He looked at his watch. "It is not one o'clock yet," he observed; "and Bartle does not often make a mistake."
Just as he spoke, I saw the plumes of a chief's head-dress rising over a point of rocky ground round which the road passed, and shortly afterwards a band of painted warriors came into view. They approached very cautiously, and gazed about them, as if expecting at any moment to encounter an enemy. Finding, however, that none of us were visible, they began to advance at a more rapid rate. Immediately afterwards I saw another and a much larger party coming over the hill, who, as they drew near, scattered themselves in every direction, so as to be able to get under shelter behind the intervening rocks and shrubs.
"Tell the men to be ready," cried Uncle Jeff; "and charge them not to fire until I give the word,—they must not throw a shot away."
I ran hastily round the building, and ascertained that every man was at his post, prepared for whatever might happen. I then returned to Uncle Jeff for further orders.
Presently an Indian belonging to the party which had descended the hill advanced towards the house with a white handkerchief on a pole.
"The fellows have some pretensions to civilization," said Uncle Jeff when he saw it; "perhaps their white friends have put them up to that."
The Indian, having got within speaking distance, now halted; but seeing no one whom he could address, he proceeded around the building, apparently examining our preparations for defence. At length he again stopped, having satisfied himself that the building was fortified, and contained a garrison.
"Friends," he shouted, "do you want to lose your scalps? If not, march out and leave this house to us. We mean to come in."
Uncle Jeff now appeared at the window opposite to where the Indian was standing.
"Clear out of this, you rascal!" he exclaimed. "We do not intend that you shall have our scalps, or get inside these walls. If you make the attempt, you will pay dearly for it; that is what I've got to say."