l see some fires built up if we remain
undiscovered."

Sure enough, in the course of an hour, squaws began to come forth from
their lodges and replenish their waning fires.

As these blazed up they stood about them, jabbered, turned, and warmed
themselves, yawned, and then one by one returned to their skin couches
and betook themselves again to sleep. And again the soldiers and their
citizen allies were left to meditate, and in whispers to commune with
each other.

Their thoughts and words were serious, for they well knew that where
now all was peace, war in its veriest horror was soon to rage. The men
doubted not that many of them would fill graves in that wild mountain
valley before the morrow's sun should set, and that many others should
suffer with grievous wounds. Yet they faltered not in their duty. On
the contrary, they longed for the coming of the light that should
enable them to see the redskins through the sights of their rifles, and
complained only that it was too slow in coming.

Finally the night ended and the day approached from behind the eastern
hills. As soon as it was light enough to see to move advantageously the
little army was again astir; but its movements were yet as silent as
the grave. Under whispered orders and with stealthy tread Sanno's and
Comba's companies, deployed as skirmishers, descended the bluff into
the valley, groped their way through the willow thickets, waded the icy
river, the water coming nearly to their arm-pits. Logan, Williams, and
Rawn, with their companies, were sent to the extreme right to cross and
attack the camp near Ruby Creek, while Lieutenant Bradley, with his
handful of soldiers and citizen scouts, was sent down the stream with
orders to cross and strike the camp lower down. As the light increased
the troops were advancing cautiously, when an Indian who had crawled
out of his lodge and mounted a horse, rode out of the willows directly
in front of Bradley's men and within a few feet of them. He was en
route to the pony herd on the hill-side above, and so quietly had the
advance been made that even he had not heard or seen the men, and was
within a few feet of them when he emerged from the thicket of willows.
He and his horse were instantly shot down.

The order had been given, "When the first shot is fired charge the camp
with the whole line." And most eagerly was this order obeyed. Volleys
were fired into the teepees, and with an eager yell the whole line
sw