And then the storm broke loose in the valley.  There was a series of short, fierce shouts.  Torches were suddenly waved in the air.  Many horses neighed in the wildest terror and, all of them breaking through the forest and windrows, poured in a confused and frightened stream toward the entrance of the valley.

Then the experience of the sergeant in wild Indian warfare was worth more than gold and diamonds.  He knew at once what was occurring and he shouted: 

“It’s a stampede!  There have been traitors here, and they’ve driven the horses with fire!”

“And maybe some of them have managed to slip down the mountain side!” said Shepard.

It was well for them all that they were men of decision and supreme courage.  The terrible tumult in the valley was increasing.  The horses, a stampeded mass, were driving directly for the entrance.  Only one thing could stop them and that the guards then did.  They snatched many burning brands from the nearest fire and waved them furiously in the face of the frightened herd, which turned and ran back the other way, only to be confronted by other waving brands that filled them with terror.  Then the horses, instinctively following some leader, turned again and ran back to their old places among the trees and behind the windrows, where they stood, quivering with terror.

A crackling of rifles had begun before the horses were driven back, and bullets pattered in the valley.  Dark figures appeared crouched against the slopes, and jets of fire ran like a red ribbon upon the white of the snow.

“The gorillers!” cried Reed.  “They’ve crep’ over the ridges, spite uv all our watchin’.”

Colonel Winchester did not lose his head for an instant, nor did any of his young soldiers, who had been trained to think as well as obey.  Without waiting for orders they had already won an important victory by turning the horses back with fire, and the colonel, with the help of his officers, formed them rapidly to meet the attack.  The house, the stable and the corn crib were filled with sharpshooters and others lay down among the trees or behind any shelter they could find.  A number were detailed rapidly to tether the horses, and make them secure against a second fright.  Warner was sent to the men guarding the entrance, Pennington to those at the exit, while Dick was kept with the colonel, who crouched, after his arrangements were made, in a little clump of trees near the center of the valley.

Colonel Winchester was willing enough to risk his life but knowing that it was of the highest importance now to preserve it he did not take any risks through false pride.  Besides Dick he kept Reed, Shepard and the sergeant with him.

The ring of fire on the slopes had been increasing fast, and the assailants found much shelter there among the dwarf pines and cedars.  Bullets were pattering all over the valley.  Several of the Winchesters had been slain in the early firing, and they lay where they had fallen.  Others were wounded, but they bound up their own hurts and used their rifles, whenever they could pick out a figure on the slopes.