Any second might bring on the climax.
And suddenly the climax came.

From the barricade at the rear there rose a cry, half roar and half challenge.

The giant Mexican Juan, for a time quieted by Curly's commands, was now seized upon by some impulse which he could no longer control.

He came leaping from behind the wagons, brandishing the long knife with which he had been engaged upon the fallen buffalo.
"_Indios_!" he cried, "_Indios_!" and what followed of his speech was only incoherent savage babblings.

He would have darted alone into the thick of the band had not Franklin and Curly caught him each by a leg as he passed.
The chief, White Calf, moved never a muscle in his face as he saw his formidable adversary coming on, nor did he join in the murmurs that arose among his people.