The nearest available troops were at Dodge, a company of infantry.

If they started at once they could never arrive in time to prevent an attack at daybreak.

The Indians undoubtedly knew this, realized the utter helplessness of their victims, and were acting accordingly.

Otherwise they would never have lighted that fire nor remained on guard.

Moreover if the two of them should succeed in stealing forth from the shelter of the coach, should skulk unseen amid the dense blackness of the overhanging bluff, eluding the watchers, what would it profit in the end?
Their trail would be clear; with the first gray of dawn those savage trackers would be at work, and they would be trapped in the open, on foot, utterly helpless even to fight.
The man's hands clenched and unclenched about his rifle-barrel in an agony of indecision, his eyes perceiving the silhouette of the girl against the lighter arc of sky.