The Children Are Carried Off

           Thepirateattackhadbeenacompletesurprise:asureproofthattheunscrupulousHookhadconducteditimproperly,fortosurpriseredskinsfairlyisbeyondthewitofthewhiteman.

           Byalltheunwrittenlawsofsavagewarfareitisalwaystheredskinwhoattacks,andwiththewilinessofhisracehedoesitjustbeforethedawn,atwhichtimeheknowsthecourageofthewhitestobeatitslowestebb.Thewhitemenhaveinthemeantimemadearudestockadeonthesummitofyonderundulatingground,atthefootofwhichastreamruns;foritisdestructiontobetoofarfromwater.Theretheyawaittheonslaught,theinexperiencedonesclutchingtheirrevolversandtreadingontwigs,buttheoldhandssleepingtranquillyuntiljustbeforethedawn.Throughthelongblacknightthesavagescoutswriggle,snake-like,amongthegrasswithoutstirringablade.Thebrushwoodclosesbehindthemassilentlyassandintowhichamolehasdived.Notasoundistobeheard,savewhentheygiveventtoawonderfulimitationofthelonelycallofthecoyote.Thecryisansweredbyotherbraves;andsomeofthemdoitevenbetterthanthecoyotes,whoarenotverygoodatit.Sothechillhourswearon,andthelongsuspenseishorriblytryingtothepalefacewhohastolivethroughitforthefirsttime;buttothetrainedhandthoseghastlycallsandstillghastliersilencesarebutanintimationofhowthenightismarching.

           ThatthiswastheusualprocedurewassowellknowntoHookthatindisregardingithecannotbeexcusedonthepleaofignorance.