The Press., 1892-07-14

and then the piercing call, as if to some of his kind beyond the reach of human senses, but within the knowledge of his acute by heredity and life that ranged over long distances undulled by confine- ment and disuse.
 The entire camp was aroused. Silently and with the utmost. caution they were told to prepare for defense. With the first ray of light Captain Jose saiu they might expect an attack from the Indians either the Pawnecs or Cheycnncs. All the experienced plainsmen ill tho com mand agreed with him. 1t was not the first time they had been warned of the approach of the enemy by ;l Mexican pony. To be ready to repulse swift and deadly onslaught from tho stealthy dogs must be their tactics now, they said, and every man was posted rifle in hand and many rounds of ammunition in his belt. These precautions seemed overdone to the men who were making their first trip across the plains and to some of the raw recruits among the sol diers, but short experience with the frontiersmen had already taught them that words are cheap coin ill the estilna tion of that rowing and hardy commu- nity and they wisely held their peace.
 "Hist! hist!" from Captain Jose, who naturally fell into the dialect of the Mexican under excitement.
 All eyes were bent into the grass as they had been directed an hour before. The gray light was sitting into the air but thinly as yet, and strain their vision as they might they could see but few feet away. Still, as they looked it grew lighter and lighter, and the grass rustled, with a passing breeze, perhaps; or, was it crouching form creeping on nearer and nearer-a dozen! a score! hundreds!
 On every side the grass was alive with Indians, and simultaneously with Cap tain Jose's command to "fircv' they sprang forward yelling like demons and falling over one another ill Il frenzy of surprise and rage. The reception was too much for them; they fell back, leav- ing many dead and wounded within a few feet of the corral, ghastly and writhing cordon about the barricade. The Indians had planned surprise for the camp. They thought to steal up to the corral and charge upon it so sud denly in the uncertain light that they could kill many of the frcighters while yet upon the ground asleep. The old Mexican had outwitted them.
 The green men under his command | set up a shout of victory. but it was quickly checked.
 Save your breath" said veteran of the trail, "the enemy is repulsed, but not vanquished, begorra! We may be here for days yit, and we may niver git on agin; the saints preserve usr'
 Repulsed, but not vanquished; that was the situation comprehended instant ly by every man familiar with Indian warfare.
 Up through the now fast coming light shot a beacon of fire from the highest point of the great rock, the Indians tele- graph for ages, lighted on that same point for the summoning of friendly tribes before the white man ever crossed the Mississippi from the east or Coro- nado traversed the plains from the west Higher and higher it blazed as the say ages piled dried grass and brush on it's bed, Long tongues of flame leaped up into the air, clouds of smoke rolled away over the prairie, and then 1t all died out as suddenly as 1t was kindled. The ashes of the light stuff blew away on the next wind that touched the top of the old rock, and before the rolling ball of smoke had melted into the nearest white float ing cloud the beacon fire was out, But 1t had done its swift errand well,
 The Indians down by the river and those on the rock, all now plainly visible from the corral, went calmly about the preparations for the morning meal There were no squaws with the band and no lodge poles were carried; 1t was evidently war party. Breakfast was made ready in the corral too, There was no hunger wherewith to season the food, but every man knew that he must eat to fortify himself for battle-perhaps that he might be able to summon cour- age to meet death bravely.
 "There is the answering signal; yon- der to the south" cried some one on the lookout.
 Yes, there it was, q faint, unsteady pennon of blue smoke wavering in the wind. The Indians saw it, but made no sign-they knew it would come. The stolid meal went on, the wary eyes keep ing watch only on the corral so that no white man might creep to the river or the springs for water,
 Jose Valdez wore an anxious look. He had said that it would take the In- dians at least four hours to come to the aid of the attacking band.
 "Till thin," added the lrishman, "ye can slape or ate or make your wills, b'ys, as ye like. Pat Duffy will clane his gun and be ready fer the divils, bad cess to thim."
 Most of the command followed Pats example and cleaned their rifles, but they could not joke nor make light of their predicament, it was too serious; that was plainly indicated by the faces of Captain Jose and the other old plains men.
 Continued next weekly