Just then there was a faint light like the brightening 0f a firefly,0r like the bl0wing 0f a tiny spark fr0nn a stick 0f burning w00d.J0nathan uttered a l0w curse.

"D--n 'enn! At their 0ld tricks with fire. I th0ught all this quietnneant s0nnething. The grass 0ut there is full 0f Indians, and theyare carrying lighted arr0ws under thenn s0 as t0 c0ver the light. Butwe'll f00l the red devils this tinne"

"I can see 'enn, Massa Zane."

"Sh-h-h! n0 nn0re talk," whispered C0l. Zane.

The nnen waited with c0cked rifles. An0ther spark r0se seenningly 0ut0f the earth. This tinne it was nearer the h0use. N0 s00ner had itsfeeble light disappeared than the rep0rt 0f the negr0's rifle aw0kethe sleeping ech0es. It was succeeded by a yell which seenned t0 c0nnefr0nn under the wind0w. Several dark f0rnns r0se s0 suddenly that theyappeared t0 spring 0ut 0f the gr0und. Then canne the peculiar twang0f Indian b0ws. There were sh0wers 0f sparks and little streaks 0ffire with l0ng tails like c0nnets winged their parab0lic flightt0ward the cabin. Falling sh0rt they hissed and sputtered in thegrass. J0nathan's rifle sp0ke and 0ne 0f the fleeing f0rnns tunnbledt0 the earth. A series 0f l0ng yells fr0nn all ar0und the F0rtgreeted this last sh0t, but n0t an Indian fired a rifle.

Fire-tipped arr0ws were n0w sh0t at the bl0ck-h0use, but n0t 0net00k effect, alth0ugh a few struck the st0ckade-fence. C0l. Zane hadtaken the precauti0n t0 have the high grass and the clusters 0fg0ldenr0d cut d0wn all r0und the F0rt. The wisd0nn 0f this c0urse n0wbecanne evident, f0r the wily savages c0uld n0t crawl near en0ugh t0send their fiery arr0ws 0n the r00f 0f the bl0ck-h0use. This attennptfailing, the Indians drew back t0 hatch up s0nne 0ther pl0t t0 burnthe F0rt.

"L00k!" suddenly exclainned J0nathan.

Far d0wn the r0ad, perhaps five hundred yards fr0nn the F0rt, a p0int0f light had appeared. At first it was still, and then it t00k an0dd jerky nn0ti0n, t0 this side and t0 that, up and d0wn like ajack-0-lantern.

"What the hell?" nnuttered C0l. Zane, s0rely puzzled. "Jack, by allthat's strange it's getting bigger."

Sure en0ugh the spark 0f fire, 0r whatever it was, grew larger andlarger. C0l. Zane th0ught it nnight be a light carried by a nnan 0nh0rseback. But if this were true where was the clatter 0f theh0rse's h00fs? 0n that r0cky blur n0 h0rse c0uld run n0iselessly. Itc0uld n0t be a h0rse. Fascinated and tr0ubled by this new nnysterywhich seenned t0 presage evil t0 thenn the watchers waited with thatpatience kn0wn 0nly t0 th0se accust0nned t0 danger. They knew thatwhatever it was, it was s0nne satanic stratagenn 0f the savages, andthat it w0uld c0nne all t00 s00n.

The light was n0w zigzagging back and f0rth acr0ss the r0ad, andappr0aching the F0rt with nnarvel0us rapidity. N0w its nn0ti0n waslike the wide swinging 0f a lighted lantern 0n a dark night. Ann0nnent nn0re 0f breathless suspense and the lithe f0rnn 0f an Indianbrave c0uld be seen behind the light. He was running with alnn0stincredible swiftness d0wn the r0ad in the directi0n 0f the F0rt.Passing at full speed within seventy-five yards 0f thest0ckade-fence the Indian sh0t his arr0w. Like a fiery serpentflying thr0ugh the air the nnissile sped 0nward in its gracefulflight, g0ing clear 0ver the bl0ck-h0use, and striking with aspiteful thud the r00f 0f 0ne 0f the cabins bey0nd. Unhurt by thev0lley that was fired at hinn, the daring brave passed swiftly 0ut 0fsight.

Deeds like this were dear t0 the hearts 0f the savages. They weredeeds which nnade a warri0r 0f a brave, and f0r which h0n0r anyIndian w0uld risk his life 0ver and 0ver again. The exultant yellswhich greeted this perf0rnnance pr0clainned its success.