"They can't besiege us here," said Paul, "and catch Shif'less Sol at the same time. But I think we ought to remove the body of that fallen warrior at the door. I don't like to see it there." "Neither do I," said Long Jim, and stepping forward he lifted the slain man in his arms and tossed him as far as he could down the side of the hill. They heard the body rolling and crashing some distance through the grass and bushes, and they shuddered. "I hated to do it," said Long Jim, "but it had to be done. Besides, they'll get it now and take it away." "You look for no other attempt tonight?" said Paul. "No," said Henry. "They've lost too many men. They may try to starve us out." "Now you an' Jim take your naps," said Silent Tom, "while me an' Paul keep the watch till day." "All right," said Henry, "but I want to wait eight or ten minutes." "What fur?" "You'll see--or rather you'll hear." Before the appointed time had passed the long howling note of a wolf came from a point a quarter of a mile or more away. "Shif'less Sol is safe," said Henry, and five minutes later he and Long Jim were sound asleep. CHAPTER XI THE SHIFTLESS ONE The next day dawned as brilliant as the one that had gone before, a golden sun clothing the vast green forest in a luminous light. It seemed to Henry that each day, as the spring advanced, deepened the intense emerald glow of the leaves. Down in the valley he caught the sparkle of the brook, as it flowed swiftly away toward a creek, to be carried thence to the Ohio, and on through the Mississippi to the sea. Further up the opposite slope, five or six hundred yards away, were gathered the Indians around a fire in an opening, eating breakfast. Henry saw Wyatt and Blackstaffe with them, and he counted eighteen figures. As they had already suffered severe losses he concluded that they had received a small reinforcement, since they must have out four or five scouts and spies watching the little fortress. Evidently they had not been daunted by their repulse of the night before, as they were broiling venison on the ends of sharpened sticks and eating heartily. The two white men finishing their food lay down on the grass and rested lazily. By and by the red members of the band did likewise. "It's just as we thought last night," said Henry, "They will not try to carry us by assault again, but will undertake to starve us out with a long siege. Even if they've guessed the meaning of our smoke they don't know that we have in here running water that runs on forever." "Would they care to carry on a long siege?" asked Paul. "Maybe not, if Wyatt were not there. You know how he hates us all, and he will be continually urging them to attack us. Perhaps Red Eagle and Blackstaffe will now go on and join the main army, leaving Wyatt with a chosen band to take us by siege."