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He heard a bullet hit one of his comrades Whoever had been struck never uttered a sound Jean turned to look Bill Isbel was holding his shoulder, where red splotches appeared on his shirt He shook his head at Jean, evidently toface down and could not see as happening Plain is was that Bill did not want them to know Blaisdell bound up the bloody shoulder with a scarf

Steady firing from the rustlers went on, at the rate of one shot every few ain that afternoon Toward sunset, when the besiegers appeared to grow restless or careless, Blaisdell fired at soe buffalo gun boooin' to do after dark, an' what 're WE goin' to do?" grue us," said Gaston

"They ht set fire to the cabins," added Bill Isbel He appeared to be the gloo on his mind

"Wal, the Jorths are bad, but I reckon they'd not burn us alive," replied Blaisdell

"Hah!" ejaculated Gaston Isbel "Much you know aboot Lee Jorth He would skin me alive an' throw red-hot coals onthe hour from sunset to dark Jean Isbel had little to say He was revolving possibilities in his e in the attack of the rustlers They stationed men at four points around the cabins; and every few minutes one of these outposts would fire These bullets e but little anxiety to the Isbels

"Jean, what you make of it?" asked the old rancher

"Looks to ht They're shootin' just to let us know they're on the watch"

"Ahuh! Wal, what 're you goin' to do aboot it?"

"I'runted his satisfaction at this intention of Jean's

All was pitch dark inside the cabin The women had water and food at hand Jean kept a sharp lookout from his hile he ate his supper of meat, bread, andday, fell asleep The women whispered a little in their corner

About nine o'clock Jean signified his intention of going out to reconnoitre