XVI. THE REPULSE.
A FEW minutes more satisfied the that he was right. Gradually out from the the itself into the steam man.
Johnny Brainerd, after the so neatly, over the at a speed, so as to against the approach of the Indians, or the who had to his property in so a manner.
Fortunately he did not see Baldy until the him, otherwise he would have his identity; but the moment he his voice he toward him, no less than pleased at meeting him so unexpectedly.
'Where are Mickey and Ethan?' he inquired, as he alongside of him.
'In the cave.'
'How is it you are here?'
The that he had out to him up; but as there no danger, he it best to his there, as if the Indians once of the ravine, it would be difficult, if not impossible, to them.
Besides, in order to out the which he had formed, it was necessary that two at least should in the cave, while the others were on the outside.
Under the direction of the trapper, the steam man slowly approached the ravine, at a distance, but so near that if any should arise, they would be able to to their friends.
The boy gave so as to the Irishman and Yankee of their whereabouts. A after, and while the noise of the was over the prairie, a their ears.
'That's the long-legged Yankee!' the trapper; 'he how to make my of noise.'
'What it mean?'
'It means that all is right.'
'Where are the Indians?'
'They ain't off. I wish they further, ef it warn't them, we'd had the metal out of by this time.'
Young Brainerd had the of a vision; but, as much as he might, he nothing unusual. The trapper, however, that be along-the of the prairie, and that these same were more less than so many red-skins.
'What are they trying to do?'
'Duono.'
'Hadn't we withdraw?' Johnny, a little nervousness.
'Not till we know they're after us,' was the reply.
By and by the boy himself was able to an occasional of the moving to and fro.
'I think they are going to us,' he added, 'and I as though we ought to out while we can do so.'
The only reply to this, was by the his gun to his and firing. An screech, as the himself in the air, that the had not been in vain.
Rather at the same moment the report of a gun in the their ears, by the same death-shriek.
'They ain't sleepin' very powerful thar,' was the pleased of the trapper, as he his piece, while the boy in that state, the permission of Baldy to go away over the at a that would very him all danger.
But the was in no to give the permission. He to have a for the place, which his 'tearing himself away.'
The boy's was not in the least diminished, when return were fired, the all around them.
'My gracious, Baldy, let's out of this!' he pleaded,' starting the man himself.
'Go about fifty feet,' was the reply, 'but not any further.'
It may be said that the steam man over this space, and further, like a kangaroo, and then it would not have had not the orders for it to do so.
The sky was now clear and the moon, high and nearly full, the for a distance, and there was no but that they the approach of the most savage, let him come in he chose.
The night away, without any particular upon the part of either the Indians or white men, although were occasionally exchanged, without any particular result on either side.
Now and then a red-skin, along, his on the of the ravine; but there was too much light for him to himself to the of the trapper, who took a of in sending his after the aborigines.
This of sport was not without its and danger; for the last to take a is an American Indian; and they away at the steam man and its train a good opportunity offered.
Owing to the size and of the steamer, he was a for his enemies; and, indeed, so close did some of the come, that the boy almost his lowered, so as to be protected by the of the wagon.
Finally came, to the of all our friends. As soon as it was light the Irishman and Yankee were that a move was about to be made, by means of the steam-whistle. An to them, the steam man at once to the very of the ravine.
The the gulch, of red-skins near the cave, and, Brainerd to his piece at a one, the two nearly together. Scarce five had elapsed, when Ethan and Mickey did the same. All four, or three, as the boy gave his attention to the engine, and as as possible.
The red-skins returned a shots; but they were taken at such disadvantage, that they a the ravine.
Ere they had a hundred yards, Ethan and Mickey from the cave, and excited, at every red-skin they see, the Irishman occasionally his gun over his head, and the to a hand-to-hand encounter.
While the two were thus engaged, the was not idle. The steam man his place but a the enemies, and his failed of its mark.
The moment an Indian was killed or wounded, his and him away, there being a great upon the part of all that some of their number might into the hands of their enemies, and the of being scalped.
The were a long distance, until their number had to a of what it was originally, and the had all they do in 'taking of their comrades.
Never was victory more complete. The Indians were discomfited, and only too to away after being so punished. During this the steam man up a shrieking, which in no to the of the red-skins. They at the fearful-looking monster, and, their produced no effect, the thing with a of the power which they had it at sight.
When the last of the Indians was seen, the toward the boy.
'Warn't that well done, younker?'
'It was indeed.'
'They'll now away awhile.'
'We would have failed if we had waited any longer.'
'Why so, boy?'
'Because the last is burned, and the steam man couldn't be to a mile without more fuel.'
