"As I said, we've got you shut up. We're sure that you haven't food for more than two or three days. Surrender and we'll spare your lives and take you as prisoners to the British at Detroit--that is, all except Henry Ware." "And why except Henry?" "He has done so much against the warriors that I don't think we could induce them to spare him." "But what makes you think he's here?" Wyatt hesitated and he and Blackstaffe spoke together a few moments in a low voice. Then he replied: "One of our largest and strongest warriors was strangled nearly to death last night. Nobody could have done it but Ware." Paul laughed loud. "And so that's your evidence!" he cried. "Well, you're mistaken. I did that myself. I was needing a little exercise and so I went out, found this warrior in the grass and manhandled him. Then I came back feeling a lot better." Wyatt's face blazed. "You lie, Paul Cotter," he exclaimed. "You couldn't do such a thing!" "Oh, yes, I could," said Paul merrily, "but you're losing your temper again, Braxton. You should never call anybody a liar when you're within range of his gun. No, we're not going to shoot. We always respect a flag of truce, though we doubt whether you would. Now, I want to ask you what have we ever done to make you think we'd betray a comrade like Henry? Are you judging us by yourself? You might have a thousand warriors out there and our answer would be the same. Try to take us and see what will happen. We give you just two minutes to get out of range." Wyatt, Blackstaffe and the two Indians retired hurriedly. Long Jim uttered an indignant exclamation. "What's the matter with you, Jim?" asked Henry. "I've been insulted." "Insulted? What do you mean?" "To think anybody could have reckoned that me an' the others would be mean enough to give you up jest to save our own hides!" Henry's eyes twinkled. "I know you wouldn't give me up, Jim, but how do you know, if our places had been changed, that I wouldn't have given you up?" "You're talkin' like Shif'less Sol," said Long Jim in the utmost good humor. "Now I wonder whar that ornery, long-legged cuss is." "Not so far away, it's safe to say. He'll be hanging around, ready to help whenever help is needed most." "That's shore. Thar's a heap o' good in Shif'less Sol, though it don't always 'pear on the surface. Wish he wuz here. Now, what's next, Henry?" "Waiting, waiting, and then more waiting." "You don't think they'll give it up an' go away?" "Not for two or three days anyhow, and I think it likely also that they'll make another general attack." "An' you think, too, that they've all gone some distance out of rifle shot?" "Not a doubt of it, but why do you ask, Jim?"