Repeating his regrets that they should place their friends in such danger, he said: "As there is no saying how long we shall have to stay here, we ought to learn the nature of our defences.

Our horses are in the stables, where, if the rustlers choose, they can get them, and they will be pretty sure to choose to do it.

They can steal to the rear of the sheds and take them out without risk.

Now, Mrs.Whitney, we have enough rations with us to last, in a pinch, for three or four days; how are you fixed ?" "We have but a small quantity of food in the house--none worth mentioning." "No matter how slight, it is worth mentioning.

Under the circumstances, I think we can say we are provisioned for the whole time of the siege, which must be over in less than a week." "But how will it end ?" asked the lady.
The captain shrugged his shoulders.
"Take no thought of the morrow; but what worries me is the question of water--how about that ?" A hurried examination disclosed that there was not quite two pailfuls in the house.