XV. THE ATTACK IN THE RAVINE.
IN THE time, the of our friends in Wolf Ravine was to the last degree.
Before going to work, on the of the steam man's to the mountains, Baldy Bicknell a of the ravine, to himself that there was no of being overwhelmed, while for the yellow sand.
He saw of Indians having visited the place, but he there were none in the vicinity, and that little was in the boy making his wished-for visit to the in the west.
Through the center of the ran a small of water, of to be used for gold without a being created. It looked as if this had once been the of a large stream, and that the had been to this spot, by the of the powerful current.
The were over the entire of the ravine, for the of hundred feet, being in the deposits the and rocks, in the of the channel, where, as may well be supposed, it was no easy to obtain.
A of the 'diggings,' where the of forms, the a cave, where they at once their headquarters. A ran through the of it, and with a little of the close bowlders, they put it in the best condition of defense.
It was almost by trees, there was one spot where a thin man, like Hopkins or Baldy, his through and climb a cottonwood, top have a wide view of the plain.
The day passed away without any of Indians, Baldy occasionally the of the ravine, and the in every direction, on the for the approach of their enemies.
Just nightfall, while all three were at work, a was discharged, and the was in the of the with which the was digging.
'Whar in did that come from?' he demanded, the implement, up the rifle, and about him.
But neither of the others answer him, and up the bank, he looked around for some of the of his foe.
The invisible, but hundred yards the ravine, he a of Indians and to satisfy him that there was a in the valley.
Giving the to his companions, all three the cave, not the less willingly, as it was very near their time.
'Begorrah! and what'll of the and the boy?' Mickey, as he orders.
'Jerusalem!' the Yankee, in great trepidation, 'if he isn't warned, they'll catch him sure, and then what'll of us? We'll have to walk all the way hum.'
As the best means of with him, the through the narrow opening, and to the top of the tree, where he himself, just as the steam man its whistle.
The trapper, as we have in another place, by pantomime, not to his to the enemy, as he had a idea that this means of might possibly prove of some use to him, in the that was around them.
When Johnny Brainerd his signal, and a retreat, Baldy a to his again. At this time it was already dark, and he had to his way again.
And so it came about, that not until he had the limb, did his ear a on the ground beneath. Supposing it to be either Mickey or Ethan, he his descent, below. But at that moment something his eye, and more carefully, he a Indian, waiting with knife until he should come his reach.
The was no coward, and had been in many a hand to-hand before; but there was something in the of the which would have it more for him to until he learn its dimensions; but time was too precious, and the next moment, he had directly by the of the red-skin.
The to make the attack, but without waiting for him, Baldy like a upon him and him to the earth. There was a but for a moments, but the activity and of the prevailed, and when he from the of the Indian, the was as as a door nail. The had been so that neither Mickey Ethan anything of it, until Baldy among them, and what had taken place.
'Jerusalem! have they come as close as that?' asked the Yankee in terror.
'Skulp me, if they ain't all around us!' was the reply of the hunter.
'How we ar' to out o' hyar, ar' a hard thing to tell j'ist now.'
'It's that thinks the have a love us, as me obsarved, when she the of me father,' Mickey, who had seated himself upon the ground with all the of an spectator.
It was so dark in their cave-like home that they not see each other's faces, and only catch a of of their when they passed close to each other.
It would have their more had they a light, but it was too a proceeding, and no one of it. They only keep on the alert, and watch for the movement of their enemies.
The latter, all doubt, were in the vicinity, and as they were by of the most kind, would not allow an opportunity to pass of doing all the in their power.
The of their food was in the darkness, when Baldy said:
'Do ye be till I come back'
'Where might ye be going naow?' Hopkins.
'I'm goin' to see what the are doin', and to see thar's a 'em to us up hull.'
'Do mind and take of y'urself, as me me when I a shparkin',' said Mickey, who naturally some apprehension, when he saw the on the point of them at such a time.
'Yes. Baldy, that my is up in yours,' added the Yankee, were to a still extent.
'Never mind about Baldy; he has been in such too often not to know how to take of himself.'
'How long do you to begone?'' Ethan.
'Mebbe all night, if ain't much danger. Ef I the ar' too thick I'll by yer, and if they ain't I'll hours. Leastways, I do, you'll be sure to look out for the skunks.'
With this admonition, the withdrew.
In going out, he his by the same entrance by which all had come in. He with great caution, for none than he the of a single misstep. He succeeded, after time, in a of the so in that he was able to without of discovery.
He every part of the in the of the cave, but nothing of the Indians, and he that they were some away.
Having himself of this, the the of the ravine, until he the open prairie, when he no time in the place him.
He had no intention, however, of his friends, but had gone in of the steam man. He the under which they all labored, so long as they were in this manner by the of the savages, and he had an idea that the of the Johnny Brainerd be to a good account in the away so that they would away for a long time for them to something in the way of the all about them.
He the direction which he had the take, and he his steps accordingly, with only a of meeting him without the entire night for him. Baldy was to that as the boy would wish some water for his engine, he would in the of the river until at least that want be supplied.
Acting on this supposition, he his way to the river bank, and so closely to the water that its surface was visible to him.
The night was still, and, as he moved along, he often paused and listened, to the familiar of the wheels, as the over the prairie.
Without either party it, he passed a yards of Duff McIntosh, the trapper, he had so years before.
But had he been aware of the fact, he would only have aside, to avoid him; for, when the two trappers, years previous, separated, they had been in a quarrel, which came near resulting to both.
At length the of the his ear, and he his steps toward the point where he the steam man to be.
