They were painted and dressed in war costume, and evidently planning an attack.

After some consultation they suddenly descended the slope and dashed at the camp.
Fortunately the whites were on the alert, and a well-directed volley sent them in head-long retreat to their vantage-point on the brow of the ridge, where they held a fresh council of war.

Presently they renewed the assault, but a rifle-shot from Forrest put an end to the skirmish.

That evening Alexander and the boy returned, and were much surprised to hear of the adventure with the blacks.

They had been over fifty miles from camp and had passed over some well-grassed country but had found no water.