his hand, and the dust, flying up, made him sneeze. The Indian turned
and saw them. With a low cry and the spring of a tiger Pierre was at
his throat; and in another minute they were struggling on the ground.
Pierre's hand never let go. His comrades did not stir; he had warned
them to lie still. They saw the terrible game played out within arm's
length of them. They heard Pierre say at last, as the struggles of the
Indian ceased: "Beast! You had Father Halen's life. I have yours."

There was one more wrench of the Indian's limbs, and then he lay still.

They crawled nearer the gate, still hidden in the shadows and the grass.
Presently they came to a clear space. Across this they must go, and
enter the Fort before they were discovered. They got to their feet, and
ran with wonderful swiftness, Pierre leading, to the gate. They had just
reached it when there was a cry from the walls, on which two Indians
were sitting. The Indians sprang down, seized their spears, and lunged
at the seven as they entered. One spear caught Little Babiche in the arm
as he swung aside, but with the butt of his musket Noel dropped him.
The other Indian was promptly handled by Pierre himself. By this time
Corvette and Jose had shut the gates, and the Fort was theirs--an easy
conquest. The Indians were bound and gagged.

The adventurers had done it all without drawing the attention of the
howling crowd without. The matter was in its infancy, however. They
had the place, but could they hold it? What food and water were there
within? Perhaps they were hardly so safe besieged as besiegers. Yet
there was no doubt on Pierre's part. He had enjoyed the adventure so far
up to the hilt. An old promise had been kept, and an old wrong avenged.

"What's to be done now?" said Macavoy. "There'll be hell's own racket;
and they'll come on like a flood."

"To wait," said Pierre, "and dam the flood as it comes. But not a bullet
till I give the word. Take to the chinks. We'll have them soon."

He was right: they came soon. Someone had found the dead body of Young
Eye; then it was discovered that the gate was shut. A great shout went
up. The Indians ran to their lodges for spears and hatchets, though
the weapons of many were within the Fort, and soon they were about the
place, shouting in impotent rage. They could not tell how many invaders
were in the Fort; they suspected it was the Little Skins, their ancient
enemies. But Young Eye, they saw, had not been scal