“It is hard telling, I guess,” replied Edwards.
“Some trickery that we ain’t thinking about, I’ll be bound. Them Shawnees won’t give up so easy as all that.”
“Moffat—see here, Moffat!” called a man at one of the loop-holes.
“What’s the trouble there?”
“Just take a peep through the loop-hole and see whether there is anything to be seen.”
Moffat stepped forward as requested, and took a scrutinizing glance of the clearing in front. His suspicions were aroused, for he gazed several minutes without speaking a word.
“Do you make anything of it?” inquired his friend.
“Shawnees, as sure as thunder!”
“Pass the word to the others there, and blaze away.”
The pioneers were soon aware that the Shawnees were attempting to approach them. As they looked forth, they could see upon the outer edge of the clearing, their forms flat upon the ground, and creeping as stealthily as shadows. At the distance, and among the stumps and logs, it was hard to discover them, and none but a hunter’s eye would have done it. Orders were given to withhold the fire until they were much closer, and upon the point of rising for the result.