end. He makes promises only to break them. The
Indian must fight for what is his own."

"Do you consider this fort your own?"

"The land is the red man's--the white man has stolen it from him. The
white man must go and leave the red man to his own."

"If you want the white man to go why don't you drive Gilroy and his gang
away too?"

"They have promised to leave--after they have had their share of what is
here."

"Oh, so that's the bargain!"

"You see how matters stand, Captain Moore," broke in the leader of the
desperadoes. "If you know when you are well off, you'll submit as
gracefully as possible."

"If we leave will you promise to let all go in peace," went on the young
captain to the Indian chief, "you will not molest the women or any of
the young people?"

"Yes, all the women and young people can go," said White Ox, but the
look in his face was not one to be trusted.

"And if we refuse when do you expect to attack us?"

"At once."

The reply came from Matt Gilroy, and White Ox nodded in the affirmative.

"I must consult Colonel Fairfield first," said the captain slowly,
wondering how he was to gain more time.

"I thought you were in command," remarked Gilroy.

"I was--but the colonel is getting better. Meet me here in another hour,
and I will give you his reply and my own."

This did not suit Gilroy and White Ox, but the captain was firm, and at
last they went off, promising to be back exactly at the end of the hour.

"And then it must be surrender or fight," said the leader of the
desperadoes sharply. "No more dilly-dallying."

It must be confessed that Captain Moore returned to the fort in a
thoughtful mood. He had an awful responsibility upon his shoulders. He
called several of the other officers in consultation.

"For myself, I believe in fighting," he said. "But we must consider
those who are sick and must consider the women."

"The colonel's wife wishes us to fight to the end," replied another
officer. "She is not willing to trust White Ox or any of the other
redskins."

"I don't believe in surrendering," put in another. "Let us see if we
can't hold off until we hear from Leeson and Fort Prescott."

And so it was arranged.

CHAPTER XXIX.

OPENING OF THE BATTLE.

Promptly on the minute Gilroy and White Ox appeared again, with the
white flag of truce flying between them.

This time Captain Moore took with him one of his lieutenants, Bacon by
name.

The interview was