entry laid his hand upon my shoulder, and said
softly, "Is he playing tricks with us?"

"No," I answered; "he thinks he sees them. His eyes are wonderful by
night."

"Well, mine are not, for I can see nothing or hear anything either."

"Are you sure, Pomp?" I whispered.

"Yes; sure," he said. "Big lot of Injum coming to fight."

"Hadn't you better give the alarm?" I said to the sentry.

"I can't give the alarm till I'm certain there's danger coming," he
said, rather sulkily. "I haven't got eyes like a cat, and I don't know
that he can see them yet."

I could not help sympathising with the man as he continued--

"'Spose I fire," he said, "and the enemy don't come on; nobody has seen
them, and nice and stupid I should look."

"But Pomp says he's sure."

"I'm not," said the man, gruffly.

"Be ready then, and fire the moment they begin to make a rush," I said,
excitedly. Then, turning to the boy, I whispered, "Now then; tell me
once more, can you see the Indians?"

"Yes, dah," he said, quietly.

"You are sure?"

"Yes, suah. Dey come now. Let Pomp shoot."

"No, no; come with me," I said, catching hold of his arm. "Let's run to
my father."

The boy was so accustomed to obey me, that he left the place directly,
and hurried with me across the enclosure in and out among the camping
groups, to where our few poor belongings lay, and I at once awakened my
father.

"Pomp has seen the Indians coming on," I said.

He started up, and so dull and heavy had been his sleep that he did not
understand me for the time.

"The Indians, father," I said.

He sprang up on the instant then, and felt for his sword.

"You say the boy saw them?"

"Yes, coming on. We were with one of the sentries."

"But he has not fired. I should have heard."

"No, father, he would not believe Pomp could see them."

"Pomp could see um--big lots," said the boy.

"That is enough," said my father. "Tell the bugler--no; we will not
show them that we know," he said. "Come with me."

We followed him to where the General was lying on a blanket or two in
the midst of his possessions, and he was on his feet in an instant
giving his orders, which were conveyed here and there to the various
officers, from whence they spread to the men so rapidly and silently
that in a few minutes, almost without a sound, a hundred well-armed
defenders of the fort were on their way to the fence in twenty little
squads, each of which reinforced the