“Are you hurt?” asked Barringford of Rodney, as he saw the young soldier stagger.
“No, an arrow hit me in the coat-sleeve, that’s all—it didn’t get through my shirt though.”
One of the regulars had been struck by a bullet in the shoulder, and his friends had to help him along. Then the Indians sent forth more arrows, one of which tore through little Nell’s dress.
“Oh!” cried the little miss, in great terror.
“Give ’em a dose o’ their own medicine!” ordered Barringford. “Make the shots tell!” And then everybody fired at the advancing foe, and three of the red warriors pitched into the grass, while two others stopped running and then limped to the rear, badly wounded.
Hempser was looking around anxiously for the cave. At first he could not locate it, but, just as the Indians advanced again, he discovered a hole and rushed towards it.
“Here you are!” he shouted. “This way! Once in the cave, I think we can hold ’em at bay!”
“Into the cave!” cried Barringford. “Mrs. Dobson and the children first. Hempser, is there a back opening?”
“Yes, but not a very big one. We can close it up with loose rocks.”
“Then you run back and pile up the rocks. The others remain at this opening, to keep the Indians at a distance.”