Warner was sent to the men guarding the entrance, Pennington to those at the exit, while Dick was kept with the colonel, who crouched, after his arrangements were made, in a little clump of trees near the center of the valley.
Colonel Winchester was willing enough to risk his life but knowing that it was of the highest importance now to preserve it he did not take any risks through false pride.

Besides Dick he kept Reed, Shepard and the sergeant with him.
The ring of fire on the slopes had been increasing fast, and the assailants found much shelter there among the dwarf pines and cedars.
Bullets were pattering all over the valley.

Several of the Winchesters had been slain in the early firing, and they lay where they had fallen.
Others were wounded, but they bound up their own hurts and used their rifles, whenever they could pick out a figure on the slopes.
"You spoke of traitors, Mr.Reed," said the colonel.

"Did you know well all the men who came to help in the preparations for us ?" "All but two," replied the mountaineer.

"One was named Leonard and the other Bosley.