“God only knows; I don’t like that camp-fire.”
“Let it burn for a short time; they don’t need it long, and then it can be allowed to die out.”
“But it will betray our position.”
“Do you suppose there is any means possible by which we can conceal it?”
“Not entirely, but partly.”
As the night deepened it became of intense darkness. There was no moon, and the sky was entirely overcast with clouds, so that there was scarcely any light at all. The few flakes of snow that were whirling through the air had entirely ceased, but the wind still whistled through the grove.
“There is a moon up there,” said Hammond, “and if the clouds break away at all, we shall have enough light to guide us on our way.”
On account of the danger, which all knew threatened them, a number proposed that as soon as their animals had had sufficient rest, they should move out of the timber and continue their journey; but this was finally overruled, as they were not only likely to go astray in the darkness, but the Indians could easily find them, from the unavoidable noise made by their wagons.
If attacked on the open prairie at night, they were entirely at the mercy of their assailants, who could easily encircle and tomahawk and shoot them all, while in the grove they could make a fight with some prospect of success.
So it was prudently determined to remain where they were.