The latter intended to make the attack, but without waiting for him, Baldy sprung like a panther upon him and bore him to the earth. There was a silent but terrific struggle for a few moments, but the prodigious activity and rower of the trapper prevailed, and when he withdrew from the grasp of the Indian, the latter was as dead as a door nail. The struggle had been so short that neither Mickey nor Ethan knew anything of it, until Baldy dropped down among them, and announced what had taken place. 'Jerusalem! have they come as close as that?' asked the Yankee in considerable terror. 'Skulp me, if they ain't all around us!' was the reply of the hunter. 'How we ar' to git out o' hyar, ar' a hard thing to tell j'ist now.' 'It's meself that thinks the rid gentlemin have a love fur us, as me mither obsarved, when she cracked the head of me father,' remarked Mickey, who had seated himself upon the ground with all the indifference of an unconcerned spectator. It was so dark in their cave-like home that they could not see each other's faces, and could only catch a sort of twilight glimpse of their forms when they passed close to each other. It would have made their quarters more pleasant had they struck a light, but it was too dangerous a proceeding, and no one thought of it. They could only keep on the alert, and watch for the movement of their enemies. The latter, beyond all doubt, were in the immediate vicinity, and inspired as they were by hate of the most vindictive kind, would not allow an opportunity to pass of doing all the harm in their power. The remains of their food was silently eaten in the darkness, when Baldy said: 'Do yer stay hyar whar ye be till I come back' 'Where might ye be going naow?' inquired Hopkins. 'I'm goin' outside to see what the reds are doin', and to see whether thar's a chance fur 'em to gobble us up hull.' 'Do yees mind and take care of y'urself, as me mither cautioned me when I went a shparkin',' said Mickey, who naturally felt some apprehension, when he saw the trapper on the point of leaving them at such a dangerous time. 'Yes. Baldy, remember that my fate is wrapped up in yours,' added the Yankee, whose sympathies were probably excited to a still greater extent. 'Never mind about Baldy; he has been in such business too often not to know how to take care of himself.' 'How long do you expect to begone?'' inquired Ethan. 'Mebbe all night, if thar ain't much danger. Ef I find the varments ar' too thick I'll stay by yer, and if they ain't I'll leave fur several hours. Leastways, whatever I do, you'll be sure to look out for the skunks.' With this parting admonition, the trapper withdrew.