Many of the Vigilants were wounded, and Captain Harmon was angry.
“Confound an Injun!” he muttered, in disgust. “They have sich a sneakin’ way of fighting. They allus attack one after dark, an’ hain’t got the pluck to come out in the open an’ fight.”
Everybody was bound to acknowledge the logic of this.
But the savages kept up the same mode of attack until Frank Reade, Jr., made a diversion.
Barney had succeeded in getting up steam once more in the Steam Man, and now Frank Reade, Jr., approached Harmon.
“Give me five men,” he declared, “and I will whip the foe for you.”
“Five men!” gasped Harmon. “Why, they’re ten to one out there.”
“I don’t care if they are.”
“But——”
“Will you give me the men?”