noon
The storehouse had blown up and a sky full of burning timber fell on the cabins and soon three were half consumed , their occupants dropping as they gained the open air . One hundred paces makes fine pot-shooting , as Deacon Rankin discovered when evacuation was the choice necessary to avoid cremation . He never moved after he touched the ground and Red called out : `` Two , '' not knowing that his companion had departed . The morning of the next day found a wearied and hopeless garrison , and shortly before noon a soiled white shirt was flung from a window in the nearest cabin . Buck ran along the line and ordered the firing to cease and caused to be raised an answering flag of truce . A full minute passed and then the door slowly opened and a leg protruded , more slowly followed by the rest of the man , and Cheyenne Charley strode out to the bank of the river and sat down . His example was followed by several others and then an unexpected event occurred .