Then the horses, instinctively following some leader, turned again and ran back to their old places among the trees and behind the windrows, where they stood, quivering with terror.
A crackling of rifles had begun before the horses were driven back, and bullets pattered in the valley.

Dark figures appeared crouched against the slopes, and jets of fire ran like a red ribbon upon the white of the snow.
"The gorillers!" cried Reed.

"They've crep' over the ridges, spite uv all our watchin'." Colonel Winchester did not lose his head for an instant, nor did any of his young soldiers, who had been trained to think as well as obey.
Without waiting for orders they had already won an important victory by turning the horses back with fire, and the colonel, with the help of his officers, formed them rapidly to meet the attack.

The house, the stable and the corn crib were filled with sharpshooters and others lay down among the trees or behind any shelter they could find.

A number were detailed rapidly to tether the horses, and make them secure against a second fright.