As an appropriate weapon, she had placed the end of the
spit in the fire, and at the moment of the attack it was white-hot.
Seeing the shutter bend with the pressure of the Indians against
it, she seized the spit, and plunged it through the loophole with
all her force. A fearful yell followed, which rose even above the
tremendous din around.
There was a lull so profound after the discharge of the last
barrels of the boys' revolvers as to be almost startling. Running
upstairs, they fitted fresh chambers to their weapons, left the
empty ones with their sisters, and joined their father.
"That's right, boys; the attack is beaten off for the present. Now
take your carbines. There is a band of Indians down by the animals.
I heard their war-whoops when the others began, but the light
hardly reaches so far. Now look out, I am going to send up a rocket
over them. The cows are the most important; so, Charley, you direct
all your shots at any party there. Hubert, divide yours among the
rest."
In another moment the rocket flew up into the air, and as the
bright light burst out a group of Indians could be seen at the
gateway of each of the enclosures. As the brilliant light broke
over them they scattered with a cry of astonishment. Before the
light faded the twelve barrels had been fired among them.
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