THE VALLEY OF THE SHADOW I do not know what delayed the attack of the savages, unless they were waiting for some signal which never came.

I passed from loophole to loophole, thus assuring myself not only that they still remained, but that the cabin was completely surrounded, although the manner in which the warriors had been distributed left the great mass of them opposite the front.

The others evidently composed a mere guard to prevent escape.

No movement I could observe indicated an immediate assault; they rather appeared to be awaiting something.
Those I saw were all dismounted, and had advanced toward the cabin as closely as possible without coming within the range of guns.

They had also sheltered themselves as far as possible behind clumps of brush, or ridges of rock, so that I found it difficult to estimate their number.
Only occasionally would a venturesome warrior appear for a moment in the open, as he glided stealthily from the protection of one covert to another.