“Light come by ’m by,” was the reply.
The girl was about to urge the half-breed to explain, when his hand fell lightly upon her arm. She knew the meaning of that touch and remained silent.
Their foes were moving.
For many minutes a dreadful suspense held the watchers in the mouth of the cave. Ahdeek crouched in the gloom, knife in hand, and rifle across his knee. Silver Rifle, too, was ready to encounter the Indians, who they knew were planning some devilish surprise.
The painful silence told this.
“Injun near now,” whispered Ahdeek, in the lowest of voices, and then he prepared for a spring.
Silver Rifle held her breath, for it was the decisive moment.
Looking from the cave, they could see the pretty stars that shone upon the lake.
Suddenly the celestial worlds were blotted from their vision.
A mass of humanity had leaped into the aperture.