ing on
again. Give 'em a volley, sir, this time."

"Yes," cried the doctor eagerly, as he saw at a glance that the Indians
were gathering for another rush. "Hold your fire," he cried loudly,
"till they are three parts of the way here, and then all together. I'll
give the word."

"But suppose they come on, dismount, and attack afterwards," said Chris.

"You have the second barrels," said the doctor. "Be ready. Here they
come."

For once more the savages were putting their regular tactics to the
test, coming on yelling and waving their weapons, using them to frighten
their foes as much as to madden their ponies into a furious gallop, and
this right in the rear of another flight of arrows, half of which came
from the Indians who remained behind for want of room.

To the boys this was the most exciting charge of all, for during the
others they had something to do or see, as the firing was kept up almost
from the first. Here they had to wait--only for moments, it is true,
but moments which seemed like minutes, and during which they had no
gathering smoke to hide the gleaming teeth, flashing eyes, and savage
hate depicted in the red and painted faces coming swiftly on.

"Fire!" shouted the doctor, his voice sounding sharp and clear above the
rattle, of hoofs, the yells of the savages, and the reverberations from
the rocky sides of the gulch.

Every finger pressed the trigger at the same moment; there was a flash,
six jets of grey smoke driven full in the faces of the on-coming ponies,
and then one great crack, followed by a deafening roar, which
combination checked the ponies as if by magic, making them rear up,
dismounting several of their riders. Then they all tore back, leaving
eight or nine Indians scrambling to their feet, to run after their
steeds, others lying struggling among the stones, and, plain to see, two
more tottering upon their ponies' backs, one falling forward to cling to
his mount's neck, another to sink backward and drop off, and another to
wrench himself round and shake his bow at the occupants of the barrier
in impotent fury, before throwing up his hands and lying back clinging
to his seat till his pony had plunged into the little crowd waiting
their return.

"The most effective action yet," said the doctor hoarsely, as the
reloading ended.

"Yes, sir, I think that's best," responded Griggs.

"But such a sickening slaughter of the poor ignorant wretches," cried
Bourne bitterly.

"Th