were in this position and the other four were urging their
companions to make haste, when suddenly wild yells arose that seemed to
come from every direction at once. Before the startled men were fully
aware of what was occurring a band of Indians rushed from the woods,
some armed with rifles and others using their bows and arrows.

Only part of the little band of surveyors had been armed when they had
started that morning from the settlement for the spring at
Fontainebleau. The young scout, however, who was mindful of the
teachings of his leader, had brought Singing Susan with him. As Peleg
was about to fire, an arrow pierced the young Englishman between the
shoulder blades, and with a loud cry he fell to the ground.

CHAPTER X

A TERRIFIED BAND

It was Peleg's first experience in taking command of a party. The
helplessness of the surveyors, however, and the fact that they all
turned to him for directions, at once decided the young scout to lead,
and he well knew there was no time to be lost.

In his position he was aware also that the Englishman was in dire
distress, and apparently he was the only one who could aid him. The
decision to act had come to the young scout promptly, and he had almost
instinctively raised Singing Susan to his shoulder and fired at the
Indians, whom he could see darting from tree to tree and plainly trying
to come nearer the spring.

Before he reloaded his gun Peleg turned to his companions, two of whom
were already disappearing among the trees in the distance.

"Come here," he said in a low voice. "Help me with this man."

Two of the young surveyors obeyed his word, and with all speed the trio
carried the body of their fallen comrade within the shelter of the
forest. When Peleg looked down into the face of the suffering man he was
convinced that his wound was fatal.

It would never do, however, to leave the man in his misery. Turning to
his companions he called: "Retreat cautiously! Use the tree trunks for
shelter! Take this man with you!"

While speaking, the young scout hastily reloaded his gun. This task
completed, he turned once more to his companions and said: "Take the man
now and go! Do as I tell you! I shall bring up the rear and do my best
to stave off the Indians. They are sure to follow us, though I do not
think there are more than eight or ten in the whole band."

Three of the men who were members of the party which had visited the
spring had brought their gun