he's warning us that
the attack is at hand."

"Uv course! Uv course! I might 'a' knowed. That thar Shif'less Sol is
one uv the smartest men the world hez ever seed, an' while part uv our
band is inside a big part uv it is outside, a-helpin' us."

"Wake up Paul and Tom and tell 'em the time has come."

In an instant all four were crouching beside the opening, their rifles
ready. The extra rifle that Henry had brought in was lying loaded at his
feet, and all the while the wolf on the far ridge, moving from place to
place, whined and howled incessantly. Despite Henry's knowledge of its
source it made his hair rise a little, and a quiver ran along his spine.
What then must be its effect upon red men, who were so much more
superstitious than white men? They might think it the spirit of some
great forgotten warrior that had gone into a wolf which was now giving
warning.

Nevertheless he listened with all the power of his hearing for what
might happen closer by, and presently he heard a rustling in the grass
that was not caused by the wind. A moment later, and the rustling came
from a second point and then a third. As he had surmised, Red Eagle had
spread out his men until they were advancing like the spokes of a wheel
toward a hub, the hub being the mouth of the cavern. And from the far
ridge the warning cry of the wolf never ceased to come.

"Do you hear them creeping?" whispered Henry to Ross.

Silent Tom nodded and shoved forward the muzzle of his rifle.

"They'll be on us in a minute," he whispered back.

Paul and Long Jim had heard and they too made ready with their rifles.
But all of them relied now on Henry, whose hearing was keenest. The
faint, sliding sounds ceased, and he knew that the warriors had stopped
to listen for their enemies, hoping to catch them off guard. The howling
of the wolf also ceased suddenly, and the wind was again supreme.

At least ten minutes passed in almost intolerable waiting, and then
Henry heard the renewal of the faint sliding sounds, coming from many
points.

"Be ready," he whispered to his comrades. "When they're near enough
they'll all jump up, utter a mighty yell and rush for us."

The rustlings came closer, then they ceased all at once, there was a
half minute of breathless silence, and the air was rent by a tremendous
war whoop, as twenty warriors, springing up, rushed for the opening.
Henry fired straight at the heart of the first man, and snatching up the
second rifl