the desperadoes and the Indians come on! We'll give them as hot a reception as they ever got!"