The stamp of a horse came again, and then a loud shrill neigh, a piercing sound and full of menace in the still night.
"What was that ?" exclaimed the sergeant in alarm.

"A horse does not neigh at such a time without good reason!" And then the storm broke loose in the valley.

There was a series of short, fierce shouts.

Torches were suddenly waved in the air.

Many horses neighed in the wildest terror and, all of them breaking through the forest and windrows, poured in a confused and frightened stream toward the entrance of the valley.
Then the experience of the sergeant in wild Indian warfare was worth more than gold and diamonds.