In the Rocky Mountains | Page 8

give us warning.
"We can trust to your assistance, should we be attacked," said Uncle
Jeff; "or, if you will come with your people inside the house, you may
help us in defending it."

Winnemak shook his head at the latter proposal.
"We will aid you as far as we can with our small party," he answered;
"but my people would never consent to shut themselves up within walls.
They do not understand that sort of fighting. Trust to Winnemak; he
will do all he can to serve you."
"We are very certain of that, friend," said Uncle Jeff.
The Indian, after once more shaking hands with us, set off to join his
tribe.
Lieutenant Broadstreet expressed his satisfaction at having come to the
farm. "If you are attacked, my four men and I may be of some use to
you; for I feel sure that we shall quickly drive away the Redskins,
however numerous they may be," he observed.
He advised that all the doors and lower windows should be barricaded,
in case a surprise might be attempted; and that guards should be posted,
and another scout sent out to keep watch near the house, in case Bartle
might have missed the enemy, or any accident have happened to him.
The latter Uncle Jeff deemed very unnecessary, so great was his
confidence in Bartle's judgment and activity.
Notice was sent to the hut directing the men to come in should they be
required, but it was not considered necessary for them to sleep inside
the house.
These arrangements having been made, those not on watch retired to
rest. But although Uncle Jeff took things so coolly, I suspect that he
was rather more anxious than he wished it to appear. I know that I
myself kept awake the greater part of the night, listening for any sounds
which might indicate the approach of a foe, and ready to set out at a
moment's notice with my rifle in hand,--which I had carefully loaded
and placed by my bedside before I lay down. Several times I started up,
fancying that I heard a distant murmur; but it was simply the roaring of
the cataract coming down the canon.

At daybreak I jumped up, and quickly dressing, went downstairs. Soon
afterwards Gideon Tuttle, who had been scouting near the house, came
in, stating that he had seen no light to the southward which would
indicate the camp-fires of an enemy, and that, according to his belief,
none was likely to appear. In this Uncle Jeff was inclined to agree with
him.
Lieutenant Broadstreet now expressed a wish to proceed on his way; at
the same time, he said that he did not like to leave us until it was
certain that we were not likely to be exposed to danger.
"Much obliged to you, friend," said Uncle Jeff, "you are welcome to
stay here as long as you please; and Bartle Won will soon be in, when
we shall know all about the state of affairs."
It was our custom to breakfast at an early hour in the morning, as we
had to be away looking after the cattle, and attending to the other duties
of the farm.
The lieutenant happened to ask me why we called the location "Roaring
Water."
"I see only a quiet, decent stream flowing by into the valley below," he
observed.
"Wait until we have a breeze coming down the canon, and then you
will understand why we gave the name of `Roaring Water' to this
place," I answered. "As I can be spared this morning, and there is not
much chance of the enemy coming, if you like to accompany me I will
take you to the cataract which gives its name to this `quiet, decent
stream,' as you call it; then you will believe that we have not misnamed
the locality."
We set off together. The lieutenant looked as if he would have liked to
ask Clarice to accompany us; but she was busy about her household
duties, and gave no response to his unspoken invitation.
Boy-like, I took a great fancy to the young officer. He was quiet and

gentlemanly, and free from all conceit.
I took him to Cold-Water Spring, at which Clarice had met the Indian;
and after swallowing a draught from it, we made our way onward over
the rough rocks and fallen logs until we came in sight of what we called
our cataract. It appeared directly before us, rushing, as it were, out of
the side of the hill (though in reality there was a considerable stream
above us, which was concealed by the summits of the intervening
rocks); then downward it came in two leaps, striking a ledge about
half-way, where masses of spray were sent off; and then taking