gh!" cried Watusk furiously. "You no harder than ot'er man. You
got no medicine to stop those bullets you sell us! No? If bullets go
t'rough your red coats you die lak ot'er men I guess!"

"Certainly!" cried the old soldier with a flash of his blue eyes.
"That's our business. But it won't do you any good. We're but the
outposts of a mighty power that encircles the world. If you defy that
power you'll be wiped out like the prairie grass in a fire."

"Huh!" cried Watusk. "White man's bluff! White man always talk big
about the power behind him. I lak see that power, me! I will show the
red people you no better than them!

"When it was known Watusk has beat the police, as far as the northern
ocean they will take arms and drive the white men out of their country!
I have sent out my messengers!"

"What do you expect me to say to that?" inquired the officer
quizzically.

"Tell you men lay their guns on the ground," said Watusk. "They my
prisoners. I treat them kind."

Inspector Egerton laughed until his little paunch shook. "Come," he
said good-naturedly, "I haven't got time to exchange heroics with you.
Run along and bring in your people. I'll give you half an hour."

The inspector drew out his watch, and took note of the time. He then
turned to address his sergeant, leaving Watusk in mid air, so to speak.

There was nothing for the Indian leader to do but wheel his horse and
ride back up the hill with what dignity he could muster. His men fell
in behind him.

They had understood nothing of what was said, of course, but the byplay
was sufficiently intelligible. The whole party was crestfallen.

Observing this air on their return to the rifle pit, Ambrose's eye
brightened. Watusk seeing the keen, questioning eye, announced with
dignity.

"We won. The red-coats surrendered."

This was so palpably a falsehood Ambrose could well afford to smile
broadly behind his gag.

The half hour that then followed seemed like half a day to those who
watched. Ambrose, ignorant of what had occurred, could only guess the
reason of the armistice.

The police had taken down their white flag. He could see the inspector
glance at his watch from time to time. Wondering messengers came from
the other pits presumably to find out the reason of the inaction, to
whom Watusk returned evasive replies.

Bound and gagged as he was, it was anything but an easy time for
Ambrose. He had the poor satisfaction of seeing t