The eyes of their chief, and the braves of the tribe, are upon them.

They are thirsting for glory, and hold their lives as of little account, in the face of an achievement that will gain them the distinction most coveted by an Indian youth--that which will give him rank as a warrior, and perhaps some day raise him to a chieftaincy.
Stimulated by this thought, they soon forget the check caused by the fall of their comrade; and, laying aside caution, ride nearer and nearer, till their arrows, one after another, hurtle through the air, and dropping like a continuous shower of spent rocket-sticks upon the covers of the corralled waggons.
Several of them fall to shots from the barricade, but then places are supplied by fresh volunteers from the outer circle; and the sparkling shower is kept up, till a curl of smoke is seen soaring above the white tilts of the waggons, and soon after others at different places and on different sides of the enclosure.
As yet the besieged have not seen this.

The powder-smoke puffing up from their own guns, discharged in quick repetition, obscures everything in a thick, sulphurous cloud; so that even the white covers of the waggons are scarce distinguishable, much less the spots where it has commenced smoking.
Not long, however, till something besides smoke makes itself visible, as also audible.

Here and there flames flicker up, with a sharp crackling noise, which continues.

The one is not flashes from the guns, nor the other a snapping of percussion-caps.
Wilder, with eyes turning to all points, is the first to perceive this.
"We're on fire, boys!" he vociferates; "on fire everywhar!" "Great God! yes! What are we to do ?" several ask, despairingly.
"What air we to do ?" shouts the guide, in response.