it seemed
almost no time before a pony and his rider dashed into dim view before
them, followed by a larger shadow, from which came whoop after whoop.

"Take the hind one. Give it to him," shouted Jonas, as a streak of fire
sprang from his own rifle-muzzle. Two other shots followed, as if there
were any chance of hitting a galloping horseman in such a half darkness
as that. Hit or no hit, one Apache warrior was so utterly astounded that
he drew rein, all but throwing his horse upon his haunches, and the
pony-rider he was pursuing wheeled sharply to the right. Half a minute
later and all would have been over with Two Arrows, in all probability,
but, as matters had now turned, it was his enemy who had made a blunder.
He sat for several precious seconds almost motionless, although not a
shot had touched him, and by so doing he put himself up for a target at
very short arrow range. The next instant he was dashing wildly away into
the darkness, for the horse had an arrow in his flank to spur him, and
the brave himself had a similar token of the skill of Two Arrows
projecting from his right thigh.

"Sile," said Jonas, "he got it. You can tell that by the yell he gave."

"Come on in," shouted Sile. "There may be more of 'em. We're all up and
ready for 'em."

It looked like it, as man after man came hurrying forward, but Two
Arrows quieted them on that head. He had been sent forward by Long Bear
to announce the coming of the Nez Perces, and he had encountered the
Apache less than half a mile from the notch. It had been a close race,
although he had a fresh pony and a good start. Any hurt to his pride on
account of arriving in that precise manner, followed instead of
following, was more than cured by the undoubted fact that he had sent an
arrow into his pursuer.

"There wasn't really any show for bullet-work," said Jonas, "but lead'll
hurt jest as bad in the dark, in case it gits there."

"All come," said Na-tee-kah. "Good. Two Arrows great brave now. Strike
warrior. Fight a heap."

Judge Parks was not sorry to hear of such an addition to his little
garrison, as the Nez Perce warriors could be fully depended upon to
fight well for their ponies and lives. It was not a great while before
the head of their cavalcade came out of the shadows, and deeper and more
sonorous whoops answered that of Two Arrows.

"Big Tongue," said Ha-ha-pah-no. "Heap mouth!"

There surely was one whoop that seemed to have swallowed several othe