at's the matter with you, Jim?" asked Henry.

"I've been insulted."

"Insulted? What do you mean?"

"To think anybody could have reckoned that me an' the others would be
mean enough to give you up jest to save our own hides!"

Henry's eyes twinkled.

"I know you wouldn't give me up, Jim, but how do you know, if our
places had been changed, that I wouldn't have given you up?"

"You're talkin' like Shif'less Sol," said Long Jim in the utmost good
humor. "Now I wonder whar that ornery, long-legged cuss is."

"Not so far away, it's safe to say. He'll be hanging around, ready to
help whenever help is needed most."

"That's shore. Thar's a heap o' good in Shif'less Sol, though it don't
always 'pear on the surface. Wish he wuz here. Now, what's next, Henry?"

"Waiting, waiting, and then more waiting."

"You don't think they'll give it up an' go away?"

"Not for two or three days anyhow, and I think it likely also that
they'll make another general attack."

"An' you think, too, that they've all gone some distance out of rifle
shot?"

"Not a doubt of it, but why do you ask, Jim?"

"You see a lot uv dead wood layin' in the bushes not twenty feet from
the door uv our manshun. I'd like to drag it in an' cook that thar deer
afore it sp'ils. We've some wood already, but we need more. I think we
could manage so most uv the smoke would go out in front an' we wouldn't
choke. Ef we're held here fur a long time we'll need that thar deer."

"Go ahead, Jim, and get it. We three will cover you with our rifles."

Jim stole forth, and making a number of trips under the muzzles of his
comrades, brought in a plentiful supply of wood. It was not until he was
returning with his last load that the Indians noticed him. Then they
sent up a war cry, and fired several distant shots. But it was too late.
Long Jim was safely inside the next moment, and the warriors, knowing
how deadly were the rifles that guarded him, were afraid to return to
the attack.

"Him that does at once what he oughter do don't have to do it when it's
too late," said Long Jim. "I'm goin' to build a fire close to the door,
where most uv the smoke will go out. Ef it gits too strong fur us we'll
jest hev to put it out. But ef things work smooth I mean to cook that
deer."

They cut up the deer in slices with their big hunting knives. Then they
heaped the dry wood near the door and cut off many shavings and
splinters, building up the heap at least part of the way