He looked around him.
No grove, not so much as a bush or a tree, only the hard, level plain and the prairie grass.
“This is a bad place,” he said; “but I must make my stand here for all that.”
He turned to the waiting emigrants.
“The three head teams face around in a half circle, and the hind teams turn from the other way. Every one of the animals, and all the women and young uns inside the ring. Every man see that his weapons are well loaded and primed, and have his knife ready to clap his hand on. Use the wheels of the wagons for posts and lookout ports.”
His orders were rapidly obeyed.
The wagons swung around: all the women, children and teams on the inside, and thus a strong corral was formed.
Behind the wagons, forming the circle, crouched the stout-hearted defenders, looking out upon the plain in the direction from which the foe was seen advancing.
Onward at a swift, swinging gallop came the enemy, their horses taking in the excitement of the affair and literally leaping over the level course.
On, steadily on, until but a quarter of a mile intervened between them and the wagons.