in Moore, in the semi-darkness. "Are Joe
and Darry safe?"

"Yes," came from the boys.

There was no time to say more, for already the soldiers were forming a
bucket brigade, carrying water with which to put out the flames. Some
had long poles with hooks, and with these they dragged a large part of
the burning brush into the ditch.

All this while some of the regulars remained on guard, and occasionally
a shot rang out, answered by another from a great distance.

"They have surely withdrawn," said the young captain. "Benson, the trick
worked after all."

"That's right, captain. But it won't work many hours, you can depend
upon that."

"If it only makes them hold off until morning I shall be satisfied,"
concluded Captain Moore.

By the exertion of the soldiers the fire was kept from communicating
with any of the buildings but the stable, and of this structure only a
corner of the roof suffered. But the stockade was greatly damaged, and
by the time the last spark was out it was seen that it had sustained
three openings each eight to twelve feet long.

"We'll have to repair these," said Captain Moore; and, tired though the
workers were, he made them haul fresh timbers from the woodpile and also
tear up part of the barn floor, that the stockade might present a whole
front to the enemy once more.

The fighting had greatly agitated the women in the fort, and nobody had
slept for two nights. Yet even now, with the fire out and silence
brooding everywhere, nobody thought of going to bed. All felt that this
was but the lull before the greater storm.

If only the relief would come! Such was the thought of everyone but
Drossdell, who still remained in the guardhouse, heavily chained, hands
and feet. Drossdell was deeply downcast, and with good reason.

At last came the welcome signs of dawn in the east, and then a few of
the soldiers, who could stand the strain no longer, threw themselves
down to sleep. The others, pale and haggard, sat around in little groups
wondering what was going to happen next. To each was served extra-strong
coffee and the best rations the fort afforded.

"It cannot last much longer," said Captain Moore, trying to cheer them
up. "Relief must come sooner or later."

He had now but a pitiful twenty-eight men left, including old Benson and
Joe and Darry. Twenty-eight! What could such a number do against the
attack of two or three hundred desperadoes and Indians? The situation
was certainly one