“There must have been a cloud-burst up the gulch,” said one of the men.
“Yes, that was what happened,” said Holden. “Well, it was a good thing for us, for it has put the redskins to flight.”
“It has put some of them to death,” said Perkins. “I see three bodies, yonder.”
“They were hit by the logs, and then drowned afterwards,” said another.
“Yas. Well, it saved us the trouble of shooting them.”
“So it did,” said Holden.
“But, our houses are burned down!” murmured one of the women. “They have burned our homes, and the flood has spoiled the ground that had been fixed for planting.”
“Oh, well, we can do the work over again,” said Perkins. “And we can build new houses.”
“Yes, that’s so,” said Holden. “I’m mighty glad the flood happened along and drowned a few of the redskins and scared the others away.”
By the middle of the afternoon the ground was dry again, the sun having come out and shone brightly, and the settlers went out and buried the three dead Indians. Then they returned to the fort, and when nightfall came, they placed two men on guard, for they thought it possible that the Indians might come back again.