At length the Indians began the attack; and, warming to their work, the emigrants grew less and less despondent, especially after they had several times driven back their red foes with considerable loss, and with no serious result to themselves.
By and by one of the teamsters, who had once been an old hunter and trapper, crept out of the camp to reconnoiter, and returned with the evil tidings that the Indians had been reënforced by a large band that had just come up.
Then followed a long season of quiet, and the emigrants felt assured that their enemies were plotting some scheme of devilment against them.
Then, how they longed for the return of Buffalo Bill. Suddenly there was a scene of commotion in the enemy’s lines, and rapid firing followed.
The emigrants believed that at last Buffalo Bill had returned and was attacking Red Dick and his villainous crew with the band of Pawnee braves for whom he had gone in search.
But they almost instantly knew that loud and ringing hello was not from Indian throats, but that it was the hearty cheer of trained soldiers; and the next moment a dark and rapidly moving mass was seen approaching, and the stern order was heard:
“We are friends; open the barrier!”
“La Clyde! Hurrah, hurrah!” went up from the delighted emigrants.
Then into the encampment dashed a score of troopers, with Captain Percy la Clyde at their head.