That the settler and his wife realized it was seen by the actions of the woman, who began carrying water into the cabin from the river and apparently storing it in barrels and tubs. She also labored unceasingly with heavy blocks of wood, which probably were to be used as a barricade. And lastly, she carried pailful after pailful of water to the thatched roof and soaked it down thoroughly. The Indians watched the labors of the “white squaw,” and now and then sent forth derisive yells, but they kept well beyond reach of the rifle in the hands of the man who so calmly faced them. They knew, also, that the settler was well armed, for the woman now brought out several rifles and leaned them against the cabin in silent proclamation of their readiness for battle. As the shadows lengthened in the little valley the woman once more gave the roof of the shanty a generous wetting down, removed everything movable to the interior, and the settler retired to the doorstep with a barricade of logs in front of him. “I hope he will not attempt to remain there after dark,” said the scout to his boy companion. “Why not?” “Because the Indians can approach to within a few rods before he can see them and then one mad charge and all is over, before he can shoot twice.” “He ought to go inside and barricade the door and shoot from where they can’t get at him, hadn’t he?” asked the boy. “Yes.” “Can’t we help them?” “We’ll certainly try, as soon as it is dark enough so they cannot see our approach.” “Good! I hoped we could, for I am afraid morning would find the cabin burned and the settlers all murdered.” When it was quite dark the two “Bills” moved quietly nearer the little cabin by the mound, expecting every moment to hear the thunder of pounding hoofs and the yells of the savages as they bore down to overwhelm the little stronghold. The scout obtained a position to suit his taste and then lay upon the ground to await the opening of hostilities. At the proper moment he and the boy would surprise the redskins by taking part in the circus. Suddenly the expected signal yell came and the charge was on. Nearer and nearer the ponies thundered and then out from the stone chimney of the cabin shot a rocket that lighted up the scenery for rods around. The Indians struggled with their ponies in amazement, but before they could pull up: “Crack! bang!” came two shots almost as one, and two saddles were empty. The settler and his wife had both scored. “Give ’em a parting shot, boy, to let ’em know the settler has friends,” said Buffalo Bill, as he sent a pony tumbling by the light of another rocket that soared upward from the chimney. The boy also dumped a horse and rider. This must have surprised the settlers almost, if not fully as much, as it did the Indians, but a surprise was also coming for the scout and the boy themselves.