ians appeared very friendly, but while talking to the
officers they closed in, and the men saw that they were prisoners. Two
of them at once put spurs to their horses and made a dash for liberty.
Before the Indians could stop them, they had escaped, and had ridden
back to the party.

When the missionary and the hunters heard what had happened, they at
once pitched camp and began to fortify it. They knew they could not
save the prisoners, and decided that it was better to defend themselves
than for all to lose their lives.

They had scarcely begun these preparations when two Sioux Indians rode
up. They said they had been sent to tell the hunters not to worry
about their companions. The Indians would not harm them and would
bring them back in safety the next day. After delivering this message,
the Sioux rode away. The hunters were not at all reassured, for they
knew the Indians did not speak the truth, and had merely come as spies
to find out how large their camp was.

During the night the hunters continued their preparations. They
arranged their carts in a circle, putting the shafts of one into the
wheels of the next, so fastening them together. Then they dug a hole
in the centre of this fortification and in it put the women and
children. They threw the earth in little mounds, behind which they
could crouch and shoot. By morning the fortification was complete.
The sentries, who had been watching all night, now gave warning that a
band of Indians was approaching. Thirty of the hunters mounted and
rode forward to meet them. Some of the Indians were in advance and
halted when the hunters reached them. Suddenly a man on horseback came
dashing past. It was one of the officers who had been made prisoner.

"There is nothing but death for us all," he shouted. "They are two
thousand strong and intend to massacre every one of us." But the
hunters did not let this daunt them; they rode up to the chief and
pretended they thought the Indians were friendly. They gave them a few
presents and asked them to journey back. But the Indians, who now saw
what an easy victory they could have, would not listen to this. The
hunters, seeing they meant to fight, turned their horses and galloped
back to the camp. Scarcely were they within the fortification when the
Indians dashed up. They had not waited for the main band to overtake
them, but with one fierce yell came on, expecting to overturn the
carts. But the hunters,