f a horse's hoofs, becoming momentarily more
distinct.

"Injuns?" questioned Birkenshaw. He glanced about to assure himself
that his men were all at their appointed posts.

"No," Isa answered. "'Tain't no prairie cayuse. I c'n make out the
ring of its shoes on the hard trail. 'Tain't the Pony Express,
neither. Guess it's just one of the boys from Red Buttes comin' along
in advance to lend us a neighbourly hand. We c'n do well with another
gun, Gid--allowin' that young Rube Carter's information was correct;
allowin' that Broken Feather and his braves are sure out on a horse
raidin' stunt."

"Young Rube ain't anyways liable to be in error in a serious case like
this," Gideon assured his companion. "And if Broken Feather's shapin'
ter steal horses, why, nat'rally he'll calculate on findin' what he
covets right here--the best herd within fifty miles, ter say nothin' of
that Arab mare, which he's had his eye on for a while back. No, Young
Rube's warnin' ain't no false alarm. I'm figurin' that the Redskins
are in ambush down there among the willows. It's likely they've been
there all through the night. They'll attack before sunrise; and
they'll approach by way of the hollow yonder, where they c'n tread
quiet on the marshy ground."

"Say, that rider's wastin' no time, Gid," Isa interrupted, "Guess he's
in some hurry by the way he's poundin' along."

"We ought ter catch a view of him as he gallops over the ridge,"
reflected Gideon. "Might even be Broken Feather himself. He's cute
enough ter come along in disguise, ridin' a saddled pony that's
decently shod."

The old man raised himself on an elbow and glanced along the line of
men whom he had posted at equal intervals behind the defence of a wide
grassy bank commanding the front of the threatened horse corral. Next
to himself was Isa Blagg, then Jake Paterson and Tom Lippincott.
Between Lippincott and the man at the end station, Abe Harum, was young
Rube Carter. There were six guns in all, not counting revolvers.

Gideon beckoned to young Rube, and the boy crept cautiously towards
him, treading softly in his moccasined feet, carrying his rifle under
his arm and taking good cover.

"Crawl down towards the shack, Rube, an' get a sight of the rider
that's comin' along the trail," Gideon ordered. "Just see who he is as
he tops the risin' ground, and then get right back to your place an' be
ready ter open fire when I give the sign."

Rube was not absent v