d on the crest of the hill the others suddenly
came round in front of the house. They were on foot, and looked
inquiringly at the windows, as if at a loss to understand the cause of
the silence. Red Feather instantly drew back, and said in a low voice to
Melville--

"Speak to Injin--dem tink Red Feather lose scalp."

Grasping the situation, the youth showed himself at the window, where
the Sioux were sure to see him, and uttered a tantalizing shout.

"Let the Sioux send more of their warriors down the chimney!" he called
out; "the white youth is waiting for them, that he may take their
scalps."

This was followed by another shout, as the lad withdrew beyond reach of
a rifle-ball, that left no doubt of its meaning on the minds of the
astounded warriors.

CHAPTER SIX

THE MUDDY CREEK BAND--THE TORCH

It was easy for any spectator to interpret the actions and signals of
the Sioux warrior who was standing erect on his pony and waving his
blanket at some party invisible to the others.

After a minute or two he rested, with the blanket trailing beside him,
while he still held his erect position, and continued gazing earnestly
over the prairie. This showed that he was waiting for an answer to his
signal. Either there was none, or that which was given was not
satisfactory, for up went the blanket once more, and he swung it more
vigorously than before, stopping and gazing away again.

This time the reply was what was desired, for the warrior dropped as
suddenly astride of his horse as though his feet had been knocked from
under him, and, wheeling about, he and his companion galloped down the
hill to where the others were viewing the cabin.

The taunting words which Melville had called through the front window
must have convinced the Sioux that the pitcher had gone once too often
to the fountain. Red Feather had escaped by a wonderful piece of good
fortune when wedged in the window, and had been encouraged to another
attempt, which ended in his ruin.

"Red Feather," said Melville, stepping close to the chieftain, who was
still peering through one of the windows, "the other Sioux will soon be
here."

"Dat so--dat so," replied the Indian, looking around at him and nodding
his head several times.

"What will they do?"

[Illustration: "Standing erect and waving his blanket."]

Instead of replying to this question the chief seemed to be plunged in
thought. He gazed fixedly in the face of the youth, as if un