There was no time then to speculate as to why the villain had come, nor how he could have followed our tracks without meeting the remainder of the party. The traces upon the leaves and earth would lead him directly to the cave and, however many might be behind, it was our duty to cut him short in the chase. The same thought must have been in Giles’s mind, for before I could raise my musket he fired. The Indian stopped suddenly, half-raised himself, and then wheeled about, being lost to view amid the foliage in an instant. We two stood staring at each other in fear and amazement, knowing beyond a peradventure that the discovery of our refuge, by the enemy was close at hand, for even though this cur did not live to join his fellows, they would soon come upon his trail and then follow ours. Thus it was that all suddenly and without warning, our cave, wherein the helpless ones sought safety, was become the most dangerous spot that could be found, and I grew sick with fear and indecision, not knowing whether it was our duty to stay and defend the place which would likely soon be assaulted, or first speed on to tell Master Bartlett and his company of the disaster which seemed so near at hand. CHAPTER XIII. DEFENDING THE CAVE That which seemed to me at the moment most important was whether Giles’s shot had been a fatal one, or, if he had wounded that bloodhound, who, most like by accident, had come upon our trail, and the question shaped itself into words. “There is yet life enough remaining in him, judging by the way in which he turned, to admit of his giving the alarm, unless his companions are too far away,” Giles replied, and continued in a tone of grief: “Why did I not shoot with surer aim? Why have we allowed the murdering villain to escape?” “It is of little moment, Giles March, whether he lived or died,” I said, soothingly, and the lad looked at me in surprise, whereupon I hastened to add: “When he failed to return to his fellows, they would most likely set out in search of him, and, coming upon the trail, not only follow it to where his body might be lying, but to our cave.” “What shall we do?” Giles asked, helplessly, and I was unable to answer the question promptly. “It seems to me as necessary Master Bartlett and his party be warned, as that we return to guard the cave,” I said, half to myself. “Help me to decide whether we shall go back simply to give the alarm, then striving to reach those who are waiting for us by the river, or if we ought to remain at the cave.” “To my mind we have little need for raising such a question,” Giles said, promptly. “When we fail to return, our comrades must understand that something of serious import has detained us, and will be on the alert for danger from this direction. There are none in the cave to defend it, save the women, for those crippled lads would make a poor showing in trying to handle a weapon. We must go back, and without delay.”