ront, but they
didn't dream we could reach 'em at such long range. We've got to do our
main watching now among the cottonwoods, up and down the stream. Of
course, they'll dismount there, and try to creep up on us. Will, you
keep an eye on those warriors out there and we'll take care of the
cottonwoods, but everybody stay down as close as possible. We're only
four and we can't afford the loss of a single man."

Will was lying almost flat, and he could put away the glasses, fastening
them securely over his shoulder, as the warriors in front were plainly
visible now to the naked eye. They were beyond the range of the deadly
repeating rifles, but the moonlight was so intense that he saw them
distinctly, even imagining that he could discern their features, and his
fancy certainly did not diminish the horror and repulsion they inspired.

They rode slowly back and forth, shaking long lances or waving heavy war
clubs, and suddenly they burst into a series of yells that made the
lad's blood run cold. At length he distinguished the word, "winihinca"
shouted over and over again. Boyd, lying beside him, was laughing low.

"What does 'winihinca' mean, and why do you laugh?" asked Will.

"'Winihinca' is the Sioux word for women," replied the hunter, "and
they're trying to taunt us because we're lying in hiding. It will take
more than a taunt or two to draw us out of these cottonwoods. They can
shout 'winihinca' all night if they wish."

But the warriors riding back and forth in the moonlight on the crest of
the low swell were good shouters. Yellers, Will would have called them.
Their throats and lungs seemed to be as tough as the inside of a bear's
hide, and also they threw into their work a zest and flavor that showed
they were enjoying it. Presently their yelling changed its key note, and
Will discerned the word, "wamdadan." Again the hunter lying by his side
laughed low.

"What does 'wamdadan' mean?" he asked. "Just now we were 'winihinca' and
now we are 'wamdadan.'"

"We've gone down in the scale," replied Boyd. "In fact, we've sunk
pretty far. A little while ago we were women, but now we are worms.
'Wamdadan' means worm. We're 'wamdadans' because we won't come out of
our burrows and stand up straight and tall, where the Sioux can shoot us
to pieces at their leisure."

"I intend to remain a 'wamdadan' as long as I can," said Will. "If lying
close to the earth, burrowing into it in fact, makes you a worm then a
worm am I