He shuddered at the thought, and placed his hand to his eyes.

“Indeed, it seems like a direct Providence in our favor,” rejoined another.

“But thar’s one thing you’ve overlooked, in your proposition, Albach,” said the old veteran called Nickolson.  “Ef the seige be protracted, what are we to do for water?”

Each face of the company blanched, and turned toward the speaker with a startled look.  It was a question of the most grave importance, and all felt it to be so.  The spring was without the pallisades, as we have previously mentioned, on the northwestern side of the station.  The path to it was through a rank growth of tall weeds, wherein the main body of the Indians was supposed to be concealed—­so that, should the garrison venture forth in that direction, they would in all probability be cut off, and the fort fall into the possession of the enemy.  This of course was not to be thought of.  But what was to be done?  To be without water in a protected siege, was a dangerous and painful alternative.  In this agitating dilemma, one of the council suddenly exclaimed: 

“I have it!—­I have it!” All looked at the speaker in breathless expectation.  “I have it!” continued he joyfully.  “The women!—­the women!”

“The women!” echoed several voices at once.

“Ay! you know they’re in the habit of going for water—­and this the savages know too—­and ef they venture forth by themselves, as usual, the wily scoundrels will be deceived for once—­for they won’t mistrust thar hiding place is known; and as thar object is to carry the fort by stratagem, they won’t unmask till they hear firing on t’other side.”

“Good!—­good!” exclaimed several voices; and forthwith the council proceeded to summon all the women of the station, and make known their plan for procuring a supply of water.

Not a little consternation was expressed in the faces of the latter, when informed of the perilous undertaking required of them.

“What! go right straight in among the Injen warmints—­them male critters?” cried an old maid, holding up her hands in horror.

“Do you think we’re invisible, and they can’t see us?” said a second.

“Or bullet proof?” added a third.

“Or that our scalps arn’t worth as much as yourn?” rejoined a fourth.

“Or of so little account you arn’t afeared to lose us?” put in a fifth.

“We don’t think any thing o’ the kind,” returned the spokesman on the part of the council; “but we do think, as I before explained, that you can go and come in safety; and that ef we don’t have a supply o’ water, we’re likely to perish any how, and might as well throw open the gates and be butchered at once.”

This last brief speech produced the desired effect, and a few words from Mrs. Younker completely carried the day.