erlitz, and while no Austerlitz is likely to
happen down here in the wilderness of Northern Mexico there is nothing
to keep those who are able from copying a great man."

The appeal to Ned's pride was not lost.

"I think I'll try it," he said.

He lay down behind the log with his rifle by his side, and closed his
eyes. He had no idea that he could go to sleep, but he wished to show
Obed his calmness in face of danger. Yet he did sleep, and he did not
awaken until Obed's hand fell upon his shoulder. He would have sprung
up, all his faculties not yet regained, but Obed's hand pressed him
down.

"Don't forget where you are, Ned," said the Maine man, "and that we are
still besieged."

Yet the night was absolutely still and Ned, from his recumbent position,
looked up at a clear sky and many glittering stars.

"Has anything happened?" he asked.

"Not a thing. No Lipan has shown himself even among the trees."

"About what time do you think it is?"

"Two or three hours after midnight, and now I'm going to take a nap
while you watch. Ned, do you know, I've an idea those fellows are going
to sit in the woods indefinitely, safe, beyond range, and wait for us to
come out. Doesn't it make you angry?"

"It does, and it makes me angry also to think that they have our horses.
Those were good horses."

Obed slept until day, and Ned watched with a vigilance that no creeping
enemy could pass. The Lipans made no movement, but the siege, silent and
invisible, went on. Ned had another attack of the nerves, but, as his
comrade was sleeping soundly, he took no trouble to hide it, and let the
spell shake itself out.

The day was bright, burning and hot, and it threatened to pass like its
predecessor, in silence and inaction. Ned and Obed had been lying down
or sitting down so long that they had grown stiff, and now, knowing that
they were out of range they stood up and walked boldly about, tensing
and flexing their muscles, and relieving the bodily strain. Ned thought
that their appearance might tempt the Lipans to a shot or some other
demonstration, but no sound came from the woods, and they could not see
any human presence there. "Maybe they have gone away after all," said
Ned hopefully.

"If you went over there to the woods you'd soon find out that they
hadn't."

"Suppose they really went away. We'd have no way of knowing it and then
we'd have to sit here forever all the same."

Obed laughed, despite the grimness of their