eir enemies are on the war-path, and will ere long
attempt to take their scalps."

"They had better not try that game," said Uncle Jeff; "if they do, they
will find that they have made a mistake."

"The Redskins fight not as do the Palefaces; they try to take their
enemies by surprise," answered Winnemak. "They will wait until they can
find the white men scattered about over the farm, when they will swoop
down upon them like the eagle on its prey; or when all are slumbering
within, they will creep up to the house, and attack it before there is
time for defence."

"Much obliged for your warning, friend," said Uncle Jeff; "but I should
like to know more about these enemies, and where they are to be found.
We might manage to turn the tables, and be down upon them when they
fancy that we are all slumbering in security, and thus put them to the
right-about."

"They are approaching as stealthily as the snake in the grass," answered
Winnemak. "Unless you can get on their trail, it will be no easy matter
to find them."

"Who are these enemies you speak of; and how do you happen to know that
they are coming to attack us?" asked Uncle Jeff, who generally suspected
all Indian reports, and fancied that Winnemak was merely repeating what
he had heard, or, for some reason of his own--perhaps to gain credit to
himself--had come to warn us of a danger which had no real existence.

"I was leading forth my braves to revenge the loss we suffered last
year, when our scouts brought word that they had fallen in with a large
war-party of Arrapahas and Apaches, far too numerous for our small band
to encounter with any chance of success. We accordingly retreated,
watching for an opportunity to attack any parties of the enemy who might
become separated from the larger body. They also sent out their scouts,
and one of these we captured. My braves were about to put him to death,
but I promised him his liberty if he would tell me the object of the
expedition. Being a man who was afraid to die, he told us that the
party consisted of his own tribe and the Apaches, who had been joined by
some Spanish Palefaces; and that their object was not to make war on
either the Kaskayas or the Pawnees, but to rob a wealthy settler living
on the side of the mountains, as well as any other white men they might
find located in the neighbourhood. Feeling sure that their evil designs
were against my friends, I directed my people to follow me, while I
has