"How many do you think are out there now?" inquired Brinton.
"I should say between twenty and thirty—that is, there were a few minutes ago, but there are five or six less now."
"What is the meaning of that?"
The leader turned his bronzed face toward the youth and smiled significantly.
"Don't you catch on? They have sent after reinforcements: a slight number now means a big number pretty soon."
"Have you noticed those bucks on the top of the ridge yonder?"
Captain Wadsworth looked in the direction named. Three Indians had dismounted, and were standing close together, or rather two of them were, while the third seemed to be stooping and busy with something on the ground.
"How long have they been there?" asked the leader.
"They rode up the slope within the last five minutes. They were off their ponies before they stopped. I can't guess what they are doing."
"I don't know; but we shall soon learn."