SMOKING OUT THE ENEMY. 383 



goods strewn on the sand, just as they had left them, 

 and the halt-open door of the cottage still ajar. He 

 descended again to the tower and told what he had 

 seen ; but his escape from the enemy had been so narrow 

 on the previous evening, and Lou's knowledge of Indian 

 character was so good that they concluded it was far 

 from safe to venture out of their place of refuge. So 

 they opened a bag of biscuit and made a frugal meal, 

 from time to time peeping out of the crevices between 

 the plastering and the floor above, and then turning 

 again to each other to talk or dream away the day. 



Noon had long passed when they became con- 

 scious of some one calling from below, and saw an 

 Indian standing in front of the house, waving a white 

 rag, and indicating by his motions a desire to speak. 

 Laidlaw mounted the steps to the platform on which the 

 light was placed, and which extended some distance 

 over the tower, and moving cautiously to the edge in 

 such a manner that only his head was exposed to obser- 

 vation from below, called out to the Indian to inquire 

 his message. 



" Indian wants to talk." 



" Well, what is it ? Go on," answered Laidlaw. 



" Indian is going away he wants peace. Indian will 

 do no harm. Give him one blanket and he goes." 



" Why did you fire at me last evening ?" 



"Indian was wrong Indian much drink Indian is 

 sorry. Give Indian one blanket." 



The savage held up one finger to denote the smallness 



