in the same silence.

Ambrose believed these quiet, ragged little warriors to be more
dangerous than their inflated leader. At least in their ignorance they
were honest; one could respect them.

In more ways than one Ambrose had felt drawn to the Kakisas. They
seemed to him a real people, largely unspoiled as yet by the impact of
a stronger race.

If he could only have talked to them, he thought. Surely in five
minutes he could put them to rights and overthrow this general of straw!

Watusk rode out of the circle, followed by Ambrose and Ambrose's guard.
Several of the leading men, including one that Ambrose guessed from his
size to be Myengeen, joined Watusk in front, and the main body made a
soft thunder of hoofs in the rear.

They were headed in a southeasterly direction--that is to say, back
toward the Kakisa River. They rode at a walk. There was no
conversation except among the leaders. The moon went down and the
shadows pressed closer.

In a little while there was a division. Myengeen, parted from Watusk
and rode off to the right, followed, Ambrose judged from the sounds, by
a great part of the horsemen.

The remainder kept on in the same direction. Half a mile farther
Watusk himself drew aside. Ambrose's guards and others joined him,
while the balance of the Indians rode on and were swallowed in the
darkness.

Watusk turned to the right. Presently they were stopped by a bluff of
poplar saplings growing in a hollow. Here all dismounted and tied
their horses to trees.

Ambrose's ankles were loosed and, with an Indian's hand on either
shoulder, he was guided through the grass around the edge of the trees.
He speculated vainly on what this move portended.

No attack, certainly; they were striking matches and lighting their
pipes. Suddenly the dim figures in front were swallowed up.

Immediately afterward Ambrose was led down an incline into a kind of
pit. The smell of turned earth was in his nostrils; he could still see
the stars overhead. They gave him a corner, and his ankles were again
tied.

Soon it began to grow light. Little by little Ambrose made out the
confines of the pit or trench. It was some twenty-five feet long and
five feet wide. When the Indians stood erect, the shortest man could
just look over the edge.

Ambrose counted twenty-one men besides Watusk and himself. It was
close quarters. When it became light enough to see clearly, they lined
up in front of him, eage