No attacking party operating upon the eastern continent, guided by all the strategy of civilized war, could have acted more promptly, or to better purpose.

The old chief made a quick, peculiar gesture from left to right, and in instant response his clustered bunch of warriors spread out in regulated intervals, assuming positions not unlike the sticks of a fan such as the Creoles use, until they formed a complete semicircle, their flanks close in against the cliff, and their centre well back upon the bank of the stream.

It was a pretty movement, executed with the precision of long discipline, and De Noyan brought his hand down applauding upon his knee.
"_Parbleu_!" he exclaimed with enthusiasm.

"'Twas as well done as by troops of the line.

I look for a warm time presently, when we cross arms with those fellows." Even as he spoke, I observed the old chief passing rapidly from man to man, speaking briefly to each in turn and pointing toward us, as though giving special directions for the coming assault.
"Chevalier," I whispered, "would it not be well to try a shot at that tall-haired fellow ?" "It appears too great a distance to my eye." "I have dropped a buck through forest limbs fifty feet farther." "Then try your fortune," he said eagerly.