ned the window
again and looked out. Nothing yet appeared. "The dawn will come in three
quarters of an hour," he said, "and we shall not have to wait long for
what we want to do."

He sat down facing the door. All the others were sitting, and they, too,
faced the door. Everyone had his rifle across his knees, with one hand
upon the hammer. The wood on the hearth sputtered as the fire spread,
and the flames grew. Beyond a doubt a thin spire of smoke was rising
from the chimney, and a watching eye would see this sign of a peaceful
and unsuspecting mind.

"I hope Braxton Wyatt will be the first to knock at our door," said
Shif'less Sol.

"I wouldn't be sorry," said Henry.

Paul was sitting in a chair near the fire, and he said nothing. He hoped
the waiting would be very short. The light was sufficient for him to see
the faces of his comrades, and he noticed that they were all very tense.
This was no common watch that they kept. Shif'less Sol remained on the
bed, Henry sat on another of the chairs, Tom Ross was on one of the
chests with his back to the wall. Long Jim was near the curtain. Close
by Paul was a home-made cradle. He put down his hand and touched it. He
was glad that it was empty now, but the sight of it steeled his heart
anew for the task that lay before them.

Ten silent minutes passed, and Henry went to the window again. He did
not open it, but there was a crack through which he could see. The
others said nothing, but watched his face. When he turned away they knew
that the moment was at hand.

"They've just come from the woods," he said, "and in a minute they'll be
at the door. Now, boys, take one last look at your rifles."

A minute later there was a sudden sharp knock at the door, but no answer
came from within. The knock was repeated, sharper and louder, and Henry,
altering his voice as much as possible, exclaimed like one suddenly
awakened from sleep:

"Who is it? What do you want?"

Back came a voice which Henry knew to be that of Braxton Wyatt:

"We've come from farther up the valley. We're scouts, we've been up to
the Indian country. We're half starved. Open and give us food!"

"I don't believe you," replied Henry. "Honest people don't come to my
door at this time in the morning."

Then ensued a few moments of silence, although Paul, with his vivid
fancy, thought he heard whispering on the other side of the door.

"Open!" cried Wyatt, "or we'll break your door down!" Henry said
nothin