"Ay! you know they're in the habit of going for water—and this the savages know too—and ef they venture forth by themselves, as usual, the wily scoundrels will be deceived for once—for they won't mistrust thar hiding place is known; and as thar object is to carry the fort by stratagem, they won't unmask till they hear firing on t'other side."
"Good!—good!" exclaimed several voices; and forthwith the council proceeded to summon all the women of the station, and make known their plan for procuring a supply of water.
Not a little consternation was expressed in the faces of the latter, when informed of the perilous undertaking required of them.
"What! go right straight in among the Injen warmints—them male critters?" cried an old maid, holding up her hands in horror.
"Do you think we're invisible, and they can't see us?" said a second.
"Or bullet proof?" added a third.
"Or that our scalps arn't worth as much as yourn?" rejoined a fourth.
"Or of so little account you arn't afeared to lose us?" put in a fifth.
"We don't think any thing o' the kind," returned the spokesman on the part of the council; "but we do think, as I before explained, that you can go and come in safety; and that ef we don't have a supply o' water, we're likely to perish any how, and might as well throw open the gates and be butchered at once."
This last brief speech produced the desired effect, and a few words from Mrs. Younker completely carried the day.