on of
the guns, that it would be almost certain death to venture on the beach
so long as there was sufficient light to enable Hawk Eye to aim with his
gun.

"Let them make the first move," thought the crafty Medicine Man.

In the meantime Hawk Eye and Raven Wing were making plans for the coming
of darkness. As the sun's last rays faded away and the night began to
deepen, Hawk Eye moved close to the entrance of the cave. Adjusting his
gun to his satisfaction, he marked its position exactly on the rock so
that, when the canoes should be entirely hidden from sight, he could
make reasonably certain of hitting any object directly in front of
them. And in order to show Slow Dog that he and Raven Wing were still
on the alert, he shortly aimed at the canoes, which were now invisible,
and fired.

[Illustration: {Tepee.}]

CHAPTER XVI

OHITIKA IS WOUNDED

Almost instantaneously a death cry rent the air, proving that the bullet
had hit either Slow Dog or his companion.

"Ugh!" grunted Hawk Eye. "Slow Dog's trick has failed him. The odds are
two to one in our favor." Hardly had he finished speaking when an arrow
struck the ledge of rocks behind which they were crouching.

"Slow Dog is no mean marksman," said Raven Wing. "We must not be
careless."

As Hawk Eye reloaded his gun, he noticed, in spite of the gathering
gloom, blood stains upon the stock. For several moments he regarded them
in silence. Then turned to Raven Wing.

"I think I have a plan that will work well," he said. "Come here,
Ohitika," he cried, squatting down on the floor of the cave. The
faithful dog came fawning to his feet.

"Smell, smell!" he commanded, placing the blood stained gunstock close
to the dog's nose.

Ohitika answered with a growl. It was enemy smell to him. He had not
forgotten that Slow Dog had kicked him.

"Take your gun and hold the dog by the collar," said Hawk Eye to Raven
Wing. Again resting his gun on the ledge of rock, he fired. Before the
echoes of the report had died away, a second arrow entered the cave's
mouth and struck the rock wall in the rear.

"Come, follow me, before Slow Dog finds time to fit another arrow to his
bow," said Hawk Eye.

Raven Wing obeyed. When out of the cave, and to one side of the opening,
Hawk Eye seized Raven Wing's loaded gun and gave him his. "Load it," he
said in a low voice, grasping the leather thong about Ohitika's neck to
give Raven Wing the free use of both hands. Then, like t