ore of Indians,
at safe distance, capering and gesturing and yelling insults, daring
them to come out.

That was not to be borne. The young men were wild to sally and drive
the red rascals from the neighborhood. But the older heads smelled a
mouse.

"No, boys. Wait a bit. It's a trick. There's something afoot. Those
Injuns don't act natteral. They're too anxious. Let's take a good
look at the spring, yonder, t' other side. That's where the real
trouble lies in shape o' painted skins, or I miss my guess."

They keenly scanned the coverts near the spring.

"See? Yes, by thunder! In the timber! See the brush shake? See that
Shawnee scalp? See that fellow glidin' like a snake? The forest edge
is full of 'em. They aim to draw us out at one end, so they can come
in at the other. But we'll fool 'em."

"We can't march to Hoy's, this day."

"No. We'll need help, ourselves. Somebody'll have to go for it."

"And water! How about water? The bloody redskins have seized the
spring."

For the spring, sixty yards distant, was the nearest water. Bryant's
Station had been blindly located. Its water was outside instead of
inside.

"First, to send for help. Be firming those loose pickets, too. Who'll
slip away and break for Lexington?"

The garrison bustled, strengthening the pickets; the walls were manned;
from a spot between cabins, where no Indians had been sighted, Rangers
Bell and Tomlinson led out their horses, mounted and were off at a
gallop. They were discovered, they broke through, they raced on, down
the road for the town of Lexington, to summon reinforcements. It would
be a perilous ride. Plainly enough the country was being covered by
scouting bands of Indians, bent upon keeping the various forts busy.
The disasters to Captain Estill and Captain Holder were a sign.

The two couriers got away. Now for the water. Without water, Bryant's
Station would suffer--might be burned.

"The women'll have to go for the water, boys."

"Why so? Women? You'd send the women out, to those tomahawks?"

The women had heard. They gathered, indignant.

"We're as brave as you are, but you can't count on hiding behind our
skirts. Shame on you! If you're men, go yourselves. Why send us out?
Our skins are no more bullet-proof than yours, and a woman's scalp is
the same to an Indian as a man's. Go. Give us rifles and we'll
protect you."

"No. Listen here. There are Injuns watchin' the spring,