"Go down
now every one to his station. Keep the dogs quiet, and mind, let no
one fire until I give the signal."
Over and over again the clinking noise was repeated. Cautious as
the Indians were, it was impossible even for them to get over that
strange and difficult obstacle without touching the wires with
their arms. Occasionally Mr. Hardy and the boys fancied that they
could see dark objects stealing toward the house through the gloom;
otherwise all was still.
"Boys," Mr. Hardy said, "I have changed my mind. There will be
numbers at the doors and windows, whom we cannot get at from here.
Steal quietly downstairs, and take your position each at a window.
Then, when the signal is given, fire both your revolvers. Don't
throw away a shot. Darken all the rooms except the kitchen. You
will see better to take aim through the loopholes; it will be quite
light outside. When you have emptied your revolvers, come straight
up here, leaving them for the girls to load as you pass."
Without a word the boys slipped away. Mr. Hardy then placed on a
round shelf nailed to the flagstaff, at about eight feet from the
ground, a blue-light, fitting into a socket on the shelf. The shelf
was made just so large that it threw a shadow over the top of the
tower, so that those standing there were in comparative darkness,
while everything around was in bright light.
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