aying anything.

[Illustration: THE MOONLIGHT MARCH OF NEZ PERCES]

CHAPTER XXVI

PREPARING FOR AN ATTACK

A good while before Two Arrows reached the camp of his people Judge
Parks and Yellow Pine discovered that they had done about as much as
they could at the mouth of what was yet to be the mine until they should
have men to help them. The judge handed to Na-tee-kah another book of
pictures to wonder over, and then he and Pine went upon a tour of
inspection. They found the choppers busy with beetles and wedges upon
the lengths of easily-cloven pine, and the heap of long, wide slabs or
shingles for the roof was growing rapidly.

"We can make it weather-tight with moss-packing," said Pine, "and if we
can't have sash and glass we can make good solid doors and shutters."

"There will be storms," said the judge.

"Yes, but the winters are never hard down here. Even if we got snowed in
it wouldn't stay long, and the supply-train'll get here before the end
of next month. Can't lose its way."

"I should say not. But now just look at that wall."

It was worth looking at, if only for the way in which it was rising.
The mud and stones went into place with a perfect rush. At that rate
there would quickly be a finished house there, such as it was to be. All
was well and solidly laid, too, and the inner face was smooth enough.
That was more than could be said for the outside, and Pine remarked,

"Reckon nobody'll care to rub himself very hard against the side of that
shelter when it's done."

From the house they both strolled away for a look at the animals, and
then on down to the mouth of the notch. They were noting with care the
several peculiarities of the rocky elevations to the right and left,
when the judge felt his arm gripped very hard, and Yellow Pine
exclaimed,

"Look there, jedge! Something's happened to the young redskin."

Judge Parks carried a spy-glass as good as Sile's and it was up
instantly. "That's Sile, but the horse he's leading isn't a pony. Look,
Pine."

"I'd call it--How close this thing does bring 'em. I could count his
buttons. He's carrying two rifles and a lance. Something mighty queer
has turned up, jedge, but you can see that Sile's all right. What can
have become of Two Arrows? I hope he hasn't been wiped out. He was the
likeliest kind of a young chap."

"We'll know when he gets here."

Waiting was about all they could do, but they grew more and more
impatient until Sile c