"Yes, sir, and the hammer in it, but I have the spike thrust through a piece of beef in my haversack." "All right. There are stones enough around to supply the absence of a hammer." "Volunteers to the front!" said Ronayne, in a low, firm tone, and with compressed lip. "What Hardscrabble men will follow me?" Simultaneously, Sergeant Nixon, Corporals Collins and Green; Phillips, Watson, Weston, and Degarmo, stepped forth, with several others, anxious to be of the party, until the number was made up, and again the diminished square closed upon its centre. "Not yet," cried Captain Headley, who, having once more applied the glass to his eye, was closely watching the movements of the Indian mass. "Nothing must be left to mere chance. Mr. Elmsley, what is the position of the wagon which contains the ammunition?" "It was the leading one, sir," returned the officer addressed. "What alteration has been made in the act of throwing them into square, I cannot possibly tell." "See, is not that it?" asked the commanding officer, pointing to one from the top of which several casks protruded. "It is," was the reply. "Then, Mr. Ronayne, first lead your party to the wagons and let each man load himself from the keg of ball cartridge, and as many grenades as he can carry--these must supply the place of larger shot, if we get the gun. Lose no time. There is not an Indian on that side of the sandhill now, and you will easily accomplish your object. Sampson," addressing the armorer, "you may as well avail yourself of the opportunity to get your heavy hammer. The stones about here are brittle, and may break."