I'm
lookin' for them every minnit. They'll come. An' we've got to fight
fire now till they get here."
"But there's no fire yet," said Baxter.
"There will be," replied Anderson. "But mebbe we can put it out as
fast as they start it. Plenty of water here. An' it's dark. What I'm
afraid of is they'll fire the tents out there, an' then it 'll be
light as day. We can't risk climbin' over the roofs."
"Neale, go inside--call the boys out," said Baxter.
Neale had to feel his way through the rooms. He called to his
comrades, and then to the women to keep up their courage--that
surely the troops would soon return.
When he went out again the air appeared full of fiery streaks.
Shouts of the graders defiantly answered the yells of the savages.
Showers of sparks were dropping upon the camp. The Sioux had ceased
shooting their rifles for the present, and, judging from their
yells, they had crawled down closer under the cover of night.
Presently a bright light flared up outside of the inclosure. One of
the tents had caught fire. The Indians yelled triumphantly. Neale
and his companions crouched back in the shadow. The burning tent set
fire to the tent adjoining. They blazed up like paper, lighting the
camp and slopes. But not an Indian was visible. They stopped
yelling.
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