“He’s gone after help,” muttered the soldier.
“Yeh. Dat’s it. S’pose we stay here, den dey ketch us all, same like buff’lo. S’pose we don’t like dat, den we mus’ git ’way, ’fore dey gits back ag’in. Dat right, eh?”
“Yes; we must make a move. Surely we can manage those fellows, yonder. If we do, and can catch some of the horses, we can ride back to camp to-night. But how shall we do it, Tom?”
“Stop—me t’ink a little. Plenty time—no hurry,” and then the Delaware appeared deep-buried in thought.
CHAPTER VI.
TOM MAXWELL TURNS INDIAN.
Major Calhoun and Tom Maxwell “listened with all their ears,” for a sound they fervently hoped would never come—the wild yells of exultation, telling that their messenger had been captured by the Indians, and the dissipation of their last hope.
And thus they remained for several minutes, without a sound to greet their hearing, save the usual ones of the night. But then, just as they were congratulating themselves upon the complete success of the venture, their blood was fairly curdled and their hearts wrung by a startling alarm.
From some distance came the noise, then arose a wild tumult and outcry, as of human voices, the owners of which were engaged in a bitter struggle for life and death. And then from the prairie around the beleaguered train, there sounded the shrill cries and signals of the aroused warriors, followed by the rapid tread of several horses in full gallop, all tending toward the point below, where had first sounded the alarm.
“My God! Tom, the boy is lost!” groaned Calhoun, agonizedly, as he sunk back and covered his face with his hands.
“I’m feared he is, boss, but look up. Don’t give way now, jest when we need our wits the wust. What’s did is did, an’ cain’t be ondid, nuther. Think o’ the rest—o’ Miss Clary—an’ ’member ef we go under, so’ll she, ’thout a doubt. Ha! look—they’re comin’!” he added, suddenly, as several figures appeared in view upon the prairie beyond. “Look out, boys—gi’ the pesky imps a lettle thunder, jest to let ’em know what they’ve got to ixpect herea’ter!”