FREE BOOKS

Author's List




PREV.   NEXT  
|<   141   142   143   144   145   146   147   148   149   150   151   152   153   154   155   156   157   158   159   160   161   162   163   164   165  
166   167   168   169   170   171   172   173   174   175   176   177   178   179   180   181   182   183   184   185   186   187   188   189   190   >>   >|  
ing in toward the creek." "Then we'd better make our field of battle and fortify as fast as we can." The horses and mules were tethered in the lowest ground they could find among the cottonwoods near the edge of the creek, where the four hoped they would escape the bullets. Then they built in all haste a circular breastwork of fallen wood and of their own packs. "Thar's one satisfaction 'bout it," said the Little Giant grimly. "Ef we're besieged here a long time we'll hev water only a few feet away. Many a man on the plains could hev held his own ag'inst the painted imps ef he could hev reached water. What do you see now, young William?" "Both horns of their crescent. They're on top of the swells, but have come almost to the cottonwoods. Do you look for 'em to cross the creek?" "Sooner or later they will, an' we'll have to guard from all directions, but I reckon the attack jest now will come straight in front an' 'long the stream on the flanks." "And the hardest push will be on the flanks?" "Yes, that would be good strategy. They mean, while the warriors in front are keeping us busy, to press in from both sides. What do you see now, young William?" "The forces on the flanks have passed out of sight among the cottonwoods, and the one in front is still advancing slowly. The warriors there seem to be armed chiefly with bows and arrows." "Meant mostly to draw our attention. The rifles are carried by the men on the flanks. B'ars out what we said 'bout thar plan. These warriors, like some others we met, hev got to learn a lot 'bout the new an' pow'ful repeatin' rifles. Do you think, Jim, them in front hev now rid within range?" "In a minute or two they'll be within your range, Giant." "Then do you think I'd better?" "Yes. They've made their semi-circle for attack. Tell 'em in mighty plain language they oughtn't to do such a thing without consulting us." "Give 'em a hint, so to speak, Jim?" "That's what I mean." The Little Giant levelled his rifle at the approaching horsemen. The moonlight was silvery and brilliant, giving him fine chance for aim, and not in vain had his friend, Boyd, called him the greatest shot in the West. The rifle cracked, there was a little spit of fire in the moonlight, and the foremost Indian fell from his pony. The band uttered a single shout of rage, but did not charge. Instead, the warriors drew back hastily. "That settles it," said Brady. "It's just a feint in f
PREV.   NEXT  
|<   141   142   143   144   145   146   147   148   149   150   151   152   153   154   155   156   157   158   159   160   161   162   163   164   165  
166   167   168   169   170   171   172   173   174   175   176   177   178   179   180   181   182   183   184   185   186   187   188   189   190   >>   >|  



Top keywords:
warriors
 

flanks

 

cottonwoods

 

William

 

moonlight

 
rifles
 
attack
 

Little

 
mighty
 

lowest


levelled

 

circle

 
consulting
 

language

 
oughtn
 

minute

 
tethered
 
ground
 

repeatin

 

uttered


single

 

foremost

 

Indian

 

charge

 

settles

 

Instead

 

hastily

 

giving

 

horses

 

chance


brilliant

 
silvery
 

approaching

 

horsemen

 

greatest

 
cracked
 

called

 
friend
 

carried

 
satisfaction

crescent
 

swells

 
fallen
 
directions
 

reckon

 

fortify

 
Sooner
 

breastwork

 
circular
 

grimly