“But the United States’ army has stations about here, eh?” inquired Ernest.
“Few and far between,” replied Mr Rawlings. “As I told you some little time since, the nearest one to us is at least a hundred miles away. Besides that, the detachments quartered here and there are so attenuated in their numbers that five or six of the so-called companies have to be concentred together from the different outlying depots in order to muster any respectable contingent that could take the field against the Indians should they rise in force.”
“An’ them Sioux under Spotted Cloud, or whatever else they call their precious chief, ain’t to be despised, I guess, in a free fight,” said Seth.
“Pray don’t talk any more about them,” said the young engineer, laughing, as he took off his wideawake and ran his fingers through his curly brown hair. “I declare my scalp feels quite ticklish already.”
“Them redskins ’ud tickle it a sight worse if they got holt of it,” said Seth grimly, cocking his rifle as he spoke. “But I reckon I heerd somethin’ russlin’ about thaar to the back of yer, mister,” he added suddenly, gazing intently in the direction he had intimated, to the rear of the young engineer, where the prairie-grass had already grown to some height.
“What was it?” said Mr Rawlings, likewise preparing his weapon, and telling Ernest to follow suit. “Did you see it at all?”
And he peered anxiously about to the right and left.
“Yes, jist for a minnit,” responded the ex-mate. “It wer a longish sorter animale; a catamount or a wolf, maybe. Thaar! Thaar! I seed it again! Jerusalem! I have it!”
And he fired as he spoke, quick as lightning, as a dark object bounded from the cover and made a direct plunge at the young engineer, who was taken unawares, and came to the ground, as much from the suddenness of the shock as from the impulse of the animal’s spring.
“Stay!” shouted Mr Rawlings, as Seth was rushing forwards with his clubbed rifle to where Ernest Wilton and his assailant appeared struggling together amidst the grass that almost concealed them from view. “I’ll settle the beast, if you hold back a minute and let me have a clear aim.”