crouching behind the little mounds of earth,
aimed and fired. Every shot was true, and the foremost warriors fell
from their ponies. The men reloaded and fired, and again the Indians
bit the dust. Those in the rear now withdrew to the top of the ridge
to wait for the remainder of the band. Another horseman came dashing
up then, his horse all covered with foam. It was the fourth prisoner.
His guard had been among the whites, and had allowed him to escape,
firing in the air as the prisoner escaped from the rear of the war
party. The savages now came in sight, an immense number, confident of
victory because they were so strong. The missionary said, "My
children, the Indians are very strong and great in number. But fight
bravely. You have a Father above who sees this battle. Trust in Him.
Die if you must, but die bravely."

With fierce yells the savages surrounded the little camp. They did not
dream that a handful of men behind a barricade of wooden carts could
cause them to retreat after killing the bravest of their warriors. For
five hours bullets whistled back and forth over the heads of the men
kneeling in the shelter of the carts. The Indians had begun the battle
confident of victory, but as the time went on and warrior after warrior
was killed, their courage grew faint. Late in the afternoon they said,
"Let us go back; it is of no use to fight them. They have a Manitou
with them."

They began to retreat, and by evening all was peaceful where the battle
had been. But the hunters knew that on the morrow the attack would be
renewed, and so did not let this deceive them. All through the night
they could hear the hideous yells of the savages. They decided to
start back in the morning, hoping to meet their friends, for they had
sent two scouts, when the firing began, to tell them of the attack.

They arranged the carts in four rows and divided the hunters into four
parties. One party was to ride in front of the carts, another at the
back, and the other two on the sides. Then, if they sighted the
Indians, they were to give the warning by two horsemen riding past each
other on the top of the ridge.

They set out by daylight, and had not gone many miles when they saw two
horsemen ride past each other in their rear. This was the signal of a
fresh attack. At once the party was halted; two rows of carts went to
one side, two to the other. Then the ends were filled in, and the
circle was complete. They