"There's little hope now that we can hold the enemy in check even for an hour, in case they should make an attack, for I don't believe we have twenty cartridges left."
"And but two guns, for I lost mine when I was blown down the side of the mountain," Neal added.
"Don't make the mistake of searching for trouble," Cummings interrupted. "It is sufficient to know that we are alive and uninjured. The Indians will not bother us for some time."
Not until considerably past midnight did the rain cease falling; but the wind storm still continued, and Poyor said, speaking for the first time since the party were united:
"It will not be possible to leave here until sunrise. Those who can sleep should try to do so, for we may have a hard day's work before us to-morrow."
"I should as soon think of sleeping during a battle," Teddy replied with a shudder. "The suspense is worse than actual danger."
"What can you be afraid of just now?" Jake asked.
"At this particular moment, nothing: but I feel positive that when the sun rises we shall find ourselves surrounded by the Indians."
This was not a pleasant subject of conversation, and it was dropped as if by mutual consent.
The wind seemed icy cold, and the fugitives nestled closer together for protection against the blast, counting the slowly passing moments until heralds of the coming dawn appeared in the sky.