e sent a bullet through another. The other three fired with
deadly aim and all the assailants fell back, save one who, standing on
the very edge of the opening, whirled his tomahawk preparatory to
letting it go straight at Henry's head. But a moment before it could
leave his hand a rifle cracked somewhere and he fell dead, shot through
the head, his figure lying directly across the entrance. From the other
Indians came a yell of rage and dismay, and then after a groan or two
somewhere in the grass, all were gone.

But the four were reloading with feverish haste. Henry, however, found
time to say to Silent Tom Ross:

"Thank you for the shot that saved me."

Tom shook his head.

"'Twuzn't me," he said.

"Then you, Paul."

"I shot at an Indian, but not that one. It was a warrior ten yards
away."

"Then it must hev been you, Jim."

"It wuzn't, though. I wuz too busy with a warrior off thar to the left.
When that feller wuz about to throw his tomahawk I'd done fired."

"And so it was none of you. Then I'm to be thankful that we've a friend
outside. Nobody but Shif'less Sol could have fired that shot."

"An' jest in time," said Long Jim. "Good old Sol. He's settin' off
somewhar in the bushes now, laughin' at the trick he's played 'em."

"They'll look for him," said Henry, "but whenever they come to a place
he won't be there."

"They can't besiege us here," said Paul, "and catch Shif'less Sol at the
same time. But I think we ought to remove the body of that fallen
warrior at the door. I don't like to see it there."

"Neither do I," said Long Jim, and stepping forward he lifted the slain
man in his arms and tossed him as far as he could down the side of the
hill. They heard the body rolling and crashing some distance through the
grass and bushes, and they shuddered.

"I hated to do it," said Long Jim, "but it had to be done. Besides,
they'll get it now and take it away."

"You look for no other attempt tonight?" said Paul.

"No," said Henry. "They've lost too many men. They may try to starve us
out."

"Now you an' Jim take your naps," said Silent Tom, "while me an' Paul
keep the watch till day."

"All right," said Henry, "but I want to wait eight or ten minutes."

"What fur?"

"You'll see--or rather you'll hear."

Before the appointed time had passed the long howling note of a wolf
came from a point a quarter of a mile or more away.

"Shif'less Sol is safe," said Henry, and five minutes later he and