s of
hay from the stack to the right of the slope. Make a heap, so that
when it is lighted it will illuminate the approach from the creek. Ask
Mr. Hopkins if he has any kerosene or other inflammable stuff to
sprinkle on the hay and make it flash up quickly and burn brilliantly.
Then throw up a shelter in which you can lie and be ready to light the
hay when signalled."

"Yes, sir. Thank you. I'll attend to everything."

Not more than fifteen minutes had elapsed when the boy sergeant
returned and informed me that the bundle of hay was prepared and a
shelter constructed.

"Mr. Hopkins has two gallons of axle-grease and two quarts of spirits
of turpentine."

"Excellent. Mix them together and sprinkle the hay thoroughly. Then
place yourself in the shelter, and when you see a light flash from the
west window of the house light your bonfire."

"I'll do so, sir," and the boy ran away in the darkness.

An hour had passed when loud whoops gave us warning of the enemy's
approach. It was the war-cry of the terrible Apaches. Not a sound came
from the creek. I strained my eyes in that direction, but nothing was
visible in the black darkness beneath the pendulous branches of the
willows.

At last I saw the fixed reflections of the stars in the surface of the
pool diffuse themselves into myriads of sparkling atoms. A
considerable body of Indians must be in the water, but none appeared
in sight. Yes, they were crossing in two columns, to the right and
left of the notch, concealed by the high shore, and would shortly
unite and charge up the slope. Baldwin ran to the stable to tell the
men there that the Apaches were coming, and to be on the alert.

The whoops of the flanking party redoubled, and were accompanied by a
desultory firing, which the four men opposing them answered in the
same way. Then I saw the sparkling water of the pool cut off from my
sight, and knew that a body of men stood on the slope between us and
the creek.

"Frank, show the light! Men, ready!"

The lantern flashed from the window, quickly answered by a flash on
the bank, and a mass of red flame threw its luminous tresses skyward,
bathing the whole scene in light. In the notch, half-way up the slope,
stood a momentarily paralyzed group of nearly a hundred painted
warriors. Every rifle in the hands of the white men in the two
buildings spoke, and instantly the notch emptied itself pell-mell of
its living throng. Only a few prostrate bodies showed the Ap