een soaring above the white
tilts of the waggons, and soon after others at different places and on
different sides of the enclosure.

As yet the besieged have not seen this. The powder-smoke puffing up
from their own guns, discharged in quick repetition, obscures everything
in a thick, sulphurous cloud; so that even the white covers of the
waggons are scarce distinguishable, much less the spots where it has
commenced smoking.

Not long, however, till something besides smoke makes itself visible, as
also audible. Here and there flames flicker up, with a sharp crackling
noise, which continues. The one is not flashes from the guns, nor the
other a snapping of percussion-caps.

Wilder, with eyes turning to all points, is the first to perceive this.

"We're on fire, boys!" he vociferates; "on fire everywhar!"

"Great God! yes! What are we to do?" several ask, despairingly.

"What air we to do?" shouts the guide, in response. "What kin we do,
but fight it out to the death, an' then die! So let us die, not like
dogs, but as men--as Americans!"

CHAPTER EIGHT.

KNIFE, PISTOL, AND HATCHET.

The brave words had scarce passed from Walt Wilder's lips when the
waggons became enveloped in a cloud of smoke. From all sides it rolled
into the corral till those inside could no longer see one another.

Still through the obscurity rang their cries of mutual encouragement,
repeating the determination so tersely expressed.

They knew they had no water by which to extinguish the fast-threatening
flames; yet in that moment of emergency they thought of an expedient.
There were shovels in the waggons; and laying hold of these, they
commenced flinging sand over the places that had caught fire, with the
intent to smother the incipient blaze. Left alone, and with time, they
might have succeeded. But they were not left alone, for the savages,
seeing the advantage they had gained, were now fast closing for a final
charge upon the corral, and the implements of industry had to be
abandoned.

These were thrown despairingly aside; and the besieged, once more
grasping their rifles, sprang back into the waggons--each with eager eye
searching for an assailant. Though themselves half blinded by the
smoke, they could still see the enemy outside; for the Indians, grown
confident by the _coup_ they had made, were now riding recklessly near.
Quick came the reports of rifles--faster and more frequent than ever;
fast as ten men, all pr