Page:Boys of the Fort.djvu/243

Rh "They won't come back in a hurry," said the young captain. "The Indians have had their eyes opened."

"How soon can those re-enforcements come, Will?" asked Joe.

"I don't think they can get here before to-morrow noon, if as soon. They'll have a long journey before them, and a body of several hundred soldiers can't travel as fast as a single person."

"Of course they'll be cavalry," put in Darry.

"I hope so—if the cavalry was at Fort Prescott when Leeson got there."

Colonel Fairfield was much disturbed by the shooting, and he insisted upon sitting up and hearing the particulars.

"Good!" he murmured. "Keep them off an other twenty-four hours and we shall be saved," and then he went off in another stupor.

All was now as quiet as if not an enemy was within a mile of the fort. But the soldiers remained on guard, and this vigilance was increased as the sun went down in the west.

"This night will tell the tale," was old Benson's comment. "Boys, it's do or die, and don't you forget it!"

Whether or not the old scout was right we shall soon see.