"If you went over there to the woods you'd soon find out that they hadn't."
"Suppose they really went away. We'd have no way of knowing it and then we'd have to sit here forever all the same."
Obed laughed, despite the grimness of their situation.
"That is a problem," he said, "but if you can't work a problem it will work itself if you only give it enough time."
The morning was without result, but in the afternoon they saw figures stirring in the wood and concluded that some movement was at hand.
"Ned," said Obed, "I think we've either won in the contest of patience, or that something else has occurred to disturb the Lipans. Don't you see horses as well as Indians there among the trees?"
"I can count at least five horses, and I've no doubt there are others."
"All of which to my mind indicates a rush on horseback. Perhaps they think they can gallop over us. We'd better lay our pistols on the logs, where we can get at 'em quick, and be ready."
Ned's sharp eye caught sight of more horses at another point.
"They're coming from all sides," he said.