in time to see
Peck raise the hunting-knife. Crack! went the red man's rifle, and the
bullet clipped the soldier's ear. The shot was so close that to the day
of his death Peck carried in his face some traces of the burnt powder.

The shot was the last the Indian ever fired, for in the midst of the
smoke Peck hurled himself at the warrior, and a second later down came
the hunting-knife, piercing the red man's back and entering his right
lung. The stroke was a fatal one, and before the fighting in the glade
came to an end the Indian had breathed his last.

When the sleeping Indians awoke they could not for the moment realize
what was going on. In his bewilderment one leaped up and rushed at a
soldier, who promptly laid him low by a heavy blow from a rifle stock,
which almost cracked the warrior's skull. Seeing this, the other brave
became frightened and ran for the bushes.

"Don't let him escape!" cried Captain Moore, who was still holding his
man down.

At once two of the soldiers ran after the fleeing Indian, and presently
two rifle shots rang out, followed by a scream from the red man.

"He's done for," said one of the soldiers, after the smoke had cleared
away. "He has gone to his happy hunting-ground."

After this turn of affairs it did not take the soldiers long to make
prisoners of the two Indians who remained alive. These fellows were in
truth much frightened, but tried their best to suppress their feelings.

From one of the Indians, Captain Moore learned that more Indians were
expected early the next morning.

"That's all right," said he. "They will come in time to release you and
save you from starvation."

"Going to tie 'em up, captain?" asked Peck.

"Yes. There is nothing else to do."

"Better shoot 'em."

"I can't shoot them in cold blood, Peck. That would not be human."

"The wretches don't deserve to live, captain. The Indians and those
desperadoes are plotting to wipe out everybody left at the fort."

"I know that. Still, I cannot bring myself to take their lives--and we
can't stop to take them along as prisoners. The sooner we get back to
the fort the better."

"If we can get back," put in another soldier.

"I don't believe the fort is surrounded just yet," returned the young
officer.

"But if it is?"

"Then, perhaps, it will be better for us to be out than in."

"You wouldn't desert the crowd at the fort, would you?"

"You know me better than that, Gorman. We might be able to rid