nce of tools and
materials, we soon put the building in a state of defence, with
loopholes on all sides. Before the doors were finally closed, Uncle
Jeff told Bartle to bring in his favourite horse "Jack;" the remainder
of the animals had been turned loose to seek their own safety.

The day dawned, but as nothing had yet been seen of our expected
enemies, Bartle agreed to go out and ascertain their whereabouts as soon
as the sun rose above the horizon. Bartle was too old a scout to care
whether he had to approach an enemy in daylight or darkness; his only
object at present was to find out if the Indians were really marching
towards the farm.

While we were busily engaged in barricading the house, no one had
thought of our Redskin visitor. When last seen he was apparently
wrapped in slumber.

"I suppose we may count on Piomingo as one of the defenders of the
house; he probably knows how to use a rifle," observed Uncle Jeff, near
whom I was working. "Go and speak to him. Say that we expect him to do
his duty; and ask him if he knows how to load a rifle."

As soon as I had finished the work I was about, I went to where Piomingo
had been lying down. He was not there; I looked everywhere about for
him, but he had disappeared. No one had seen him leave the house, so
that, if he was not still within, he must have watched his opportunity
when our eyes were off him, and slipped out.

What his object was in coming, and then going away secretly, it was
difficult to say. His departure was suspicious, too; he might have
visited us with treacherous intentions. But perhaps he was merely a
coward, and finding that we would not take his advice and desert the
farm, he had escaped, to avoid the danger to which he would be exposed.
However, if he intended treachery, it was better to have him out of the
way.

"Maybe, afther all, the spalpeen is hiding somewhere," observed
Gillooly, when he found that we were inquiring for the Indian; "if he is
anywhere inside, sure I'll ferret him out;" and the Irishman immediately
began poking his nose into every hole and cranny in the building.

"Bedad! he's convarted himself into a rat, for nowhere can I find him in
any hole that a mortal man could stow himself into!" exclaimed Barney,
after a long search.

I have not yet described the building which, if we were attacked, was to
serve as our fortress. It was of considerable size; the lower part of
the walls consisting of stout logs, t