hang you
on the spot--and you would deserve it, too."

"Oh, captain, for the love of Heaven, don't put us in the hands of the
boys!" pleaded Drossdell, turning a ghostly white.

"You and Bicker plotted to get us all sick and then let the Indians and
Gilroy's gang in on us."

"I--I----"

"It is useless for you to deny it, for I heard your talk myself, and saw
a letter written by Bicker to Gilroy."

"Bicker formed the plans!" cried Drossdell, breaking down completely.
"He--he forced me to help him."

"Forced you?"

"Yes, captain, forced me. I stood out a long while, but he--he----Well,
I might as well make a clean breast of it, sir. He had me in his power,
on account of something I did in Denver years ago. He said he would
expose me if I didn't help him."

"This is the strict truth?"

"Yes, captain, and I will swear to it if you want me to," answered the
prisoner.

"You were going to signal the gang when all was in readiness for an
attack," went on Captain Moore.

"Bicker was going to do that."

"What was the signal to be?"

"Three white handkerchiefs stuck on the ends of a cross made of sticks
six feet long. He was going to show these at ten in the morning or four
in the afternoon, from the southwest corner of the stockade, behind the
mess hall."

"And what was the signal to be if you wanted the enemy to hold off for a
while?"

"A red shirt if he wanted them to hold off for one day and a red and a
blue shirt if they were to hold off for two days."

"You are certain about these signals? Remember, if you are telling a lie
it will all come back on your own head."

"I am telling the strict truth," answered Drossdell.

CHAPTER XXVII.

SIGNALS AND WHAT FOLLOWED.

The interview over, Captain Moore lost no time in summoning Hank Leeson.

"You must depart for Fort Prescott without delay," he said.

"I'm ready now, captain," replied the old hunter.

"You must ride night and day till you get there."

"I'll do thet too."

"I have received important news. At the longest our enemies will hold
off two days. I will try to make them hold off a day longer if I can.
That will give you three days. I will write a letter to Major Hardie at
once."

This was early in the morning, and inside of half an hour the letter was
written and the old hunter was off, on the back of the freshest and most
enduring horse the fort possessed. He went fully armed, for he knew that
he carried his life in his hands.