motions had no power before the realization of the horror which
must follow on defeat. The shadow of mutilation, of torture, of
unspeakable death made brave the surest weakling.

Many of the defenders were Indian, like the attacking horde, though of
superior race. Some were bastard whites, that most evil thing in human
production in the outlands. A few were white, other than the leaders.
Men belonging to that desperate crew always clinging to the fringe of
human effort, where wealth is won by the lucky turn of the spade.
Reckless creatures who live sunk in the deeps of indulgence of the
senses, and without a shred of the conscience with which they were
born. It was a collection of humanity such as only a man of Kars'
characteristics could have controlled. But for a desperate adventure
it might well have been difficult to find its equal. It was their
mission to fight, generally against the laws of society. But fight was
their mission, and they would fulfil it.

They were ready braced at their posts, and their leaders were in their
midst. The fierce yelling of advancing Indians was without effect.
They met the onslaught at close quarters with a fire as coldly
calculated as it was merciless. The rush of assault was doubtless
calculated to brush all defence aside in the first attack. But as well
might the Bell River leaders have hoped to spurn ferro concrete from
their path. The method was old. It was tried. It was as old as the
ages since the red man was first permitted to curse the joys of a
beautiful world. It was brave as only the savage mind understands
bravery. But it was as impotent before the defence as the beating of
captive wings against the iron bars of a cage.

The insensate horde came like the surging tide of driven waters. It
reeled before the flaming weapons like rollers on a breakwater. There
came the swirl and eddy. Then, in desperate defeat, it dropped back to
gather fresh impetus from the volume behind.

The conflict was shadowy, yet searching eyes outlined without
difficulty the half-naked, undersized forms as they came. There was
nothing wild in the defence. Fire was withheld till the moment of
contact. Then it poured out at pointblank range.

The carnage of that first onslaught was horrible. But the defenders
suffered only the lightest casualties. They labored under no delusion.
The attack would come again and again in the hope of creating a breach,
and that breach was the t