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diff --git a/21368.txt b/21368.txt new file mode 100644 index 0000000..56eb8c2 --- /dev/null +++ b/21368.txt @@ -0,0 +1,11307 @@ +The Project Gutenberg EBook of The Silver Canyon, by George Manville Fenn + +This eBook is for the use of anyone anywhere at no cost and with +almost no restrictions whatsoever. You may copy it, give it away or +re-use it under the terms of the Project Gutenberg License included +with this eBook or online at www.gutenberg.org + + +Title: The Silver Canyon + A Tale of the Western Plains + +Author: George Manville Fenn + +Illustrator: Hildi and Riou + +Release Date: May 8, 2007 [EBook #21368] + +Language: English + +Character set encoding: ASCII + +*** START OF THIS PROJECT GUTENBERG EBOOK THE SILVER CANYON *** + + + + +Produced by Nick Hodson of London, England + + + + +The Silver Canyon, A Tale of the Western Plains, by George Manville +Fenn. + +________________________________________________________________________ + +This book is by an author who revels in putting his heroes into tense +and dangerous situations, and never more so than in the Western plains +of North America in the middle of the nineteenth century. The Indians +were armed with rifles, and had immense prowess at creeping up unseen +upon their enemies. In addition there are rattlesnakes, bears, and +other nasty things. + +The young hero, Bart for short, is out there with his uncle, seeking for +a new life. And they all but got the next life out of it! After +enduring these and other privations, they find a massive rocky eminence, +which they find to have a good lode of silver in it, one which had been +mined before, perhaps thousands of years before. It is also fairly +difficult to get up to the summit of this great hill, which makes it +easier to defend, but when you do get up there you find a large area of +good grazing for their cattle and horses. So they make their home +there, but of course the Indian attacks continue right up to almost the +end of the book. + +Though the mine had been worked before there was still plenty of good +ore in it, so they start to mine it commercially. + +Eventually a railway is made up to the mine, thousands of workers settle +there, and our heroes are heard bemoaning that their way of life is no +longer as dangerous and thrilling as once it was. They'll just have to +put up with the boredom, I'd say. + +________________________________________________________________________ + +THE SILVER CANYON, BY GEORGE MANVILLE FENN. + + + +CHAPTER ONE. + +HOW THEY DECIDED TO RUN THE RISK. + +"Well, Joses," said Dr Lascelles, "if you feel afraid, you had better +go back to the city." + +There was a dead silence here, and the little party grouped about +between a small umbrella-shaped tent and the dying embers of the fire, +at which a meal of savoury antelope steaks had lately been cooked, +carefully avoided glancing one at the other. + +Just inside the entrance of the tent, a pretty, slightly-made girl of +about seventeen was seated, busily plying her needle in the repair of +some rents in a pair of ornamented loose leather leggings that had +evidently been making acquaintance with some of the thorns of the rugged +land. She was very simply dressed, and, though wearing the high comb +and depending veil of a Spanish woman, her complexion, tanned is it was, +and features, suggested that she was English, as did also the speech of +the fine athletic middle-aged man who had just been speaking. + +His appearance, too, was decidedly Spanish, for he wore the short jacket +with embroidered sleeves, tight trousers--made very wide about the leg +and ankle-sash, and broad sombrero of the Mexican-Spanish inhabitant of +the south-western regions of the great American continent. + +The man addressed was a swarthy-looking half-breed, who lay upon the +parched earth, his brow rugged, his eyes half-closed, and lips pouted +out in a surly, resentful way, as if he were just about to speak and say +something nasty. + +Three more men of a similar type were lying beside and behind, all +smoking cigarettes, which from time to time they softly rolled up and +lighted with a brand at the fire, as they seemed to listen to the +conversation going on between the bronzed Englishman and him who had +been addressed as Joses. + +They were all half-breeds, and boasted of their English blood, but +always omitted to say anything about the Indian fluid that coursed +through their veins; while they followed neither the fashion of +Englishman nor Indian in costume, but, like the first speaker, were +dressed as Spaniards, each also wearing a handkerchief of bright colour +tied round his head and beneath his soft hat, just as if a wound had +been received, with a long showy blanket depending from the shoulder, +and upon which they now half lay. + +There was another present, however, also an anxious watcher of the +scene, and that was a well-built youth of about the same age as the +girl. For the last five minutes he had been busily cleaning his rifle +and oiling the lock; and this task done, he let the weapon rest with its +butt upon the rocky earth, its sling-strap hanging loose, and its muzzle +lying in his hand as he leaned against a rock and looked sharply from +face to face, waiting to hear the result of the conversation. + +His appearance was different to that of his companions, for he wore a +closely fitting tunic and loose breeches of what at the first glance +seemed to be dark tan-coloured velvet, but a second look showed to be +very soft, well-prepared deerskin; stout gaiters of a hard leather +protected his legs; a belt, looped so as to form a cartridge-holder, and +a natty little felt hat, completed his costume. + +Like the half-breeds, he wore a formidable knife in his belt, while on +their part each had near him a rifle. + +"Well," said the speaker, after a long pause, "you do not speak; I say, +are you afraid?" + +"I dunno, master," said the man addressed. "I don't feel afraid now, +but if a lot of Injuns come whooping and swooping down upon us full +gallop, I dessay I should feel a bit queer." + +There was a growl of acquiescence here from the other men, and the first +speaker went on. + +"Well," he said, "let us understand our position at once. I would +rather go on alone than with men I could not trust." + +"Always did trust us, master," said the man surlily. + +"Allays," said the one nearest to him, a swarthier, more surly, and +fiercer-looking fellow than his companion. + +"I always did, Joses; I always did, Juan; and you too, Harry and Sam," +said the first speaker. "I was always proud of the way in which my +ranche was protected and my cattle cared for." + +"We could not help the Injuns stampeding the lot, master, time after +time." + +"And ruining me at last, my lads? No; it was no fault of yours. I +suppose it was my own." + +"No, master, it was setting up so close to the hunting-grounds, and the +Injun being so near." + +"Ah well, we need not consider how all that came to pass, my lads: we +know they ruined me." + +"And you never killed one o' them for it, master," growled Joses. + +"Nor wished to, my lad. They did not take our lives." + +"But they would if they could have broken in and burnt us out, master," +growled Joses. + +"Perhaps so; well, let us understand one another. Are you afraid?" + +"Suppose we all are, master," said the man. + +"And you want to go back?" + +"No, not one of us, master." + +Here there was a growl of satisfaction. + +"But you object to going forward, my men?" + +"Well, you see it's like this, master: the boys here all want to work +for you, and young Master Bart, and Miss Maude there; but they think you +ought to go where it's safe-like, and not where we're 'most sure to be +tortured and scalped. There's lots o' places where the whites are in +plenty." + +"And where every gully and mountain has been ransacked for metals, my +lad. I want to go where white men have never been before, and search +the mountains there." + +"For gold and silver and that sort of thing, master?" + +"Yes, my lads." + +"All right, master; then we suppose you must go." + +"And you will go back because it is dangerous?" + +"I never said such a word, master. I only said it warn't safe." + +"And for answer to that, Joses, I say that, danger or no danger, I must +try and make up for my past losses by some good venture in one of these +unknown regions. Now then, have you made up your minds? If not, make +them up quickly, and let me know what you mean to do." + +Joses did not turn round to his companions, whose spokesman he was, but +said quietly, as he rolled up a fresh cigarette: + +"Mind's made up, master." + +"And you will go back?" + +"Yes, master." + +"All of you?" + +"All of us, master," said Joses slowly. "When you do," he added after a +pause. + +"I knew he would say that, sir," cried the youth who had been looking on +and listening attentively; "I knew Joses would not leave us, nor any of +the others." + +"Stop a moment," interposed the first speaker. "What about your +companions, my lad?" + +"What, them?" said Joses quietly. "Why, they do as I do." + +"Are you sure?" + +"Course I am, master. They told me what to do." + +"Then thank you, my lad. I felt and knew I could trust you. Believe +me, I will take you into no greater danger than I can help; but we must +be a little venturesome in penetrating into new lands, and the Indians +may not prove our enemies after all." + +"Ha, ha, ha! Haw, haw, haw, haw!" laughed Joses hoarsely. "You wait +and see, master. They stampeded your cattle when you had any. Now look +out or they'll stampede you." + +"Well, we'll risk it," said the other. "Now let's be ready for any +danger that comes. Saddle the horses, and tether them close to the +waggon. I will have the first watch to-night; you take the second, +Joses; and you, Bart, take the third. Get to sleep early, my lads, for +I want to be off before sunrise in the morning." + +The men nodded their willingness to obey orders, and soon after all were +hushed in sleep, the ever-wakeful stars only looking down upon one erect +figure, and that was the form of Dr Lascelles, as he stood near the +faintly glowing fire, leaning upon his rifle, and listening intently for +the faintest sound of danger that might be on its way to work them harm. + + + +CHAPTER TWO. + +WHAT WENT BEFORE. + +As Dr Lascelles stood watching there, his thoughts naturally went back +to the events of the past day, the sixth since they had bidden good-bye +to civilisation and started upon their expedition. He thought of the +remonstrance offered by his men to their proceeding farther; then of the +satisfactory way in which the difficulty had been settled; and later on +of the troubles brought up by his man's remarks. He recalled the weary +years he had spent upon his cattle farm, in which he had invested after +the death of his wife in England; how he had come out to New Mexico, and +settled down to form a cattle-breeding establishment with his young +daughter Maude for companion. + +Then he thought of how everything had gone wrong, not only with him, but +with his neighbours, one of the nearest being killed by an onslaught of +a savage tribe of Indians, the news being brought to him by the son of +the slaughtered man. The result had been that the Doctor had determined +to flee at once; but the day was put off, and as no more troubles +presented themselves just then, he once more settled down. Young Bart +became by degrees almost as it were a son, and the fight was continued +till herd after herd had been swept away by the Indians; and at last Dr +Lascelles, the clever physician who had wearied of England and his +practice after his terrible loss, and who had come out to the West to +seek rest and make money for his child, found himself a beggar, and +obliged to begin life again. + +Earlier in life he had been a great lover of geology, and was something +of a metallurgist; and though he had of late devoted himself to the +wild, rough life of a western cattle farmer, he had now and then spent a +few hours in exploring the mountainous parts of the country near: so +that when he had once more to look the world in the face, and decide +whether he should settle down as some more successful cattle-breeder's +man, the idea occurred to him that his knowledge of geology might prove +useful in this painful strait. + +He jumped at the idea. + +Of course: why not? Scores of men had made discoveries of gold, silver, +and other valuable metals, and the result had been fortune. Why should +not he do something of the kind? + +He mentioned the idea to young Bartholomew Woodlaw, who jumped at the +prospect, but looked grave directly after. + +"I should like it, Mr Lascelles," he said, "but there is Maude." + +"What of her?" said the Doctor. + +"How could we take her into the wilds?" + +"It would be safer to take her into the deserts and mountains, than to +leave her here," said the Doctor bitterly. "I should at least always +have her under my eye." + +He went out and told his men, who were hanging about the old ranche +although there was no work for them to do. + +One minute they were looking dull and gloomy, the next they were waving +their hats and blankets in the air, and the result of it all was that in +less than a month Dr Lascelles had well stored a waggon with the wreck +of his fortune, purchased a small tent for his daughter's use, and, all +well-armed, the little party had started off into the wilds of New +Mexico, bound for the mountain region, where the Doctor hoped to make +some discovery of mineral treasure sufficient to recompense him for all +his risk, as well as for the losses of the past. + +They were, then, six days out when there was what had seemed to be a +sort of mutiny among his men--a trouble that he was in the act of +quelling when we made his acquaintance in the last chapter--though, as +we have seen, it proved to be no mutiny at all, but merely a +remonstrance on the part of the rough, honest fellows who had decided to +share his fortunes, against running into what they esteemed to be +unnecessary risks. + +Joses and his three fellows were about as brigandish and wild-looking a +set of half savages as a traveller could light upon in a day's journey +even in these uncivilised parts. In fact, no stranger would have been +ready to trust his life or property in their keeping, if he could have +gone farther. If he had, though, he would most probably have fared +worse; for it is not always your pleasantest outside that proves to hide +the best within. + +These few lines, then, will place the reader _au courant_, as the French +say, with the reason of the discussion at the beginning of the last +chapter, and show him as well why it was that Dr Lascelles, Bart +Woodlaw, and Maud Lascelles were out there in the desert with such rough +companions. This being then the case, we will at once proceed to deal +with their adventurous career. + + + +CHAPTER THREE. + +THE FIRST APACHES. + +Evening was closing in, and the ruddy, horizontal rays of the sun were +casting long grotesque shadows of the tall-branched plants of the cactus +family that stood up, some like great fleshy leaves, rudely stuck one +upon the other, and some like strangely rugged and prickly fluted +columns, a body of Indians, about a hundred strong, rode over the plain +towards the rocks where Dr Lascelles and his little party were +encamped. + +The appearance of the Indians denoted that they were on the war-path. +Each wore a rude tiara of feathers around his head, beneath which hung +wild his long black hair; and saving their fringed and ornamented +leggings, the men rode for the most part naked, and with their breasts +and arms painted in a coarse and extravagant style. Some had a rude +representation of a Death's head and bones in the centre of the chest; +others were streaked and spotted; while again others wore a livery of a +curiously mottled fashion, that seemed to resemble the markings of a +tortoise, but was intended to imitate the changing aspect of a snake. + +All were fully armed, some carrying rifles, others bows and arrows, +while a few bore spears, from the top of whose shafts below the blades +hung tufts of feathers. Saddles they had none, but each sturdy, +well-built Indian pony was girt with its rider's blanket or buffalo +robe, folded into a pad, and secured tightly with a broad band of raw +hide. Bits and bridles too, of the regular fashion, were wanting, the +swift pony having a halter of horse-hair hitched round its lower jaw, +this being sufficient to enable the rider to guide the docile little +animal where he pleased; while for tethering purposes, during a halt, +there was a stout long peg, and the rider's plaited hide lariat or +lasso, ready for a variety of uses in the time of need. + +The rugged nature of the ground separated the party of Indians from the +Doctor's little camp, so that the approach of the war party was quite +unobserved, and apparently, from their movements, they were equally +unaware of the presence of a camp of the hated whites so near at hand. + +They were very quiet, riding slowly and in regular order, as if moved by +one impulse; and when the foremost men halted, all drew rein by some +tolerably verdant patches of the plain, blankets and robes were +unstrapped, the horses allowed to graze, and in an incredibly short time +the band had half a dozen fires burning of wood that had been hastily +collected, and they were ravenously devouring the strips of dried +buffalo meat that had been hanging all day in the hot sun, to be +peppered with dust from the plain, and flavoured by emanations from the +horse against whose flank it had been beaten. + +This, however, did not trouble the savages, whom one learned in the lore +of the plains would have immediately set down as belonging to a powerful +tribe of horse Indians--the Apaches, well-known for their prowess in war +and their skill as wild-horsemen of the plains. They feasted on, like +men whose appetites had become furious from long fasting, until at last +they had satisfied their hunger, and the evening shadows were making the +great plants of cactus stand up, weird and strange, against the +fast-darkening evening sky; then, while the embers of the fire grew more +ruddy and bright, each Indian, save those deputed to look after the +horses and keep on the watch for danger, drew his blanket or buffalo +robe over his naked shoulders, filled and lit his long pipe, and began +silently and thoughtfully to smoke. + +Meanwhile, in utter unconsciousness of the nearness of danger, Dr +Lascelles continued his watch thus far into the night. From time to +time he examined the tethering of the horses, and glanced inside the +tent to stand and listen to the regular low breathing of his child, and +then walk to where, rolled in his blanket, Bart Woodlaw lay sleeping in +full confidence that a good watch was being kept over the camp as he +slept. + +Then the Doctor tried to pierce the gloom around. + +Away towards the open plains it was clear and transparent, but towards +the rocks that stretched there on one side all seemed black. Not a +sound fell upon his ear, and so great was the stillness that the dull +crackle of a piece of smouldering wood sounded painfully loud and +strange. + +At last the time had come for arousing some one to take his place, and +walking, after a few moments' thought, to where Bart lay, he bent down +and touched him lightly on the arm. + +In an instant, rifle in hand, the lad was upon his feet. + +"Is there danger?" he said in a low, quiet whisper. + +"I hope not, Bart," said the Doctor quietly, "everything is perfectly +still. I shall lie down in front of the tent; wake me if you hear a +sound." + +The lad nodded, and then stood trying to shake off the drowsiness that +still remained after his deep sleep while he watched the Doctor's figure +grow indistinct as he walked towards the dimly seen tent. He could just +make out that the Doctor bent down, and then he seemed to disappear. + +Bart Woodlaw remained motionless for a few moments, and then, as he more +fully realised his duties, he walked slowly to where the horses were +tethered, patted each in turn, the gentle animals responding with a low +sigh as they pressed their heads closely to the caressing hand. +Satisfied that the tethering ropes were safe, and dreading no hostile +visit that might result in a stampede, the guardian of the little camp +walked slowly to where the fire emitted a faint glow; and, feeling +chilly, he was about to throw on more wood, when it occurred to him that +if he did so, the fire would show out plainly for a distance of many +miles, and that it would serve as a sign to invite enemies if any were +within eyeshot, so he preferred to suffer from the cold, and, drawing +his blanket round him, he left the fire to go out. + +Bart had been watching the stars for about an hour, staring at the +distant plain, and trying to make out what was the real shape of a pile +of rock that sheltered them on the north, and which seemed to stand out +peculiarly clear against the dark sky, when, turning sharply, he brought +his rifle to the ready, and stood, with beating heart, staring at a tall +dark figure that remained motionless about a dozen yards away. + +It was so dark that he could make out nothing more, only that it was a +man, and that he did not move. + +The position was so new, and it was so startling to be out there in the +wilds alone as it were--for the others were asleep--and then to turn +round suddenly and become aware of the fact that a tall dark figure was +standing where there was nothing only a few minutes before, that in +spite of a strong effort to master himself, Bart Woodlaw felt alarmed in +no slight degree. + +His first idea was that this must be an enemy, and that he ought to +fire. If an enemy, it must be an Indian; but then it did not look like +an Indian; and Bart knew that it was his duty to walk boldly up to the +figure, and see what the danger was; and in this spirit he took one step +forward, and then stopped,--for it was not an easy thing to do. + +The night seemed to have grown blacker, but there was the dark figure +all the same, and it seemed to stand out more plainly than before, but +it did not move, and this gave it an uncanny aspect that sent something +of a chill through the watcher's frame. + +At last he mastered himself, and, with rifle held ready, walked boldly +towards the figure, believing that it was some specimen of the fleshy +growth of the region to which the darkness had added a weirdness all its +own. + +No. It was a man undoubtedly, and as, nerving himself more and more, +Bart walked close up, the figure turned, and said slowly:-- + +"I can't quite make that out, Master Bart." + +"You, Joses!" exclaimed Bart, whose heart seemed to give a bound of +delight. + +"Yes, sir; I thought I'd get up and watch for a bit; and just as I +looked round before coming to you, that rock took my fancy." + +"Yes, it does look quaint and strange," said Bart; "I had been watching +it." + +"Yes, but why do it look quaint and strange?" said Joses in a low, quiet +whisper, speaking as if a dozen savages were at his elbow. + +"Because we can see it against the sky," replied Bart, who felt half +amused at the importance placed by his companion upon such a trifle. + +"And why can you see it against the sky?" said Joses again. "Strikes me +there's a fire over yonder." + +Bart was about to exclaim, "What nonsense!" but he recalled the times +when out hunting up stray cattle Joses had displayed a perception that +had seemed almost marvellous, and so he held his tongue. + +"I'll take a turn out yonder, my lad," he said quietly; "I won't be very +long." + +"Shall I wake up the Doctor?" + +"No, not yet. Let him get a good rest," replied Joses. "Perhaps it's +nothing to mind; but coming out here we must be always ready to find +danger, and danger must be ready to find us on the look-out." + +"I'll go with you," said Bart eagerly. + +"No, that won't do," said the rough fellow sturdily. "You've got to +keep watch like they tell me the sailors do out at sea. Who's to take +care of the camp if you go away?" + +"I'll stay then," said Bart, with a sigh of dissatisfaction, and the +next minute he was alone. For Joses had thrown down his blanket, and +laid his rifle upon it carefully, while over the lock he had placed his +broad Spanish hat to keep off the moisture of the night air. Then he +had gone silently off at a trot over the short and scrubby growth near +at hand. + +One moment he was near; the next he had grown as it were misty in the +darkness, and disappeared, leaving Bart, fretting at the inaction, and +thinking that the task of doing duty in watching as sentry was the +hardest he had been called upon to perform. + +Meanwhile the rough cattle driver and plainsman had continued his trot +till the broken nature of the ground compelled him to proceed +cautiously, threading his way in and out amongst the masses of rock, and +forcing him to make a considerable _detour_ before he passed the ridge +of stones. + +His first act was to drop down on hands and knees; his next to lie flat, +and drag himself slowly forward a couple of hundred yards, and then +stop. + +It was quite time that he had, for on either hand, as well as in front, +lay groups of Indians, while just beyond he could distinguish the horses +calmly cropping the grass and other herbage near. So still was it, and +so closely had he approached, that every mouthful seized by the horses +sounded quite plainly upon his ear, while more than once came the +mutterings of some heavy sleeper, with an occasional hasty movement on +the part of some one who was restless. + +Joses had found out all he wanted, and the next thing was to get back +and give the alarm. But as is often the case in such matters, it was +easier to come than to return. It had to be done though, for the +position of those in the little camp was one full of peril, and turning +softly, he had begun his retrograde movement, when a figure he had not +seen suddenly uttered an impatient "ugh!" and started to his feet. + +Joses' hand went to his belt and grasped his knife, but that was all. +It was not the time for taking to headlong flight, an act which would +have brought the whole band whooping and yelling at his heels. + +Fortunately for the spy in the Indian camp, the night was darker now, a +thin veil of cloud having swept over the stars, otherwise the fate of +Dr Lascelles' expedition would have been sealed. As it was, the Indian +kicked the form beside him heavily with his moccasined foot, and then +walked slowly away in the direction of the horses. + +Some men would have continued their retreat at once, perhaps hurriedly, +but Joses was too old a campaigner for such an act. As he lay there, +with his face buried deeply in the short herbage, he thought to himself +that most probably the waking up of the Indian who had just gone, the +kick, and the striding away, would have aroused some of the others, and +in this belief he lay perfectly still for quite ten minutes. + +Then feeling satisfied that he might continue his retreat, he was +drawing himself together for a fresh start, when a man on his right +leaped to his feet; another did the same, and after talking together for +a few moments they too went off in the direction of the horses. + +This decided Joses upon a fresh wait, which he kept up, till feeling +that, safe or unsafe, he must make the venture, he once more started, +crawling slowly along without making a sound, till he felt it safe to +rise to his hands and knees, when he got over the ground far more +swiftly, ending by springing to his feet, and listening intently for a +few moments, when there was the faint neigh of a horse from the Indian +camp. + +"If one of ours hears that," muttered Joses, "he'll answer, and the +Indians will be down upon us before we know where we are." + + + +CHAPTER FOUR. + +THE NIGHT ALARM. + +Bart Woodlaw had not been keeping his renewed watch long before he heard +a step behind him, and, turning sharply, found himself face to face with +Dr Lascelles. + +"Well, my boy," he said, "is all right?" + +"I think so, sir. Did you hear anything?" + +"No, my boy, I woke up and just came to see how matters were going. Any +alarm?" + +"Yes, sir, and no, sir," replied Bart. + +"What do you mean?" exclaimed the Doctor sharply. + +"Only that Joses woke up, sir, and I found him watching that mass of +rock which you can see out yonder. That one sir--or--no!--I can't see +it now." + +"Why?" said the Doctor, in a quick low decisive tone; "is it darker +now?" + +"Very little, sir; but perhaps Joses was right: he said he thought there +must be a fire out there to make it stand out so clearly, and--" + +"Well? speak, my boy! Be quick!" + +"Perhaps he was right, sir, for I cannot see the rock there at all." + +"Where is Joses? Why did he not go and see?" exclaimed the Doctor +sharply. + +"He has been gone nearly an hour, sir, and I was expecting him back when +you came." + +"That's right! But which way? Joses must feel that there is danger, or +he would not have left the camp like this." + +Bart pointed in the direction taken by their follower, and the Doctor +took a few hasty strides forward, as if to follow, but he came back +directly. + +"No. It would be folly," he said; "I should not find him out in this +wild. Depend upon it, Bart, that was an Indian fire and camp out beyond +the ridge yonder, and he suspected it. These old plainsmen read every +sign of earth and sky, and we must learn to do the same, boy, for it may +mean the saving of our lives." + +"I'll try," said Bart earnestly. "I can follow trail a little now." + +"Yes, and your eyes are wonderfully keen," replied the Doctor. "You +have all the acute sense of one of these hunters, but you want the power +of applying what you see, and learning its meaning." + +Bart was about to reply, but the Doctor began walking up and down +impatiently, for being more used than his ward in the ways of the +plains, he could not help feeling sure that there was danger, and this +idea grew upon him to such an extent that at last he roused the men from +their sleep, bidding them silently get the horses ready for an immediate +start, should it be necessary; and while this was going on, he went into +the tent. + +"Maude--my child--quick!" he said quietly. "Don't be alarmed, but wake +up, and be ready for a long ride before dawn." + +Maude was well accustomed to obey promptly all her father's orders, and +so used to the emergencies and perils of frontier life that she said +nothing, but rapidly prepared for their start, and in a few minutes she +was ready, with all her little travelling possessions in the saddle-bags +and valise that were strapped to her horse. + +Just as the Doctor had seen that all was nearly ready, and that scarcely +anything more remained to be done than to strike the little tent, Joses +came running up. + +"Well! what news?" said the Doctor, hurriedly. + +"Injun--hundreds--mile away," said the plainsman in quick, sharp tones. +"Hah! good!" he added, as he saw the preparations that had been made. + +"Bart, see to Maude's horse. Down with the tent, Joses; Harry, help +him. You, Juan and Sam, see to the horses." + +Every order was obeyed with the promptitude displayed in men accustomed +to a life on the plains, and in a very few minutes the tent was down, +rolled up, and on the side of the waggon, the steeds were ready, and all +mounting save Juan, who took his place in front of the waggon to drive +its two horses, Dr Lascelles gave the word. Joses went to the front to +act as pioneer, and pick a way unencumbered with stones, so that the +waggon might go on in safety, and the camp was left behind. + +Everything depended now upon silence. A shrill neigh from a mare would +have betrayed them; even the louder rattle of the waggon wheels might +have had that result, and brought upon them the marauding party, with a +result that the Doctor shuddered to contemplate. There were moments +when, in the face of such a danger, he felt disposed to make his way +back to civilisation, dreading now to take his child out with him into +the wilderness. But there was something so tempting in the freedom of +the life; he felt so sanguine of turning his knowledge of metallurgy to +some account; and what was more, it seemed so cowardly to turn back now, +that he decided to go forward and risk all. + +"We always have our rifles," he said softly to himself, "and if we can +use them well, we may force the Indians to respect us if they will not +treat us as friends." + +And all this while the waggon jolted on over the rough ground or rolled +smoothly over the flat plain, crushing down the thick buffalo-grass, or +smashing some succulent, thorny cactus with a peculiar whishing sound +that seemed to penetrate far through the silence of the night. They +were journeying nearly due north, and so far they had got on quite a +couple of miles without a horse uttering its shrill neigh, and it was +possible that by now, silent as was the night, their cry might not reach +the keen ears of their enemies, but all the same, the party proceeded as +cautiously as possible, and beyond an order now and then given in a low +voice, there was not a word uttered. + +It was hard work, too, for, proceeding as they were in comparative +darkness, every now and then a horse would place its hoof in the burrow +of some animal, and nearly fall headlong. Then, too, in spite of all +care and pioneering, awheel of the waggon would sink into some hollow or +be brought heavily against the side of a rock. + +Sometimes they had to alter their direction to avoid heavily-rising +ground, and these obstacles became so many, that towards morning they +came to a halt, regularly puzzled, and not knowing whether they were +journeying away from or towards their enemies. + +"I have completely lost count, Bart," said the Doctor. + +"And if you had not," replied Bart, "we could not have gone on with the +waggon, for we are right amongst the rocks, quite a mountain-side." + +"Let's wait for daylight then," said the Doctor peevishly. "I begin to +think we have done very wrong in bringing a waggon. Better have trusted +to horses." + +He sighed, though, directly afterwards, and was ready to alter his +words, but he refrained, though he knew that it would have been +impossible to have brought Maude if they had trusted to horses alone. + +A couple of dreary hours ensued, during which they could do nothing but +wait for daybreak, which, when it came at last, seemed cold and blank +and dreary, giving a strange aspect to that part of the country where +they were, though their vision was narrowed by the hills on all sides +save one, that by which they had entered as it were into what was quite +a horse-shoe. + +Joses and Bart started as soon as it was sufficiently light, rifle in +hand, to try and make out their whereabouts, for they were now beyond +the region familiar to both in their long rides from ranche to ranche in +quest of cattle. + +They paused, though, for a minute or two to gain a sort of idea as to +the best course to pursue, and then satisfied that there was no +immediate danger, unless the Indians should have happened to strike upon +their trail, they began to climb the steep rocky hill before them. + +"Which way do you think the Indians were going, Joses?" said Bart, as +they toiled on, with the east beginning to blush of a vivid red. + +"Way they could find people to rob and plunder and carry off," said +Joses gruffly, for he was weary and wanted his breakfast. + +"Do you think they will strike our trail?" + +"If they come across it, my lad--if they come across it." + +"And if they do?" + +"If they do, they'll follow it right to the end, and then that'll be the +end of us." + +"If we don't beat them off," said Bart merrily. + +"Beat them off! Hark at him!" said Joses. "Why, what a boy it is. He +talks of beating off a whole tribe of Indians as if they were so many +Jack rabbits." + +"Well, we are Englishmen," said Bart proudly. + +"Yes, we are _Englishmen_," said Joses, winking to himself and laying +just a little emphasis upon the men; "but we can't do impossibilities if +we bes English." + +"Joses, you're a regular old croaker, and always make the worst of +things instead of the best." + +"So would you if you was hungry as I am, my lad. I felt just now as if +I could set to and eat one o' them alligators that paddles about in the +lagoons, whacking the fishes in the shallows with their tails till +they're silly, and then shovelling of them up with their great jaws." + +"Well, for my part, Joses, I'd rather do as the alligators do to the +fish." + +"What, whack 'em with their tails? Why, you ain't got no tail, Master +Bart." + +"No, no! Eat the fish." + +"Oh, ah! yes. I could eat a mess o' fish myself, nicely grilled on some +bits o' wood, and yah! mind! look out!" + +Joses uttered these words with quite a yell as, dropping his rifle, he +stooped, picked up a lump of rock from among the many that lay about on +the loose stony hill slope they were climbing, and hurled it with such +unerring aim, and with so much force, that the hideous grey reptile they +had disturbed, seeking to warm itself in the first sunbeams, and which +had raised its ugly head threateningly, and begun to creep away with a +low, strange rattling noise, was struck about the middle of its back, +and now lay writhing miserably amidst the stones. + +"I don't like killing things without they're good to eat," said Joses, +picking up another stone, and seeking for an opportunity to crush the +serpent's head--"Ah, don't go too near, boy; he could sting as bad as +ever if he got a chance!" + +"I don't think he'd bite now," said Bart. + +"Ah, wouldn't he! Don't you try him, my boy. They're the viciousest +things as ever was made. And, as I was saying, I don't--there, that's +about done for him," he muttered, as he dropped the piece of rock he +held right upon the rattlesnake's head, crushing it, and then taking +hold of the tail, and drawing the reptile out to its full length--"as I +was a-saying, Master Bart, I don't like killing things as arn't good to +eat; but if you'll put all the rattlesnakes' heads together ready for +me, I'll drop stones on 'em till they're quite dead." + +"What a fine one, Joses!" said Bart, gazing curiously at the venomous +beast. + +"Six foot six and a half," said Joses, scanning the serpent. "That's +his length to an 'alf inch." + +"Is it? Well, come along; we are wasting time, but do you think +rattlesnakes are as dangerous as people say?" + +"Dangerous! I should think they are," replied Joses, as he shouldered +his rifle; and they tramped rapidly on to make up for the minutes lost +in killing the reptile. "You'd say so, too, if you was ever bit by one. +I was once." + +"You were?" + +"I just was, my lad, through a hole in my leggings; and I never could +understand how it was that that long, thin, twining, scaly beggar should +have enough brains in her little flat head to know that it was the +surest place to touch me right through that hole." + +"It was strange," said Bart. "How was it?" + +"Well, that's what I never could quite tell, Master Bart, for that bite, +and what came after, seemed to make me quite silly like, and as if it +took all the memory out of me. All I can recollect about it is that I +was with--let me see! who was it? Ah! I remember now: our Sam; and +we'd sat down one hot day on the side of a bit of a hill, just to rest +and have one smoke. Then we got up to go, and, though we ought to have +been aware of it, we warn't, there was plenty of snakes about I was just +saying to Sam, as we saw one gliding away, that I didn't believe as they +could sting as people said they could, when I suppose I kicked again' +one as was lying asleep, and before I knew it a'most there was a sharp +grab, and a pinch at my leg, with a kind of pricking feeling; and as I +gave a sort of a jump, I see a long bit of snake just going into a hole +under some stones, and he gave a rattle as he went. + +"`Did he bite you?' says Sam. + +"`Oh, just a bit of a pinch,' I says. `Not much. It won't hurt me.' + +"`You're such a tough un,' says Sam, by way of pleasing me, and being a +bit pleased, I very stupidly said,--`yes, I am, old fellow, regular +tough un,' and we tramped on, for I'd made up my mind that I wouldn't +take no more notice of it than I would of the sting of a fly." + +"Keep a good look-out all round, Joses," said Bart, interrupting him. + +"That's what I am doing, Master Bart, with both eyes at once. I won't +let nothing slip." + +In fact, as they walked on, Joses' eyes were eagerly watching on either +side, nothing escaping his keen sight; for frontier life had made him, +like the savages, always expecting danger at every turn. + +"Well, as I was a saying," he continued, "the bite bothered me, but I +wasn't going to let Sam see that I minded the least bit in the world, +but all at once it seemed to me as if I was full of little strings that +ran from all over my body down into one leg, and that something had hold +of one end of 'em, and kept giving 'em little pulls and jerks. Then I +looked at Sam to see if he'd touched me, and his head seemed to have +swelled 'bout twice as big as it ought to be, and his eyes looked wild +and strange. + +"`What's matter, mate?' I says to him, and there was such a ding in my +ears that when I spoke to him, Master Bart, my voice seemed to come from +somewhere else very far off, and to sound just like a whisper. + +"`What's the matter with you?' he says, and taking hold of me, he gave +me a shake. `Here, come on,' he says. `You must run.' + +"And then he tried to make me run, and I s'pose I did part of the time, +but everything kept getting thick and cloudy, and I didn't know a bit +where I was going nor what was the matter till, all at once like, I was +lying down somewhere, and the master was pouring something down my +throat. Then I felt him seeming to scratch my leg as if he was trying +to make it bleed, and then I didn't know any more about it till I found +I was being walked up and down, and every now and then some one give me +a drink of water as I thought, till the master told me afterwards that +it was whisky. Then I went to sleep and dropped down, and they picked +me up and made me walk again, and then I was asleep once more, and +that's all. Ah, they bite fine and sharp, Master Bart, and I don't want +any more of it, and so I tell you." + +By this time they had pretty well reached the summit of the rocky hill +they had been climbing, and obeying a sign from his companion, Bart +followed his example, dropping down and crawling forward. + +"I 'spect we shall find we look right over the flat from here," +whispered Joses, sinking his voice for no apparent reason, save the +caution engendered by years of risky life with neighbours at hand always +ready to shed blood. + +"And we should be easily seen from a distance, I suppose?" responded +Bart. + +"That's so, Master Bart. The Injun can see four times as far as we can, +they say, though I don't quite believe it." + +"It must be a clever Indian who could see farther than you can, Joses," +said Bart quietly. + +"Oh, I don't know," said the other, with a quiet chuckle; "I can see +pretty far when it's clear. Look out." + +Bart started aside, for he had disturbed another rattlesnake, which +glided slowly away as if resenting the intrusion, and hesitating as to +whether it should attack. + +"You mustn't creep about here with your eyes shut," said Joses quietly. +"It isn't safe, my lad,--not safe at all. Now you rest there behind +that stone. We're close up to the top. Let me go the rest of the way, +and see how things are down below." + +Bart obeyed on the instant, and lay resting his chin upon his arms, +watching Joses as he crept up the rest of the slope to where a few rough +stones lay about on the summit of the hill, amongst which he glided and +then disappeared. + +Bart then turned his gaze backward, to look down into the Horse-shoe +Valley he had quitted, thinking of his breakfast, and how glad he should +be to return with the news that all was well, so that a fire might be +lighted and a pleasant, refreshing meal be prepared. But the curve of +the hill shut the waggon and those with it from view, so that he glanced +round him to see what there was worthy of notice. + +This was soon done. Masses of stone, with a few grey-looking plants +growing amidst the arid cracks, a little scattered dry grass in patches, +and a few bushy-looking shrubs of a dull sagey green; that was all. +There were plenty of stones near, one of which looked like a safe +shelter for serpent or lizard; and some horny-looking beetles were +busily crawling about. Above all the blue sky, with the sun now well +over the horizon, but not visible from where Bart lay, and having +exhausted all the things worthy of notice, he was beginning to wonder +how long Joses would be, when there was a sharp sound close at hand, as +if a stone had fallen among some more. Then there was another, and this +was followed by a low chirping noise like that of a grasshopper. + +Bart responded to this with a very bad imitation of the sound, and, +crawling from his shelter, he followed the course taken by his companion +as exactly as he could, trying to track him by the dislodged stones and +marks made on the few patches of grass where he had passed through. +But, with a shrug of the shoulders, Bart was obliged to own that his +powers of following a trail were very small. Not that they were wanted +here, for at the end of five minutes he could make out the long bony +body of Joses lying beside one of the smaller masses of stone that +jagged the summit of the hill. + +Joses was looking in his direction, and just raising one hand slightly, +signed to him to come near. + +There seemed to be no reason why Bart should not jump up and run to his +side, but he was learning caution in a very arduous school, and +carefully trailing his rifle, he crept the rest of the way to where the +great stones lay; and as soon as he was beside his companion, he found, +as he expected, that from this point the eye could range for miles and +miles over widespreading plains; and so clear and bright was the morning +air that objects of quite a small nature were visible miles away. + +"Well!" said Joses gruffly, for he had volunteered no information, "see +anything?" + +"No," said Bart, gazing watchfully round; "no, I can see nothing. Can +you?" + +"I can see you; that's enough for me," was the reply. "I'm not going to +tell when you ought to be able to see for yourself." + +"But I can see nothing," said Bart, gazing eagerly in every direction. +"Tell me what you have made out." + +"Why should I tell you, when there's a chance of giving you a lesson in +craft, my lad,--in craft." + +"But really there seems to be nothing, Joses." + +"And he calls his--eyes," growled the frontier man. "Why, I could +polish up a couple o' pebbles out of the nearest river and make 'em see +as well as you do, Master Bart." + +"Nonsense!" cried the latter. "I'm straining hard over the plain. +Which way am I to look?" + +"Ah, I'm not going to tell you." + +"But we are losing time," cried Bart. "Is there any danger?" + +"Yes, lots." + +"Where?" + +"Everywhere." + +"But can you see immediate danger?" cried Bart impatiently. + +"Yes; see it as plain as plain." + +"But where? No; don't tell me. I see it," cried Bart excitedly. + +"Not you, young master! where?" + +"Right away off from your right shoulder, like a little train of ants +crawling over a brown path. I can see: there are men and horses. Is it +a waggon-train? No, I am sure now. Miles away. They are Indians." + +"Ha, ha, ha!" laughed Joses. "That's better. That's a good lesson +before breakfast, and without a spy-glass. I shall make a man of you +yet, Master Bart." + +"Which way are they going?" + +"Nay, I shan't tell you, my lad. That's for you to find out." + +"Well, I will directly," said Bart, shading his eyes. "Where are we +now? Oh, I see. Now I know. No; I don't, they move so slowly. Yes, I +can see. They are going towards the north, Joses." + +"Nor'-west, my lad," said the frontier man; "but that was a pretty good +hit you made. Now what was the good of my telling you all that, and +letting you be a baby when I want to see you a man." + +"We've lost ever so much time, Joses." + +"Nay, we have not, my lad; we've gained time, and your eyes have had +such a eddication this morning as can't be beat." + +"Well, let's get back now. I suppose we may get up and walk." + +"Walk! what, do you want to have the Injuns back on us?" + +"They could not see us here." + +"Not see us! Do you suppose they're not sharper than that. Nay, my +lad, when the Injuns come down upon us let's have it by accident. Don't +let's bring 'em down upon us because we have been foolish." + +Bart could not help thinking that there was an excess of care upon his +companion's side, and said so. + +"When you know the Injuns as well as I do, my lad, you won't think it +possible to be too particular. But look here--you can see the Injuns +out there, can't you?" + +"Yes, but they look like ants or flies." + +"I don't care what they look like. I only say you can see them, can't +you?" + +"Yes." + +"And you know Injuns' eyes and ears are sharper than ours?" + +"Not than yours." + +"Well, I know that they are sharper than yours, Master Bart," said +Joses, with a chuckle; "and now look here--if you can see them out there +against the dry brown plain miles away, don't you think they could see +us stuck up against the sky here in the bright morning sunshine, all +this height above the ground?" + +"Well, perhaps they could, if they were looking," said Bart rather +sulkily. + +"And they are looking this way. They always are looking this way and +every way, so don't you think they are not. Now let's go down." + +He set the example of how they should go down, by crawling back for some +distance till he was below the ridge and beyond sight from the plain, +Bart carefully following his example till he rose, when they started +down the hill at as quick a trot as the rugged nature of the ground +would permit, and soon after reached the waggon, which the Doctor had +drawn into a position which hid it from the view of any one coming up +from the entrance of the valley, and also placed it where, in time of +peril, they might hold their own by means of their rifles, and keep an +enemy at bay even if they did not beat him off. + + + +CHAPTER FIVE. + +"SURROUNDED BY INDIANS." + +A good breakfast and a few hours' rest seemed to put a different aspect +upon the face of affairs; the day was glorious, and though the region +they were in was arid and wanting in water, there was plenty to interest +any one travelling on an expedition of research. A good look-out was +kept for Indians, but the party seemed to have gone right away, and to +give them ample time to get to a greater distance, Dr Lascelles +determined, if he could find a spring anywhere at hand, to stay where +they were for a couple of days. + +"You see, Bart," he said, as they hunted about amongst the craggiest +part of the amphitheatre where fortune or misfortune had led them, "it +does not much matter where we go, so long as it is into a region where +Europeans have not penetrated before. Many of these hills are teeming +with mineral treasures, and we must come upon some of Nature's wasting +store if we persevere." + +"Then we might find metals here, sir?" said Bart eagerly. + +"As likely here as anywhere else. These rocks are partly quartz, and at +any time we may come upon some of the stone veined with gold, or stumble +upon a place where silver lies in blocks." + +"I hope," laughed Bart, "when we do, I may stumble right over one of the +blocks and so be sure of examining it. I think I should know silver if +I found it." + +"I am not so sure," said the Doctor. "You've led a life of a kind that +has not made you very likely to understand minerals, but I daresay we +shall both know a little more about them before we have done--that is," +he added with a sigh, "if the Indians will leave us alone." + +"We must give them the slip, sir," said Bart, laughing. + +"Perhaps we may, my boy; but we have another difficulty to contend +with." + +"What's that, sir; the distance?" + +"No, Bart; I'm uneasy about the men. I'm afraid they will strike sooner +or later, and insist upon going back." + +"I'm not, sir," replied Bart. "I will answer for Joses, and he has only +to say he means to go forward, and the others then will keep by his +side. Mind that snake, sir." + +The Doctor raised his rifle to fire, but refrained, lest the report +should be heard, and drawing back, the rattlesnake did the same; then +they continued their journey, the Doctor examining the rocks attentively +as he went on, but seeing nothing worthy of notice. + +"We must be well on our guard against these reptiles, Bart; that is the +first I have seen, and they may prove numerous." + +"They are numerous," said Bart; and he told of the number he had seen +upon the slope above them. + +"That settles me upon going forward this evening," said the Doctor, "for +water seems to be very scarce. We must try and strike the river higher +up, and follow its course. We shall then have plenty of water always +within reach, and find wood and trees and hiding-places." + +"But I thought you wanted to get into a mountainous part, sir, where +precious minerals would be found," said Bart. + +"Exactly, my dear boy, and that is just the place we shall reach if we +persevere, for it is up in these rocky fastnesses, where the rivers have +their sources, and sometimes their beds are sprinkled with the specks +and also with pieces of gold that have been washed out of the sides of +the mighty hills." + +They went on thoughtfully for a time, the Doctor giving a chip here and +a chip there as he passed masses of rock, but nothing rewarded him, and +their walk was so uneventful that they saw nothing more than another +rattlesnake, the valley being so solitary and deserted that, with the +exception of a large hawk, they did not even see a bird. + +They, however, found a tiny spring of water which trickled down among +the rocks, and finally formed a little pool, ample for supplying their +horses with water, and this discovery made the Doctor propose a return. + +"I don't like leaving Maude for long," he said. + +"Joses will watch over her, sir, as safely as you would yourself. You +saved his life once he told me." + +"He told you that!" exclaimed the Doctor. + +"Yes, sir, when the rattlesnake bit him, and I don't think he would ever +be ungrateful, though I think he feels hurt that you do not place more +trust in him." + +"Well, let him prove himself well worthy of my trust," said the Doctor, +bluntly. "I have not found him so ready as he should be in helping me +with my plans." + +Here the Doctor became very silent and reserved, and though Bart asked +him several questions, and tried to get him into conversation, he hardly +spoke, but seemed moody and thoughtful till they were close upon the +little camp. + +This was hidden from them till they were almost there, for the upper end +of the Horse-shoe Valley was extremely rugged, and their way lay in and +out among heavy blocks of stone that seemed as if they had been hurled +down from the mountain-side. + +When they were just about to turn into the narrow opening where the +waggon lay and the horses were tethered, the Doctor stooped down to +examine some fragments that lay loose about their feet, and the +consequence was that Bart went on alone. He was just about to give a +peculiar whistle, one used commonly by himself and the men when they +wished to signal their whereabouts, when he stopped short, half hidden +by the rocks, raised his rifle to his shoulder, and stood ready to fire, +while his face, tanned as it was by the sun, turned of a sickly hue. + +For a moment he was about to fire. Then he felt that he must rush +forward and save Maude. The next moment calmer reflection told him that +such help and strength as he could command would be needed, and, +slipping back out of sight, he ran to where he had left the Doctor. + +He found him sitting down examining by means of a little +magnifying-glass one of the fragments of rock that he had chipped off, +while his rifle lay across his knee. + +He seemed so calm and content that in those moments of emergency Bart +almost shrank from speaking, knowing, as he did, how terrible would be +the effect of his words. + +Just then the Doctor looked up, saw his strange gaze, and dropping the +fragments, he leaped to his feet. + +"What is it?" he cried; "what is wrong?" and as he spoke the lock of his +double rifle gave forth two ominous clicks twice over. + +"They have come round while we have been away," whispered Bart hoarsely. + +"They? Who? Our men?" + +"No," panted Bart; "the camp is surrounded by Indians." + + + +CHAPTER SIX. + +A SURGICAL OPERATION. + +Dr Lascelles' first movement was to run forward to the help of his +child, Bart being close behind. + +Then with the knowledge that where there is terrible odds against which +to fight, guile and skill are necessary, he paused for a moment, with +the intention of trying to find cover from whence he could make deadly +use of his rifle. But with the knowledge that Maude must be in the +hands of the Indians, whose savage nature he too well knew, his fatherly +instinct admitted of no pause for strategy, and dashing forward, he ran +swiftly towards the waggon, with Bart close upon his heels. + +The full extent of their peril was at once apparent, no less than twelve +mounted Indians being at the head of the little valley in a group, every +man in full war-paint, and with his rifle across his knees as he sat +upon his sturdy Indian pony. + +Facing them were Maude, Joses, Juan, and the other two men, who had +apparently been taken by surprise, and who, rifle in hand, seemed to be +parleying with the enemy. + +The sight of the reinforcement in the shape of Bart, and Dr Lascelles +made the Indians utter a loud "Ugh!" and for a moment they seemed +disposed to assume the offensive, but to Bart's surprise they only urged +their ponies forward a few yards, and then stopped. + +"Get behind the waggon, quick, my child," panted the Doctor, as Bart +rushed up to his old companion's side. + +"They came down upon us all at once, master," said Joses. "They didn't +come along the trail." + +"Show a bold front," exclaimed the Doctor; "we may beat them off." + +To his surprise, however, the Indians did not seem to mean fighting, one +of them, who appeared to be the chief, riding forward a few yards, and +saying something in his own language. + +"What does he say?" said the Doctor, impatiently. + +"I can't make him out," replied Joses. "His is a strange tongue to me." + +"He is hurt," exclaimed Bart. "He is wounded in the arm. I think he is +asking for something." + +It certainly had that appearance, for the Indian was holding rifle and +reins in his left hand, while the right arm hung helplessly by his side. + +It was like weakening his own little force to do such a thing, knowing +as he did how treacherous the Indian could be, but this was no time for +hesitating, and as it seemed to be as Bart had intimated, the Doctor +risked this being a manoeuvre on the part of the Indian chief, and +holding his rifle ready, he stepped boldly forward to where the dusky +warrior sat calm and motionless upon his horse. + +Upon going close up there was no longer any room for doubt. The chief's +arm was roughly bandaged, and the coarse cloth seemed to be eating into +the terribly swollen flesh. + +That was enough. All the Doctor's old instincts came at once to the +front, and he took the injured limb in his hand. + +He must have caused the Indian intense pain, but the fine +bronzed-looking fellow, who had features of a keen aquiline type, did +not move a muscle, while, as the Doctor laid his rifle up against a +rock, the little mounted band uttered in chorus a sort of grunt of +approval. + +"It is peace, Bart," said the Doctor. "Maude, my child, get a bowl of +clean water, towels, and some bandages. Bart, get out my surgical +case." + +As he spoke, he motioned to the chief to dismount, which he did, +throwing himself lightly from his pony, not, as a European would, on the +left side of the horse, but on the right, the well-trained animal +standing motionless, and bending down its head to crop the nearest +herbage. + +"Throw a blanket down upon that sage-brush, Joses," continued the +Doctor; and this being done, the latter pointed to it, making signs that +the chief should sit down. + +He did not stir for a few moments, but gazed searchingly round at the +group, till he saw Maude come forward with a tin bowl of clean water and +the bandages, followed by Bart, who had in his hand a little surgical +case. Then he took a few steps forward, and seated himself, laying his +rifle down amongst the short shrubby growth, while Juan, Sam, and Harry +on the one side, the mounted Indians upon the other, looked curiously +on. + +Once there was a low murmur among the latter, as the Doctor drew a keen, +long knife from its sheath at his belt; but the chief did not wince, and +all were once more still. + +"He has been badly hurt in a fight," said the Doctor, "and the rough +surgery of his tribe or his medicine-man does not act." + +"That's it, master," said Joses, who was standing close by with rifle +ready in case of treachery. "His medicine-man couldn't tackle that, and +they think all white men are good doctors. It means peace, master." + +He pointed behind the Doctor as he spoke, and it was plain enough that +at all events for the present the Indians meant no harm, for two trotted +back, one to turn up a narrow rift that the little exploring party had +passed unnoticed in the night, the other to go right on towards the +entrance of the rough Horse-shoe. + +"That means scouting, does it not?" said Bart. + +"I think so," replied the Doctor. "Yes; these Indians are friendly, but +we must be on our guard. Don't show that we are suspicious though. +Help me as I dress this arm. Maude, my child, you had better go into +the waggon." + +"I am not afraid, father," she said, quietly. + +"Stay, then," he said. "You can be of use, perhaps." + +He spoke like this, for, in their rough frontier life, the girl had had +more than one experience of surgery. Men had been wounded in fights +with the Indians; others had suffered from falls and tramplings from +horses, while on more than one occasion the Doctor had had to deal with +terrible injuries, the results of gorings from fierce bulls. For it is +a strange but well-known fact in those parts, that the domestic cattle +that run wild from the various corrals or enclosures, and take to the +plains, are ten times more dangerous than the fiercest bison or buffalo, +as they are commonly called, that roam the wilds. + +Meanwhile the rest of the band leaped lightly down from their ponies, +and paying not the slightest heed to the white party, proceeded to +gather wood and brush to make themselves a fire, some unpacking buffalo +meat, and one bringing forward a portion of a prong-horn antelope. + +The Doctor was now busily examining his patient's arm, cutting away the +rough bandages, and laying bare a terrible injury. + +He was not long in seeing its extent, and he knew that if some necessary +steps were not taken at once, mortification of the limb would set in, +and the result would be death. + +The Indian's eyes glittered as he keenly watched the Doctor's face. He +evidently knew the worst, and it was this which had made him seek white +help, though of course he was not aware how fortunate he had been in his +haphazard choice. He must have been suffering intense pain, but not a +nerve quivered, not a muscle moved, while, deeply interested, Joses came +closer, rested his arms upon the top of his rifle, and looked down. + +"Why, he's got an arrow run right up his arm all along by the bone, +master," exclaimed the frontier man; "and he has been trying to pull it +out, and it's broken in." + +"Right, Joses," said the Doctor, quietly; "and worse than that, the head +of the arrow is fixed in the bone." + +"Ah, I couldn't tell that," said Joses, coolly. + +"I wish I could speak his dialect," continued the Doctor. "I shall have +to operate severely if his arm is to be saved, and I don't want him or +his men to pay me my fee with a crack from a tomahawk." + +"Don't you be afraid of that, master. He won't wince, nor say a word. +You may do what you like with him. Injuns is a bad lot, but they've got +wonderful pluck over pain." + +"This fellow has, at all events," said the Doctor. "Maude, my child, I +think you had better go." + +"If you wish it, father, I will," she replied simply; "but I could help +you, and I should not be in the least afraid." + +"Good," said the Doctor, laconically, as he lowered the injured arm +after bathing it free from the macerated leaves and bark with which it +had been bound up. Then with the Indian's glittering eyes following +every movement, he took from his leather case of surgical instruments, +all still wonderfully bright and kept in a most perfect state, a +curious-looking pair of forceps with rough handles, and a couple of +short-bladed, very keen knives. + +"Hah!" said Joses, with a loud expiration of his breath, "them's like +the pinchers a doctor chap once used to pull out a big aching tooth of +mine, and he nearly pulled my head off as well." + +"No; they were different to these, Joses," said the Doctor, quietly, as +he took up a knife. "Feel faint, Bart?" + +The lad blushed now. He had been turning pale. + +"Well, I did feel a little sick, sir. It was the sight of that knife. +It has all gone now." + +"That's right, my boy. Always try and master such feelings as these. +Now I must try and make him understand what I want to do. Give me that +piece of stick, Bart, it will do to imitate the arrow." + +Bart handed the piece of wood, which the Doctor shortened, and then, +suiting the action to his words, he spoke to the chief: + +"The arrow entered here," he said, pointing to a wound a little above +the Indian's wrist, "and pierced right up through the muscles, to bury +itself in the bone just here." + +As he spoke, he pushed the stick up outside the arm along the course +that the arrow had taken, and holding the end about where he considered +the head of the arrow to be. + +For answer the Indian gave two sharp nods, and said something in his own +tongue which no one understood. + +"Then," continued the Doctor, "you, or somebody else, in trying to +extract the arrow, have broken it off, and it is here in the arm, at +least six inches and the head." + +As he spoke, he now broke the stick in two, throwing away part, and +holding the remainder up against the Indian's wounded arm. + +Again the chief nodded, and this time he smiled. + +"Well, we understand one another so far," said the Doctor, "and he sees +that I know what's the matter. Now then, am I to try and cure it? What +would you like me to do?" + +He pointed to the arm as he spoke, and then to himself, and the Indian +took the Doctor's hand, directed it to the knife, and then, pointing to +his arm, drew a line from the mouth of the wound right up to his elbow, +making signs that the Doctor should make one great gash, and take the +arrow out. + +"All right, my friend, but that is not quite the right way," said the +Doctor. "You trust me then to do my best for you?" + +He took up one of the short-bladed knives as he spoke, and pointed to +the arm. + +The Indian smiled and nodded, his face the next moment becoming stern +and fixed as if he were in terrible pain, and needed all his fortitude +to bear it. + +"Going to cut it out, master?" said Joses, roughly. + +"Yes." + +"Let's give the poor beggar a comforter then," continued Joses. "If he +scalps us afterwards along with his copper crew, why, he does, but let's +show him white men are gentlemen." + +"What are you going to do?" said the Doctor, wonderingly. + +"Show you directly," growled Joses, who leisurely filled a short, +home-made wooden pipe with tobacco, lit it at the Indian's fire, which +was now crackling merrily, and returned to offer it to the chief, who +took it with a short nod and a grunt, and began to smoke rapidly. + +"That'll take a bit o' the edge off it," growled Joses. "Shall I hold +his arm?" + +"No; Bart, will do that," said the Doctor, rolling up his sleeves and +placing water, bandages, and forceps ready. "Humph! he cannot bend his +arm. Hold it like that, Bart--firmly, my lad, and don't flinch. I +won't cut you." + +"I'll be quite firm, sir," said Bart, quietly; and the Doctor raised his +knife. + +As he did so, he glanced at where nine Indians were seated round the +fire, expecting to see that they would be interested in what was taking +place; but, on the contrary, they were to a man fully occupied in +roasting their dried meat and the portions of the antelope that they had +cut up. The operation on the chief did not interest them in the least, +or if it did, they were too stoical to show it. + +The Doctor then glanced at his savage patient, and laying one hand upon +the dreadfully swollen limb, he received a nod of encouragement, for +there was no sign of quailing in the chief's eyes; but as the Doctor +approached the point of the knife to a spot terribly discoloured, just +below the elbow, the Indian made a sound full of remonstrance, and +pointing to the wound above the wrist, signed to his attendant that he +should slit the arm right up. + +"No, no," said the Doctor, smiling. "I'm not going to make a terrible +wound like that. Leave it to me." + +He patted the chief on the shoulder as he spoke, and once more the +Indian subsided into a state of stolidity, as if there were nothing the +matter and he was not in the slightest pain. + +Here I pause for a few moments as I say--Shall I describe what the +Doctor did to save the Indian's life, or shall I hold my hand? + +I think I will go on, for there should be nothing objectionable in a few +words describing the work of a man connected with one of the noblest +professions under the sun. + +There was no hesitation. With one quick, firm cut, the Doctor divided +the flesh, piercing deep down, and as he cut his knife gave a sharp +grate. + +"Right on the arrowhead, Bart," he said quietly; and, withdrawing his +knife, he thrust a pair of sharp forceps into the wound, and seemed as +if he were going to drag out the arrow, but it was only to divide the +shaft. This he seized with the other forceps, and drew out of the +bleeding opening--a piece nearly five inches long, which came away +easily enough. + +Then, without a moment's hesitation, he sponged the cut for a while, and +directly after, guiding them with the index finger of his left hand, he +thrust the forceps once more into the wound. + +There was a slight grating noise once again, a noise that Bart, as he +manfully held the arm, seemed to feel go right through every nerve with +a peculiar thrill. Then it was evident that the Doctor had fast hold of +the arrowhead and he drew hard to take it out. + +"I thought so," he said, "it is driven firmly into the bone." + +As he spoke, he worked his forceps slightly to and fro, to loosen the +arrowhead, and then, bearing firmly upon it, drew it out--an ugly, keen +piece of nastily barbed iron, with a scrap of the shaft and some deer +sinew attached. + +The Doctor examined it attentively to see that everything had come away, +and uttered a sigh of satisfaction, while the only sign the Indian gave +was to draw a long, deep breath. + +"There, Mr Tomahawk," said the Doctor, smiling, as he held the arm over +the bowl, and bathed the injury tenderly with fresh relays of water, +till it nearly ceased bleeding; "that's better than making a cut all +along your arm, and I'll be bound to say it feels easier already." + +The Indian did not move or speak, but sat there smoking patiently till +the deep cut was sewn up, padded with lint, and bound, and the wound +above the wrist, where the arrow had entered, was also dressed and bound +up carefully. + +"There: now your arm will heal," said the Doctor, as he contrived a +sling, and placed the injured limb at rest. "A man with such a fine +healthy physique will not suffer much, I'll be bound. Hah, it's quite a +treat to do some of the old work again." + +The chief waited patiently until the Doctor had finished. Then rising, +he stood for a few moments with knitted brows, perfectly motionless; and +the frontier man, seeing what was the matter, seemed to be about to +proffer his arm, but the Indian paid no heed to him, merely gazing +straight before him till the feeling of faintness had passed away, when +he stooped and picked up the piece of arrow shaft and the head, walked +with them to where his followers were sitting, and held them out for +them to see. Then they were passed round with a series of grunts, duly +examined, and finally found a resting-place in a little beaver-skin bag +at the chiefs girdle, along with his paints and one or two pieces of +so-called "medicine" or charms. + +Meanwhile the Doctor was busy putting away his instruments, feeling +greatly relieved that the encounter with the Indians had been of so +friendly a nature. + +At the end of a few minutes the chief came back with the large buffalo +robe that had been strapped to the back of his pony, spread it before +the Doctor, placed on it his rifle, tomahawk, knife, and pouch, and +signed to him that they were his as a present. + +"He means that it is all he has to give you, sir," said Bart, who seemed +to understand the chief's ways quicker than his guardian, and who +eagerly set himself to interpret. + +"Yes, that seems to be his meaning," replied the Doctor. "Well, let's +see if we can't make him our friend." + +Saying which the Doctor stooped down, picked up the knife and hatchet +and placed them in the chiefs belt, his rifle in the hollow of his arm, +and finally his buffalo robe over his shoulders, ending by giving him +his hand smilingly, and saying the one word _friend_, _friend_, two or +three times over. + +The chief made no reply, but gravely stalked back to his followers, as +if affronted at the refusal of his gift, and the day passed with him +lying down quietly smoking in the sage-brush, while the occupants of the +Doctor's little camp went uneasily about their various tasks, ending by +dividing the night into watches, lest their savage neighbours should +take it into their heads to depart suddenly with the white man's +horses--a favourite practice with Indians, and one that in this case +would have been destructive of the expedition. + + + +CHAPTER SEVEN. + +ANOTHER ALARM. + +To the surprise and satisfaction of Bart, all was well in the camp at +daybreak when he looked round; the horses were grazing contentedly at +the end of their tether ropes, and the Indians were just stirring, and +raking together the fire that had been smouldering all the night. + +Breakfast was prepared, and they were about to partake thereof, when the +Doctor took counsel with Joses as to what was best to be done. + +"Do you think they will molest us now?" he asked. + +"No, master, I don't think so, but there's no knowing how to take an +Indian. I should be very careful about the horses though, for a good +horse is more than an Indian can resist." + +"I have thought the same; and it seems to me that we had better stay +here until this party has gone, for I don't want them to be following us +from place to place." + +"There's a band of 'em somewhere not far away," said Joses, "depend upon +it, so p'r'aps it will be best to wait till we see which way they go, +and then go totherwise." + +Soon after breakfast the chief came up to the waggon and held out his +arm to be examined, smiling gravely, and looking his satisfaction, as it +was very plain that a great deal of the swelling had subsided. + +This went on for some days, during which the Indians seemed perfectly +content with their quarters, they having found a better supply of water; +and to show their friendliness, they made foraging expeditions, and +brought in game which they shared in a very liberal way. + +This was all very well, but still it was not pleasant to have them as +neighbours, and several times over the Doctor made up his mind to start +and continue his expedition, and this he would have done but for the +fact of his being sure that their savage friends, for this they now +seemed to be, would follow them. + +At the end of ten days the chief's arm had wonderfully altered, and with +it his whole demeanour, the healthy, active life he led conducing +largely towards the cure. But he was always quiet and reserved, making +no advances, and always keeping aloof with his watchful little band. + +"We are wasting time horribly," said the Doctor, one morning. "We'll +start at once." + +"Why not wait till night and steal off?" said Maude. + +"Because we could not hide our trail," said Bart. "The Indians could +follow us. I think it will be best to let them see we don't mind them, +and go away boldly." + +"That's what I mean to do," said the Doctor, and directly they had ended +their meal, the few arrangements necessary were made, and after going +and shaking hands all round with the stolid Indians, the horses were +mounted, the waggon set in motion, and they rode back along the valley. +Passing the Indian camp, they arrived at the opening through which, +bearing off to the west, the Indians reached the plains, and for hours +kept on winding in and out amongst the hills. + +It was after sundown that the Doctor called a halt in the wild rocky +part that they had reached, a short rest in the very heat of the day +being the only break which they had had in their journey. In fact, as +darkness would soon be upon them, it would have been madness to proceed +farther, the country having become so broken and wild that it would have +been next to impossible to proceed without wrecking the waggon. + +Their usual precautions were taken as soon as a satisfactory nook was +found with a fair supply of water, and soon after sunrise next morning, +all having been well during the night, the Doctor and Bart started for a +look round while breakfast was being prepared, Bart taking his rifle, as +there was always the necessity for supplying the wants of the camp. + +"I wonder whether we shall see any more of the Indians," said Bart, as +they climbed up amongst the rocks to what looked almost like a gateway +formed by a couple of boldly scarped masses, in whose strata lines +various plants and shrubs maintained a precarious existence. + +"I wonder they have not followed us before now," replied the Doctor. +"Mind how you come. Can you climb it?" + +For answer, Bart leaped up to where the Doctor had clambered as easily +as a mountain sheep, and after a little farther effort they reached the +gate-like place, to find that it gave them a view right out on to the +partly-wooded country beyond. For they had left the level, changeless +plain on the other side of the rocks, and the sight of a fresh character +of country was sufficient to make the Doctor eagerly take the little +telescope he carried in a sling, and begin to sweep the horizon. + +As he did so, he let fall words about the beauty of the country. + +"Splendid grazing land," he said, "well-watered. We must have a stay +here." Then lowering his glass, so as to take the landscape closer in, +he uttered an ejaculation of astonishment. + +"Why, Bart," he said, "I'm afraid here are the Indians Joses saw that +night." + +"Let me look, sir," cried Bart, stretching out his hand for the glass, +but only to exclaim, "I can see them plainly enough without. Why, they +cannot be much more than a mile away." + +"And they seem to be journeying in our direction," replied the Doctor. +"Let's get back quickly, and try if we cannot find another hiding-place +for the waggon." + +Hurrying back, Bart started the idea that these might be the main body +of their friendly Indians. + +"So much the better for us, Master Bart, but I'm afraid that we shall +not be so lucky again." + +"I half fancied I saw our chief amongst them," said Bart, giving vent to +his sanguine feelings. + +"More than half fancy, Bart," replied the Doctor, "for there he sits +upon his horse." + +He pointed with his glass, and, to Bart's astonishment, there in the +little wilderness of rocks that they had made their halting-place for +the night, was the chief with his eleven followers who were already +tethering their horses, and making arrangements to take up their +quarters close by them as of old. + +"Do you think they mean to continue friendly?" asked Bart uneasily, for +he could not help thinking how thoroughly they were at the mercy of the +Indians if they proved hostile. + +"I cannot say," replied the Doctor. "But look here, Bart, take the +chief with you up to the gap, and show him the party beyond. His men +may not have seen them, and we shall learn perhaps whether they are +friends or foes." + +On reaching the waggon, as no attempt was made by the Indians to join +them or resume intercourse, Bart went straight up to the chief, and made +signs to him to follow, which he proceeded to do upon his horse, but +upon Bart, pointing upwards to the rocky ascent, he leaped off lightly, +and the youth noticed that he was beginning to make use of his injured +arm. + +In a very short time they had climbed to the opening between the rocks, +where, upon seeing that there was open country beyond, the Indian at +once crouched and approached cautiously, dropping flat upon the earth +next moment, and crawling over the ground with a rapidity that +astonished his companion, who was watching his face directly after, to +try and read therefrom whether he belonged to the band of Indians in the +open park in the land beyond. + +To Bart's surprise, the chief drew back quickly, his face changed, and +his whole figure seemed to be full of excitement. + +He said a few words rapidly, and then, seeing that he was not +understood, he began to make signs, pointing first to the opening out +into the plain, and then taking out his knife, and striking with it +fiercely. Then he pointed once more to the opening, and to his wounded +arm, going through the motions of one drawing a bow. + +"Friends, friends, friends," he then said in a hoarse whisper, repeating +the Doctor's word, and then shaking his head and spitting angrily upon +the ground, and striking with his knife. + +He then signed to Bart, to follow, and ran down the steep slope just as +one of his followers cantered hastily up. + +Both had the same news to tell in the little camp, and though the Doctor +could not comprehend the Indian chief's dialect, his motions were +significant enough, as he rapidly touched the barrels of his followers' +rifles, and then those of the white party, repeating the word, +"Friends." + +The next moment he had given orders which sent a couple of his men up +the rocks, to play the part of scouts, while he hurriedly scanned their +position, and chose a sheltered place, a couple of hundred yards back, +where there was ample room for the horses and waggon, which were quietly +taken there, the rocks and masses of stone around affording shelter and +cover in case of attack. + +"There's no doubt about their being friends now, Bart," said the Doctor; +"we must trust them for the future, but I pray Heaven that we may not be +about to engage in shedding blood." + +"We won't hurt nobody, master," said Joses, carefully examining his +rifle, "so long as they leave us alone; but if they don't, I'm afraid I +shall make holes through some of them that you wouldn't be able to +cure." + +Just then the Indian held up his hand to command silence, and directly +after he pointed here and there to places that would command good views +of approaching foes, while he angrily pointed to Maude, signing that she +should crouch down closely behind some sheltering rocks. + +The Doctor yielded to his wishes, and then, in perfect silence, they +waited for the coming of the Indian band, which if the trail were noted, +they knew could not be long delayed. + +If Bart had felt any doubt before of these Indians with them being +friendly, it was swept away now by the thorough earnestness with which +they joined in the defence of their little stronghold. On either side +of him were the stern-looking warriors, rifle in hand, watchful of eye +and quick of ear, each listening attentively for danger while waiting +for warnings from the scouts who had been sent out. + +As Bart thought over their position and its dangers, he grew troubled at +heart about Maude, the sister and companion as she had always seemed to +him, and somehow, much as he looked up to Dr Lascelles, who seemed to +him the very height of knowledge, strength, and skill, it filled his +mind with forebodings of the future as he wondered how they were to +continue their expedition to the end without happening upon some +terrible calamity. + +"Maude ought to have been left with friends, or sent to the city. It +seems to me like madness to have brought her here." + +Just then Dr Lascelles crept up cautiously behind him, making him start +and turn scarlet as a hand was laid upon his shoulder; for it seemed to +him as if the Doctor had been able to read his thoughts. + +"Why, Bart," he said, smiling, "you look as red as fire; you ought to +look as pale as milk. Do you want to begin the fight?" + +"No," said Bart, sturdily; "I hope we shan't have to fight at all, for +it seems very horrid to have to shoot at a man." + +"Ever so much more horrid for a man to shoot at you," said Joses in a +hoarse whisper as he crawled up behind them. "I'd sooner shoot twelve, +than twelve should shoot me." + +"Why have you left your post?" said the Doctor, looking at him sternly. + +"Came to say, master, that I think young miss aren't safe. She will +keep showing herself, and watching to see if you are all right, and +that'll make the Indians, if they come, all aim at her." + +"You are right, Joses," said the Doctor, hastily; and he went softly +back to the waggon, while Joses went on in a grumbling whisper: + +"I don't know what he wanted to bring her for. Course we all like her, +Master Bart, but it scares me when I think of what it might lead to if +we get hard pressed some of these days." + +"Don't croak, Joses," whispered Bart; and then they were both silent and +remained watching, for the chief held up his hand, pointing towards the +rocks beyond, which they knew that their enemies were passing, and whose +tops they scanned lest at any moment some of the painted warriors might +appear searching the valley with their keen dark eyes. + +The hours passed, and the rocks around them grew painfully heated by the +ardent rays that beat down upon them. Not a breath of air reached the +corner where such anxious guard was kept; and to add to the discomfort +of the watchers, a terrible thirst attacked them. + +Bart's lips seemed cracking and his throat parched and burning, but this +was all borne in fortitude; and as he saw the Indians on either side of +him, bearing the inconveniences without a murmur, he forebore to +complain. + +Towards mid-day, when the heat was tremendous, and Bart was wondering +why the chief or Dr Lascelles did not make some movement to see whether +the strange Indians had gone, and at the same time was ready to declare +to himself that the men sent out as scouts must have gone to sleep, he +felt a couple of hands placed upon his shoulders from behind, pressing +him down, and then a long brown sinewy arm was thrust forward, with the +hand pointing to the edge of the ridge a quarter of a mile away. + +Dr Lascelles had not returned, and Joses had some time before crept +back to his own post, so that Bart was alone amongst their Indian +friends. + +He knew at once whose was the pointing arm, and following the indicated +direction, he saw plainly enough first the head and shoulders of an +Indian come into sight, then there was apparently a scramble and a leap, +and he could see that the man was mounted. And then followed another +and another, till there was a group of half a dozen mounted men, who had +ridden up some ravine to the top from the plain beyond, and who were now +searching and scanning the valley where the Doctor's encampment lay. + +Now was the crucial time. The neigh of a horse, the sight of an +uncautiously exposed head or hand, would have been sufficient to betray +their whereabouts, and sooner or later the attack would have come. + +But now it was that the clever strategy of the chief was seen, for he +had chosen their retreat not merely for its strength, but for its +concealment. + +Bart glanced back towards the waggon, and wondered how it was that this +prominent object had not been seen. Fortunately, however, its tilt was +of the colour of the surrounding rocks, and it was pretty well hidden +behind some projecting masses. + +For quite a quarter of an hour this group of mounted Indians remained +full in view, and all the time Bart's sensations were that he must be +seen as plainly as he could see his foes; but at last he saw them slowly +disappear one by one over the other side of the ridge; and as soon as +the last had gone the chief uttered a deep "Ugh!" + +There was danger though yet, and he would not let a man stir till quite +half an hour later, when his two scouts came in quickly, and said a few +words in a low guttural tone. + +"I should be for learning the language of these men if we were to stay +with them, Bart," said the Doctor; "but they may leave us at any time, +and the next party we meet may talk a different dialect." + +The chief's acts were sufficient now to satisfy them that the present +danger had passed, and soon after he and his men mounted and rode off +without a word. + + + +CHAPTER EIGHT. + +ROUGH CUSTOMERS. + +There was nothing to tempt a stay where they were, so taking advantage +of their being once more alone, a fresh start was made along the most +open course that presented itself, and some miles were placed between +them and the last camp before a halt was made for the night. + +"We shan't do no good, Master Bart," said Joses, as they two kept watch +for the first part of the night. "The master thinks we shall, but I +don't, and Juan don't, and Sam and Harry don't." + +"But why not?" + +"Why not, Master Bart? How can you 'spect it, when you've got a young +woman and a waggon and a tent along with you. Them's all three things +as stop you from getting over the ground. I don't call this an +exploring party; I call it just a-going out a-pleasuring when it's all +pain." + +"You always would grumble, Joses; no matter where we were, or what we +were doing, you would have your grumble. I suppose it does you good." + +"Why, of course it does," said Joses, with a low chuckling laugh. "If I +wasn't to grumble, that would all be in my mind making me sour, so I +gets rid of it as soon as I can." + +That night passed without adventure, and, starting at daybreak the next +morning, they found a fine open stretch of plain before them, beyond +which, blue and purple in the distance, rose the mountains, and these +were looked upon as their temporary destination, for Dr Lascelles was +of opinion that here he might discover something to reward his toils. + +The day was so hot and the journey so arduous, that upon getting to the +farther side of the plain, with the ground growing terribly broken and +rugged as they approached the mountain slopes, a suitable spot was +selected, and the country being apparently quite free from danger, the +tent was set up, and the quarters made snug for two or three days' rest, +so that the Doctor might make a good search about the mountain chasms +and ravines, and see if there were any prospect of success. + +The place reached was very rugged, but it had an indescribable charm +from the varied tints of the rocks and the clumps of bushes, with here +and there a low scrubby tree, some of which proved to be laden with wild +plums. + +"Why, those are wild grapes too, are they not?" said Bart, pointing to +some clustering vines which hung over the rocks laden with purpling +berries. + +"That they be," said Joses; "and as sour as sour, I'll bet. But I say, +Master Bart, hear that?" + +"What! that piping noise?" replied Bart. "I was wondering what it could +be." + +"I'll tell you, lad," said Joses, chuckling. "That's young wild turkeys +calling to one another, and if we don't have a few to roast it shan't be +our fault." + +The Doctor was told of the find, and after all had been made snug, it +was resolved to take guns and rifles, and search for something likely to +prove an agreeable change. + +"For we may as well enjoy ourselves, Bart, and supply Madam Maude here +with a few good things for our pic-nic pot." + +The heat of the evening and the exertion of the long day's journey made +the party rather reluctant to stir after their meal, but at last guns +were taken, and in the hope of securing a few of the wild turkeys, a +start was made; but after a stroll in different directions, Joses began +to shake his head, and to say that it would be no use till daybreak, for +the turkeys had gone to roost. + +Walking, too, was difficult, and there were so many thorns, that, out of +kindness to his child, the Doctor proposed that they should return to +the tent; signals were made to the men at a distance, and thoroughly +enjoying the cool, delicious air of approaching eve, they had nearly +reached the tent, when about a hundred yards of the roughest ground had +to be traversed--a part that seemed as if giants had been hurling down +huge masses of the mountain to form a new chaos, among whose mighty +boulders, awkward thorns, huge prickly cacti, and wild plums, grew in +profusion. + +"What a place to turn into a wild garden, Bart!" said the Doctor, +suddenly. + +"I had been thinking so," cried Maude, eagerly. "What a place to build +a house!" + +"And feed cattle, eh?" said the Doctor. "Very pretty to look at, my +child, but I'm afraid that unless we could live by our guns, we should +starve." + +"Hough--hough--hough!" came from beyond a rugged piece of rock. + +"O father!" cried Maude, clinging to his arm. + +"Don't hold me, child," he said fiercely, "leave my arm free;" and +starting forward, gun in hand, he made for the place from whence the +hideous half-roaring, half-grunting noise had came. + +Before he had gone a dozen steps the sound was repeated, but away to +their right. Then came the sharp reports of two guns, and, evidently +seeing something hidden from her father and Bart, Maude sprang forward +while they followed. + +"Don't go, Missy, don't go," shouted Juan, and his cry was echoed by +Harry; but she did not seem to hear them, and was the first to arrive at +where a huge bear lay upon its flank, feebly clawing at the rock with +fore and hind paw, it having received a couple of shots in vital parts. + +"Pray keep back, Maude," cried Bart, running to her side. + +"I wanted to see it," she said with an eager glance around at her +father, who came up rapidly. "What is it?" + +"It's the cub half grown of a grizzly bear," said Dr Lascelles, +speaking excitedly now. "Back, girl, to the tent; the mother must be +close at hand." + +"On, forward; she's gone round to the right," shouted the men behind, +who had been trying to get on by another way, but were stopped by the +rocks. + +"Back, girl!" said the Doctor again. "Forward all of you, steadily, and +make every shot tell. Where is Joses?" + +Just then the deep hoarse grunting roar came again from a hollow down +beyond them, and directly after, as they all hurried forward, each man +ready to fire at the first chance, they heard a shot, and directly after +came in sight of Joses, with his double rifle to his shoulder taking aim +at a monstrous bear that, apparently half disabled by his last shot, was +drawing itself up on a great shelving block of stone, and open mouthed +and with blood and slaver running from its glistening ivory fangs, was +just turning upon him to make a dash and strike him down. + +Just then a second shot rang out, and the bear rolled over, but sprang +to its feet again with a terrific roar, and dashed at her assailant. + +It was impossible to fire now, lest Joses should be hit; and though he +turned and fled, he was too late, for the bear, in spite of its huge, +ox-like size, sprang upon him, striking him down, and stood over him. + +But now was the time, and the Doctor's and Bart's rifles both rang out, +the latter going down on one knee to take careful aim; and as the smoke +cleared away the bear was gone. + +"She's made for those rocks yonder," cried Juan, excitedly. "We'll have +her now, master. She didn't seem hurt a bit." + +"Be careful," cried the Doctor. "Maude, help poor Joses. Go forward, +Bart, but mind. She may be fatally wounded now." + +Bart was for staying to help the man who had so often been his +companion, but his orders were to go on; he knew that Joses could not be +in better hands; and there was the inducement to slay his slayer to urge +him forward as he ran with his rifle at the trail over the rocks, and +was guided by the savage growling he could hear amidst some bushes to +where the monster was at bay. + +It was fast approaching the moment when all would be in gloom, and Bart +knew that it would be impossible for them to camp where they were with a +wounded grizzly anywhere near at hand. Slain the monster must be, and +at once; but though the growling was plain enough, the bear was not +visible, and ammunition is too costly out in the desert for a single +charge to be wasted by a foolish shot. + +Juan, Harry, and Sam were all in position, ready to fire, but still the +animal did not show itself, so they went closer to the thicket, and +threw in heavy stones, but without the least effect, till Juan suddenly +exclaimed that he would go right in and drive the brute out. + +Bart forbade this, however, and the man contented himself with going a +little closer, and throwing a heavy block in a part where they had not +thrown before. + +A savage grunt was the result, and judging where the grizzly lay, Juan, +without waiting for counsel, raised his rifle and fired, dropping his +weapon and running for his life the next moment, for the shot was +succeeded by a savage yell, and the monster came crashing out in a +headlong charge, giving Juan no cause for flight, since his butt made +straight for Bart, open mouthed, fiery-eyed, and panting for revenge. + +Bart's first instinct was to turn and run, his second to stand his +ground and fire right at the monster, taking deadly aim. + +But in moments of peril like his there is little time for the exercise +of judgment, and ere he could raise his rifle to his shoulder and take +careful aim the bear was upon him, rising up on its hind legs, not to +hug him, as is generally supposed to be the habits of these beasts, but +to strike at him right and left with its hideously armed paws. + +Bart did not know how it happened, but as the beast towered up in its +huge proportions, he fired rapidly both barrels of his piece, one loaded +with heavy shot for the turkeys, the other with ball, right into the +monster's chest. + +As he fired Bart leaped back, and it was well that he did so, for the +grizzly fell forward with a heavy thud, almost where he had been +standing, clawed at the rocks and stones for a few moments, and then lay +perfectly still--dead. + + + +CHAPTER NINE. + +FIRST SEARCHES FOR GOLD. + +The three men uttered a loud cheer, and ran and leaped upon their fallen +enemy, but Bart ran back, loading his piece as he went, to where he had +left the Doctor with poor Joses. + +Bart felt his heart beat heavily, and there was a strange, choking +feeling of pain at his throat as he thought of rough, surly-spoken +Joses, the man who had been his guide and companion in many a hunt and +search for the straying cattle; and now it seemed to him that he was to +lose one who he felt had been a friend. + +"Is he--" + +Bart panted out this much, and then stopped in amazement, for, as he +turned the corner of some rocks that lay between him and the tent, +instead of addressing the Doctor, he found himself face to face with +Joses, who, according to Bart's ideas, should have been lying upon the +stones, hideously clawed from shoulder to heel by the monster's terrible +hooks. On the contrary, the rough fellow was sitting up, with his back +close to a great block of stone, his rifle across his knees, and both +hands busy rolling up a little cigarette. + +"Why, Joses," panted Bart, "I thought--" + +"As I was killed? Well, I ain't," said Joses, roughly. + +"But the bear--she struck you down--I saw her claw you." + +"You see her strike me down," growled Joses; "but she didn't claw me, my +lad. She didn't hit out far enough, but she's tore every rag off my +back right into ribbons, and I'm waiting here till the Doctor brings me +something else and my blanket to wear." + +"O Joses, I am glad," cried Bart, hoarsely; and his voice was full of +emotion as he spoke, while he caught the rough fellow's hands in his. + +"Don't spoil a fellow's cigarette," growled Joses roughly, but his eyes +showed the pleasure he felt. "I say are you glad, though?" + +"Glad?" cried Bart, "indeed, indeed I am." + +"That's right, Master Bart. That's right. It would have been awkward +if I'd been killed." + +"Oh, don't talk about it," cried Bart, shuddering. + +"Why not, my lad? It would though. They'd have had no end of a job to +dig down in this stony ground. But you've killed the bear among you?" + +"Yes; she's dead enough." + +"That's well. Who fired the shot as finished her? Don't say you let +Juan or Sam, or I won't forgive you." + +"I fired the last, and brought her down," said Bart quietly enough. + +"That's right," said Joses, "that's right; you ought to be a good shot +now." + +"But are you not hurt at all?" asked Bart. + +"Well, I can't say as I arn't hurt," replied Joses, "because she knocked +all the wind out of me as she sent me down so quickly, and she scratched +a few bits of skin off as well as my clothes, but that don't matter: +skin grows again, clothes don't. Humph, here comes the Doctor with the +things." + +"A narrow escape for him, Bart. But how about the grizzly?" + +"Dead, sir, quite dead," replied Bart. "Are we likely to see Mr +Grizzly as well?" + +"No, I think not, my boy. Mother and cubs generally go together." + +"Now, Joses, let me dress your back." + +"No, thank ye, master, I can dress myself, bless you." + +"No, no, I mean apply some of this dressing to those terrible +scratches." + +"Oh, if that's what you mean, master, go on. Wouldn't they be just as +well without?" + +"No, no; turn round, man." + +Joses obeyed, and Bart shuddered as he saw the scores made by the +monster's hideous claws, though Joses took it all quietly enough, and +after the dressing threw his blanket over his shoulders, to walk with +his master and Bart, to have a look at the grizzly lying there in the +gathering shades of night. + +It was a monster indeed, being quite nine feet long, and massive in +proportion, while its great sharp curved claws were some of them nearly +six inches from point to insertion in the shaggy toes. + +Such a skin was too precious as a trophy to be left, and before daylight +next morning, Juan, Harry, and Sam were at work stripping it off, Bart, +when he came soon after, finding them well on with their task, Joses +being seated upon a fragment of rock contentedly smoking his cigarette +and giving instructions, he being an adept at such matters, having +stripped off hundreds if not thousands of hides in his day, from bison +cattle and bear down to panther and skunk. + +"I ain't helping, Master Bart," he said apologetically, "being a bit +stiff this morning." + +"Which is a blessing as it ain't worse," said Harry; "for you might have +been much worse, you know." + +"You mind your own business," growled Joses. "You're whipping off great +bits o' flesh there and leaving 'em on the skin." + +"Well, see how hard it is when it's cold," grumbled Harry; and then to +Juan, "I shan't take no notice of him. You see he's a bit sore." + +Harry was quite right, poor Joses being so sore that for some days he +could not mount his horse, and spent his time in drying the two +bear-skins in the sun, and dressing them on the fleshy side, till they +were quite soft and made capital mats for the waggon. + +One morning, however, he expressed himself as being all right, and +whatever pains he felt, he would not show the slightest sign, but +mounted his horse, and would have gone forward, only the Doctor decided +to spend another day where they were, so as to more fully examine the +rocks, for he fancied that he had discovered a metallic deposit in one +spot on the previous night. + +It was settled, then, that the horses should go on grazing in the little +meadow-like spot beside a tiny stream close by the waggon, and that the +Doctor, Juan, Joses, and Bart should explore the ravine where the Doctor +thought he had found traces of gold, while Sam and Harry kept watch by +the camp. + +For days past the neighbourhood had been well hunted over, and with the +exception of a snake or two, no noxious or dangerous creature had been +seen; the Indians seemed to have gone right away, and under the +circumstances, all was considered safe. + +Explorations had shown them that the place they were in rose like, as it +were, a peninsula of rocks from amidst a sea of verdure. This peninsula +formed quite a clump some miles round, and doubtless it had been chosen +as a convenient place by the bear, being only connected with the +mountain slope by a narrow neck of _debris_ from the higher ground. + +As the party went on, the Doctor told Bart, that his intention was to +journey along by the side of the mountain till he found some valley or +canyon, up which they could take the waggon, and then search the rocks +as they went on whenever the land looked promising. + +Upon this occasion, after a few hours' walk, the Doctor halted by the +bed of a tiny stream, and after searching about in the sands for a time +he hit upon a likely place, took a small portion of the sand in a +shallow tin bowl, and began to wash it, changing the water over and over +again, and throwing away the lighter sand, till nothing was left but a +small portion of coarser fragments, and upon these being turned out in +the bright sunshine and examined, there were certainly a few specks of +gold to be seen, but so minute that the Doctor threw them away with a +sigh. + +"We must have something more promising than that," he said. "Now I +think, Bart, you had better go along that ridge of broken rock close up +to the hills, and walk eastward for a few miles to explore. I will go +with Juan to the west. Perhaps we shall find a likely place for going +right up into the mountains. We'll meet here again at say two hours +before sundown. Keep a sharp look-out." + +They parted, and for the next two hours Bart and Joses journeyed along +under what was for the most part a wall of rock fringed at the top with +verdure, and broken up into chasms and crevices which were filled with +plants of familiar or strange growths. + +Sometimes they started a serpent, and once they came upon a little herd +of antelopes, but they were not in search of game, and they let the +agile creatures go unmolested. + +The heat was growing terrific beneath the sheltered rock-wall, and at +last, weakened by his encounter with the bear Joses began to show signs +of distress. + +"I'd give something for a good drink of water," he said. "I've been +longing this hour past, and I can't understand how it is that we haven't +come upon a stream running out into the plain. There arn't been no +chance of the waggon going up into the mountains this way." + +"Shall we turn back?" + +"Turn back? No! not if we have to go right round the whole world," +growled Joses. "Come along, my lad, we'll find a spring somewheres." + +For another hour they tramped on almost in silence, and then all at once +came a musical, plashing sound that made Joses draw himself up erect and +say with a smile: + +"There's always water if you go on long enough, my lad. That there's a +fall." + +And so it proved to be, and one of extreme beauty, for a couple of +hundred yards farther they came upon a nook in the rough wall, where the +water of a small stream poured swiftly down, all foam and flash and +sparkle, and yet in so close and compact a body that, pulling a cow-horn +from his pocket, Joses could walk closely up and catch the pure cold +fluid as it fell. + +"There, Master Bart," he said, filling and rinsing out the horn two or +three times, "there you are. Drink, my lad, for you want it bad, as I +can see." + +"No, you drink first, Joses," said the lad; but the rough frontier man +refused, and it was not until Bart had emptied the horn of what seemed +to be the most delicious water he had ever tasted, that Joses would fill +and drink. + +When he did begin, however, it seemed as if he would never leave off, +for he kept on pouring down horn after horn, and smacking his lips with +satisfaction. + +"Ah, my lad!" he exclaimed at last, "I've drunk everything in my time, +whiskey, and _aguardiente_, and grape wine, and molasses rum, but there +isn't one of 'em as comes up anywhere like a horn of sparkling water +like that when you are parched and burnt up with thirst." + +"It is delicious, Joses," said Bart; "but now had we not better go +back?" + +"Yes, if we mean to be to our time; but suppose we go a little lower +down there into the plain, and try if there's anything like what the +master's hunting for in the sands." + +They went down for about a quarter of a mile to where there was a smooth +sandy reach, and a cup being produced, they set to and washed several +lots of sand, in each case finding a few specks but nothing more, and at +last they gave it up, when Joses pointed to some footprints in the soil, +where there was evidently a drinking-place made by deer. + +"What are those?" said Bart, "panthers?" + +"Painters they are, my lad, and I daresay we could shoot one if we had +time. Make a splendid skin for little Miss. I dessay we could find a +skunk or two hereabouts. Eh! nasty? Well, they are, but their fur's +lovely." + +They saw neither panther nor skunk, though footprints, evidently made +the previous night, were plentiful about the stream; and now, as time +was getting on, they sturdily set themselves to their backward journey, +Joses praising the water nearly all the way, when he was not telling of +some encounter he had had with Indian or savage beast in his earlier +days. + +"Do you think we shall see any more of the Indians, Joses?" said Bart at +last. + +"What, Old Arrow--in--the--arm!" + +"Yes." + +"Sure to," said Joses. "He's a good fellow that is. 'Taint an Indian's +natur to show he's fond of you, but that chap would fight for the master +to the last." + +"It seemed like it the other day, but it was very strange that he should +go off as he did." + +"Not it, my lad. He's gone to watch them Injuns, safe." + +"Then he will think us ungrateful for going away." + +"Not he. Depend upon it, he'll turn up one of these days just when we +don't expect it, and sit down just as if nothing had happened." + +"But will he find our trail over such stony ground?" + +"Find it? Ah! of course he will, and before you know where you are." + +They trudged on in silence now, for both were growing tired, but just +about the time appointed they came within sight of their starting-place, +the Doctor meeting them a few minutes later. + +"What luck?" he asked. + +"Nothing but a glorious spring of water, and a stream with some specks +of gold in the washing." + +"I have done little better, Bart, but there is a valley yonder that +leads up into the mountains, and with care I think we can get the waggon +along without much difficulty." + + + +CHAPTER TEN. + +A SURE-FOOTED BEAST. + +An early start was made next morning, and following the course mapped +out by the Doctor, they soon reached an opening in the hills, up which +they turned, to find in the hollow a thread-like stream and that, as +they proceeded, the mountains began to open out before them higher and +higher, till they seemed to close in the horizon like clouds of delicate +amethystine blue. + +Every now and then the travelling was so bad that it seemed as if they +must return, but somehow the waggon and horses were got over the +obstacles, and a short level cheered them on to fresh exertions, while, +as they slowly climbed higher and higher, there was the satisfaction of +knowing that there was less likelihood of molestation from Indians, the +dangerous tribes of the plains, Comanches and Apaches, rarely taking +their horses up amongst the rugged portions of the hills. + +Maude, in her girlish freshness of heart, was delighted with the variety +of scenery, while to Bart all was excitement. Even the labour to +extricate the waggon from some rift, or to help to drag it up some +tremendous slope, was enjoyable. + +Then there were little excursions to make down moist ravines, where an +antelope might be bagged for the larder; or up to some dry-looking flat, +shut in by the hills, where grouse might be put up amongst the +sage-brush and other thin growth, for six hard-working men out in these +brisk latitudes consume a great deal of food, and the stores in the +waggon had to be saved as much a possible. + +One way and the other the larder was kept well supplied, and while Dr +Lascelles on the one hand talked eagerly of the precious metal he hoped +to discover, Joses was always ready with promises of endless sport. + +"Why, by an' by, Master Bart," he said one day as they journeyed slowly +on, "we shall come to rivers so full of salmon that all you've got to do +is to pull 'em out." + +"If you can catch them," said Bart, laughing. + +"Catch 'em, my boy? Why, they don't want no catching. I've known 'em +come up some rivers so quick and fast that when they got up to the +shallows they shoved one another out on to the sides high and dry, and +all you'd got to do was to catch 'em and eat 'em." + +"Let's see, that's what the Doctor calls a traveller's tale, Joses." + +"Yes; this traveller's tale," said Bart's companion gruffly. "You +needn't believe it without you like, but it's true all the same." + +"Well, I'll try and believe it," said Bart, laughing, "but I didn't know +salmon were so stupid as that." + +"Stupid! they aren't stupid, my lad," replied Joses sharply. "Suppose +you and millions of people behind you were walking along a narrow bit o' +land with a river on each side of you, and everybody was pushing on from +behind to get up to the end of the bit of land, where there wasn't room +for you all, and suppose you and hundreds more got pushed into the water +on one side or on the other, that wouldn't be because you were so very +stupid, would it?" + +"No," said Bart, "that would be because I couldn't help it." + +"Well, it's just the same with the salmon, my lad. Millions of 'em come +up from out of the sea at spawning time, and they swim up and up till +the rivers get narrower and shallower, and all those behind keep pushing +the first ones on till thousands die on the banks, and get eaten by the +wolves and _coyotes_ that come down then to the banks along with eagles +and hawks and birds like them." + +"I beg your pardon, Joses, for not believing you," said Bart, earnestly. +"I see now." + +"Oh, it's all right enough," said the rough fellow bluntly. "I +shouldn't have believed it if I hadn't seen it, and of course it's only +up the little shallow streams that shoot off from the others." + +This conversation took place some days after they had been in the +mountains, gradually climbing higher, and getting glorious views at +times, of hill and distant plain. Bart and Joses were out "after the +pot," as the latter called it, and on this occasion they had been very +unfortunate. + +"I tell you what it is," said Joses at last, "we shall have to go lower +down. The master won't never find no gold and silver up here, and +food'll get scarcer and scarcer, unless we can come upon a flock of +sheep." + +"A flock of sheep up here!" said Bart incredulously. + +"I didn't say salmon, I said sheep," grunted Joses. "Now, say you don't +believe there is sheep up here." + +"You tell me there are sheep up here," said Bart, "and I will believe +you." + +"I don't say there are; I only hope there are," said Joses; "for if we +could get one or two o' them in good condition, they're the best eating +of anything as goes on four legs." + +"But not our sort of sheep?" + +"No, of course not. Mountain sheep, my lad, with great horns twisted +round so long and thick you get wondering how the sheep can carry 'em, +and--there, look!" + +He caught Bart by the shoulder, and pointed to a tremendous slope, a +quarter of a mile away, where, in the clear pure air, the lad could see +a flock of about twenty sheep evidently watching them. + +"They're the shyest, artfullest things as ever was," whispered Joses. +"Down softly, and let's back away; we must circumvent them, and get +behind 'em for a shot." + +"Too late," said Bart; and he was right, for suddenly the whole herd +went off at a tremendous pace along a slope that seemed to be quite a +precipice, and the next moment they were gone. + +"That's up for to-day," said Joses, shouldering his rifle. "We may go +back and try and pick up a bird or two. To-morrow we'll come strong, +and p'r'aps get a shot at the sheep, as we know they are here." + +They were fortunate enough to shoot a few grouse on their way back, and +next morning at daybreak, Bart and the four men started after the sheep, +the Doctor preferring to stay by the waggon and examine some of the +rocks. + +As the party climbed upwards towards the slope where the sheep had been +seen on the previous day, Joses was full of stories about the shy nature +of these animals. + +"They'll lead you right away into the wildest places," he said, "and +then, when you think you've got them, they go over some steep cut, and +you never see 'em again. Some people say they jump head first down on +to the rocks, and lets themselves fall on their horns, which is made big +on purpose, and then bounces up again, but I don't believe it, for if +they did, they'd break their necks. All the same, though, they do jump +down some wonderful steep places and run up others that look like walls. +Here, what's Sam making signals for! Go softly." + +They crept up to their companion, and found that he had sighted a flock +of eleven sheep on a slope quite a couple of miles away, and but for the +assurance of Joses that it was all right, and that they were sheep, Bart +would have said it was a patch of a light colour on the mountain. + +As they approached cautiously, however, trying to stalk the timid +creatures, Bart found that his men were right, and they spent the next +two hours in cautious approach, till they saw that the sheep took alarm +and rushed up to the top of the slope, disappeared for a moment, and +then came back, to stand staring down at their advancing enemies. + +"It's all right," exclaimed Joses, "we can get the lot if we like, for +they can't get away. Yonder's a regular dip down where they can't jump. +Keep your rifles ready, my boys, and we'll shoot two. That'll be +enough." + +As they spread out and slowly advanced, the sheep ran back out of sight, +but came back again, proving Joses' words, that there was a precipice +beyond them and their enemies in front. + +Four times over, as the hunting party advanced, did the sheep perform +this evolution, but the last time they did not come back into sight. + +"They're away hiding down among the bushes," said Joses. "Be ready. +Now then close in. You keep in the middle here, Master Bart, and have +the first shot. Pick a good fat one." + +"Yes," panted Bart, who was out of breath with the climbing, and to rest +him Joses called a halt, keeping a sharp look-out the while to left and +right, so that the sheep might not elude them. + +At the end of a few minutes they toiled up the slope once more, Joses +uttering a few words of warning to his young companion. + +"Don't rush when you get to the top, for it slopes down there with a big +wall going right down beyond, and you mightn't be able to stop yourself. +Keep cool, we shall see them together directly." + +But they did not see the sheep cowering together as they expected, for +though the top of the mountain was just as Joses had described, sloping +down after they had passed the summit and then going down abruptly in an +awful precipice, no sheep were to be seen, and after making sure that +none were hidden, the men passed on cautiously to the edge, Bart being a +little way behind, forcing his way through some thick bushes. + +Just then a cry from Joses made him hurry to the edge, but he was too +late to see what three of them witnessed, and that was the leap of a +magnificent ram, which had been standing upon a ledge ten feet below +them, and which, as soon as it heard the bushes above its head parted, +made a tremendous spring as if into space, but landed on another ledge, +fifty feet below, to take off once more for another leap right out of +sight. + +"We must go back and round into the valley," said Juan. "We shall find +them all with their necks broken." + +"You'll be clever if you do," said Joses, in a savage growl. "They've +gone on jumping down like that right to the bottom, Master Bart, and--" + +"Is that the flock?" said Bart, pointing to where a similar wall of rock +rose up from what seemed to be part of a great canyon. + +"That's them," said Joses, counting, "eight, nine, ten, eleven, and all +as fresh as if they'd never made a jump. There, I'll believe anything +of 'em after that." + +"Why, it makes one shudder to look down," said Bart, shrinking back. + +"Shudder!" said Joses, "why, I'd have starved a hundred times before I'd +have made a jump like that. No mutton for dinner to-day, boys. Let's +get some birds." + +And very disconsolately and birdless, they made their way back to the +camp. + + + +CHAPTER ELEVEN. + +BEARS AND FOR BEARS. + +Bart was sufficiently observing to notice, even amidst the many calls he +had upon his attention, that Dr Lascelles grew more and more absorbed +and dreamy every day. When they first started he was always on the +alert about the management of the expedition, the proportioning of the +supplies and matters of that kind; but as he found in a short time that +Bart devoted himself eagerly to everything connected with the successful +carrying out of their progress, that Joses was sternly exacting over the +other men, and that Maude took ample care of the stores, he very soon +ceased troubling himself about anything but the main object which he had +in view. + +Hence it was then that he used to sling a sort of game-bag over his +shoulder directly after the early morning meal, place a sharp, +wedge-like hammer in his belt, shoulder his double rifle, and go off +"rock-chipping," as Joses called it. + +"I don't see what's the good of his loading one barrel with shot, Master +Bart, for he never brings in no game; and as for the stones--well, I +haven't seen a single likely bit yet." + +"Do you think he ever will hit upon a good mine of gold or silver, +Joses?" said Bart, as they were out hunting one day. + +"Well, Master Bart, you know what sort of a fellow I am. If I'd got +five hundred cows, I should never reckon as they'd have five hundred +calves next year, but just calculate as they wouldn't have one. Then +all that come would be so many to the good. Looking at it fairly, I +don't want to dishearten you, my lad, but speaking from sperience, I +should say he wouldn't." + +"And this will all be labour in vain, Joses?" + +"Nay, I don't say that, Master Bart. He might find a big vein of gold +or silver; but I never knew a man yet who went out in the mountains +looking for one as did." + +"But up northward there, men have discovered mines and made themselves +enormously rich." + +"To be sure they have, my lad, but not by going and looking for the gold +or silver. It was always found by accident like, and you and me is much +more like to come upon a big lead where we're trying after sheep or deer +than he is with all his regular trying." + +"You think there are mineral riches up in the mountains then?" + +"Think, Master Bart! Oh, I'm sure of it. But where is it to be found? +P'r'aps we're walking over it now, but there's no means of telling." + +"No," said Bart thoughtfully, "for everything about is so vast." + +"That's about it, my lad, and all the harm I wish master is that he may +find as much as he wants." + +"I wish he may, Joses," said Bart, "or that I could find a mine for him +and Miss Maude." + +"Well, my lad, we'll keep our eyes open while we are out, only we have +so many other things to push, and want to push on farther so as to get +among better pasture for the horses. They don't look in such good +condition as they did." + +There was good reason for this remark, their halting-places during the +past few days having been in very sterile spots, where the tall +forbidding rocks were relieved by very little that was green, and +patches of grass were few. + +But these were the regions most affected by the Doctor, who believed +that they were the most likely ones for discovering treasure belonging +to nature's great storehouse, untouched as yet by man. In these barren +wilds he would tramp about, now climbing to the top of some chine, now +letting himself down into some gloomy forbidding ravine, but always +without success, there being nothing to tempt him to say, "Here is the +beginning of a very wealthy mine." + +Every time they journeyed on the toil became greater, for they were in +most inaccessible parts of the mountain range, and they knew by the +coolness of the air that they must now be far above the plains. + +Bart and Joses worked hard to supply the larder, the principal food they +obtained being the sage grouse and dusky grouse, which birds they found +to be pretty plentiful high up in the mountains wherever there was a +flat or a slope with plenty of cover; but just as they were getting +terribly tired of the sameness of this diet, Bart made one morning a +lucky find. + +They had reached a fresh halting-place after sundown on the previous +night--one that was extremely attractive from the variety of the high +ground, the depths of the chasms around, and the beauty of the cedars +that spread their flat, frond-like branches over the mountain-sides, +which were diversified by the presence of endless dense thickets. + +"It looks like a deer country," Joses had said as they were tethering +the horses amongst some magnificent grass. + +These words had haunted Bart the night through, and hence, at the first +sight of morning on the peaks up far above where they were, he had taken +his rifle and gone off to see what he could find. + +Three hours' tramp produced nothing but a glimpse of some mountain sheep +far away and at a very great height. + +He was too weary and hungry to think of following them, and was +reluctantly making for the camp, when all at once a magnificent deer +sprang up from amongst a thicket of young pines, and bounded off at an +astounding rate. + +It seemed madness to fire, but, aiming well in front, Bart drew trigger, +and then leaped aside to get free of the smoke. As he did so, he just +caught a glimpse of the deer as it bounded up a steep slope and the next +moment it was gone. + +Bart felt that he had not hit it, but curiosity prompted him to follow +in the animal's track, in the hope of getting a second shot, and as he +proceeded, he could not help wishing for the muscular strength of these +deer, for the ground, full of rifts and chasms, over which he toiled +painfully in a regular climb, the deer had bounded over at full speed. + +It took him some time to get to the spot where he had last seen the +deer, when, to his intense surprise and delight, he found traces of +blood upon the stones, and upon climbing higher, he found his way +blocked by a chasm. + +Feeling sure that the animal would have cleared this at a bound, he +lowered himself down by holding on by a young pine which bent beneath +his weight. Then he slipped for a few feet, made a leap, and came down +amongst some bushes, where, lying perfectly dead, was the most beautiful +deer he had ever seen. + +Unfortunately hunger and the knowledge that others are hungry interfere +with romantic admiration, and after feasting his eyes, Bart began to +feast his imagination on the delight of those in the camp with the +prospect of venison steaks. So, in regular hunter's fashion, he +proceeded to partially skin and dress the deer, cutting off sufficient +for their meal, and leaving the other parts to be fetched by the men. + +There were rejoicings in camp that morning, and soon after breakfast +Bart started off once more, taking with him Joses, Juan, and Sam, all of +whom were exceedingly willing to become the bearers of the meat in which +they stood in such great need. + +The Doctor had gone off in another direction, taking with him Maude as +his companion, and after the little party had returned to the camp, Bart +was standing thoughtfully gazing at a magnificent eminence, clothed +almost to the top with cedars, while in its rifts and ravines were +dark-foliaged pines. + +"I wonder whether we should find anything up there, Joses," said Bart. + +"Not much," said the frontier man. "There'd be deer, I daresay, if the +sound of your rifle and the coming of the sheep hadn't sent them away." + +"Why should the sheep send them away?" asked Bart. + +"I don't know why they should," said Joses; "all I know is that they do. +You never find black-tailed deer like you shot and mountain sheep +living together as neighbours. It arn't their nature." + +"Well, what do you say to taking our rifles and exploring?" + +"Don't mind," said Joses, looking round. "Horses are all right, and +there's no fear of being overhauled by Injuns up here, so let's go and +take Sam with us, but you won't get no more deer." + +"Well, we don't want any for a day or two. But why shouldn't I get +another?" + +"Because they lie close in the thickest part of the cover in the middle +of the day, and you might pretty well tread upon them before they'd +move." + +They started directly after, and for about two hours did nothing but +climb up amidst cedar and pine forest. Sometimes amongst the trunks of +big trees, sometimes down in gashes or gullies in the mountain-side, +which were full of younger growths, as if the rich soil and pine seeds +had been swept there by the storms and then taken root. + +"I tell you what it is, Master Bart," said Joses, suddenly coming to a +halt, to roll up and light his _cigarito_, a practice he never gave up, +"it strikes me that we've nearly got to the end of it." + +"End of what?" asked Bart. + +"This clump of hills. You see if when we get to the top here, it don't +all go down full swoop like a house wall right bang to the plain." + +"What, like the place where the mountain sheep went down?" + +"That's it, my lad, only without any go up on the other side. It +strikes me that we shall find it all plain on this side, and that if we +can't find a break in the wall with a regular gulch, we shall have to go +back with our horses and waggon and try some other way." + +"Well, come along and let's see," said Bart; and once more they climbed +on for quite half-an-hour, when they emerged from the trees on to a +rugged piece of open rocky plain, with scattered pines gnarled and +twisted and swept bare by the mighty winds, and as far as eye could +reach nothing but one vast, well-watered plain. + +"Told you so," said Joses; "now we shall either have to keep up here in +the mountain or go down among the Injuns again, just as the master +likes." + +"Let's come and sit down near the edge here and rest," said Bart, who +was fascinated by the beauty of the scene, and, going right out upon a +jutting promontory of stone, they could look to right and left at the +great wall of rock that spread as far as they could see. In places it +seemed to go sheer down to the plain, in others it was broken into +ledges by slips and falls of rock; but everywhere it seemed to shut the +great plain in from the west, and Bart fully realised that they would +have to find some great rift or gulch by which to descend, if their +journey was to be continued in this direction. + +"How far is it down to the plain?" said Bart, after he had been feasting +his eyes for some time. + +"Four to five thousand feet," said Joses. "Can't tell for certain. +Chap would fall a long way before he found bottom, and then he'd bounce +off, and go on again and again. I don't think the mountain sheep would +jump here." + +As they sat resting and inhaling the fresh breeze that blew over the +widespreading plain, Bart could not help noticing the remains of a grand +old pine that had once grown right at the edge of the stupendous +precipice, but had gradually been storm-beaten and split in its old age +till the trunk and a few jagged branches only remained. + +One of these projected from its stunted trunk close down by the roots, +and seemed thrust out at right angles over the precipice in a way that +somehow seemed to tempt Bart. + +He turned his eyes from it again and again, but that branch fascinated +him, and he found himself considering how dangerous it would be, and yet +how delightful, to climb right out on that branch till it bent and bent, +and would bear him no further, and then sitting astride, dance up and +down in mid air, right over the awful depths below. + +So strange was the attraction that Bart found his hands wet with +perspiration, and a peculiar feeling of horror attacked him; but what +was more strange, the desire to risk his life kept growing upon him, and +as he afterwards told himself, he would no doubt have made the mad +venture if something had not happened to take his attention. + +Joses was leaning back with half-closed eyes, enjoying his _cigarito_, +and Bart was half rising to his knees to go back and round to where the +branch projected, just to try it, he told himself, when they heard a +shout away to the left, and that shout acted like magic upon Bart. + +"Why, that's Sam," he said, drawing a breath full of relief, just as if +he had awakened from some terrible nightmare. + +"I'd 'bout forgotten him," said Joses lazily. "Ahoy! Oho!--eh!" he +shouted back. Then there was another shout and a rustling of bushes, a +grunting noise, and Bart seized his rifle. + +"He has found game," he said. + +Then he nearly let fall his piece, and knelt there as if turned to +stone, for, to his horror, he suddenly saw Sam down upon his hands and +knees crawling straight out on the great gnarled branch that overhung +the precipice, keeping to this mode of progression for a time, and then +letting his legs go down one on each side of the branch, and hitching +himself along, yelling lustily the while for help. + +"He has gone mad," cried Bart, and as he spoke he thought of his own +sensations a few minutes before, and how he had felt tempted to do this +very thing. + +"No, he arn't," said Joses, throwing the remains of his _cigarito_ over +the precipice, and lifting his rifle; "he's got bears after him." + +Almost as he spoke the great rough furry body of an enormous black bear +came into sight, and without a moment's hesitation walked right out +along the branch after the man. + +"There's another," cried Bart, "shoot, Joses, shoot. I dare not." + +It seemed that Joses dare not either, or else the excitement paralysed +him, for he only remained like Bart, staring stupidly at the unwonted +scene before them as a second bear followed the first, which, in spite +of Sam's efforts to get into safety, had overtaken him, crept right upon +him, and throwing its forepaws round him and the branches as well, +hugged him fast, while the second came close up and stood there growling +and grunting and patting at its companion, who, fortunately for Sam, was +driving the claws at the ends of its paws deeply into the gnarled +branch. + +"If I don't fire they'll kill him," muttered Joses, as the huge branch +visibly bent with the weight of the three bodies now upon it. "If I +kill him instead it would be a mercy, so here goes." + +He raised his rifle, took careful aim, and was about to draw the +trigger, but forbore, as just then the report of Bart's piece rang out, +and the second bear raised itself up on its hind legs, while the +foremost backed a couple of feet, and stood growling savagely with its +head turned towards where it could see the smoke. + +That was Bart's opportunity, and throwing himself upon his breast, and +steadying his rifle upon a piece of rock, he fired again, making the +foremost bear utter a savage growl and begin tearing furiously at its +flank. + +Then Joses' rifle spoke, and the first bear reared up and fell over +backwards, a second shot striking the hindmost full in the head, and one +after the other the two monsters fell headlong, the first seeming to +dive down, making a swimming motion with its massive paws, the second +turning over back downwards. + +They both struck the rock about fifty feet below the branch, and this +seemed to make them glance off and fly through the air at a fearful +rate, spinning over and over till they struck again at an enormous +distance below, and then plunged out of sight, leaving Bart sick with +horror to gaze upon the unfortunate Sam. + + + +CHAPTER TWELVE. + +SAM GETS A FRIGHT. + +Bart was brought to his senses by Joses, who exclaimed sharply: + +"Load, my lad, load; you never know when you may want your piece." + +Bart obeyed mechanically as Joses shouted: + +"Now then, how long are you going to sit there?" + +Sam, who was seated astride the gnarled old limb, holding on tightly +with both hands, turned his head slightly and then turned it back, +staring straight down into the awful depths, as if fascinated by the +scene below. + +"Here, hi! Don't sit staring there," cried Joses. "Get back, man." + +Sam shook his head and seemed to cling the more tightly. + +"Are you hurt, Sam?" cried Bart. + +Sam shook his head. + +"Why don't you speak?" roared Joses, angrily. "Did the beasts claw +you?" + +Sam shook his head, but otherwise he remained motionless, and Bart and +Joses went round to where the tree clung to the rocky soil, and stood +gazing out at their companion and within some fifteen feet of where he +clung. + +"What's the matter, Sam; why don't you come back?" asked Bart. + +The man responded with a low groan. + +"He must be badly hurt, Joses," exclaimed Bart. "What are we to do?" + +"Wait a moment till I think," said Joses. "He's hurt in his head, +that's what's the matter with him." + +"By the bears' claws?" + +"No, my lad, they didn't hurt him. He's frit." + +"Frightened?" said Bart. + +"Yes! He's lost his nerve, and daren't move." + +"Let's say a few encouraging words to him." + +"You may say thousands, and they won't do no good," said Joses. "He's +got the fright and badly too." + +"But the bears are gone?" + +"Ay, that they are, my lad; but the fall's there, and that's what he's +afraid of. I've seen men look like that before now, when climbing up +mountains." + +"But it would be so easy to get back, Joses. I could do it directly." + +"So could he if he hadn't lost his nerve. Now what's to be done?" + +"Shall I creep out to him?" said Bart eagerly. + +"What, you? what good would it do? You don't think you could carry him +back like a baby?" + +"No," said Bart, "but I might help him." + +"You couldn't help him a bit," growled Joses, "nor more could I. All +the good you could do would be to make him clutch you and then down both +would go at once, and what's the use of that." + +"If we had brought a lasso with us." + +"Well, if we had," said Joses, "and could fasten it round him, I don't +believe we could haul him off, for he'd only cling all the tighter, and +perhaps drag us over the side." + +"What is to be done then?" said Bart. "Here, Sam, make an effort, my +lad. Creep back; it's as easy as can be. Don't be afraid. Here, I +will come to you." + +He threw down his gun, and before Joses could stop him, he climbed out +to the projecting limb, and letting his legs go down on either side, +worked himself along till he was close behind Sam, whom he slapped on +the back. + +"There," cried Bart. "It's easy enough. Don't think of how deep down +it is. Now I'm going back. You do the same. Come along." + +As he spoke and said encouraging things to Sam, Bart felt himself +impelled to gaze down into the depths beneath him, and as he did so, the +dashing bravery that had impelled him to risk his life that he might +encourage his follower to creep back, all seemed to forsake him, a cold +perspiration broke out on face and limbs, accompanied by a horrible +paralysing sense of fear, and in an instant he was suffering from the +same loss of nerve as the man whom he wished to help. + +Bart's hands clutched at the rough branch, and he strove to drive his +finger nails into the bark in a spasmodic effort to save himself from +death. He was going to fall. He knew that he was. Nothing could save +him--nothing, and in imagination he saw himself lose his hold of the +branch, slip sidewise, and go down headlong as the bears had fallen, to +strike against the rocks, glance off, and then plunge down, down, +swifter and swifter into space. + +The sensation was fearful, and for the time being he could make no +effort to master it. One overwhelming sense of terror had seized upon +him, and this regularly froze all action till he now crouched as +helpless and unnerved as the poor fellow before him who never even +turned his head, but clung to the branch as if insensible to everything +but the horrors of his position. + +Joses shouted to him, and said something again and again, but Bart only +heard an indistinct murmur as he stared straight down at the tops of the +pines and other trees half a mile below him; and then came a dreamy, +wondering feeling, as to how much pain he should feel when he fell; how +long he would be going down all that distance; whether he should have to +fall on the tops of the pine-trees, or amongst the rough ravines of +rock. + +And so on, thought after thought of this kind, till all at once, as if +out of a dream, a voice seemed to say to him: + +"Well, I shouldn't have thought, Master Bart, as I'd taught all these +years, was such a coward!" + +The words stung him, and seemed to bring him back to himself. + +Coward! what would Maude think of him for being such a coward? Not that +it would much matter if he fell down there and were smashed to death. +What would the Doctor, who had given him so many lessons on presence of +mind, coolness in danger, and the like? And here was he completely +given up to the horror of his position, making no effort when it was +perhaps no harder to get back than it had been to get forward. + +"I won't think of the depth," said Bart, setting his teeth, and, raising +himself upright, he hitched himself a few inches back. + +Then the feeling of danger came upon him once more, and was mastering +him again rapidly, when the great rough voice of old Joses rang out +loudly in a half-mocking, half-angry tone: + +"And I thought him such a brave un too." + +"And so I will be," muttered Bart, as he made a fresh effort to recover +from his feeling of panic; and as he did so, he hitched himself along +the branch towards the main trunk with his back half turned, threw one +leg over so that he was in a sitting position, and the next minute he +was standing beside Joses, with his heart beating furiously, and a +feeling of wonderment coming over him as to why it was that he had been +so frightened over such a trifling matter. + +"That's better, my lad," said Joses quietly; and as Bart gazed on the +rough fellow's face, expecting revilings and reproaches at his +cowardice, he saw that the man's bronzed and swarthy features looked +dirty and mottled, his eyes staring, and that he was dripping with +perspiration. + +Just then Joses gripped him by the shoulder in a way that would have +made him wince, only he did not want to show the white feather again, +and he stood firm as his companion said: + +"'Taint no use to talk like that to him. It won't touch him, Master +Bart. It's very horrid when that lays hold of you, and you can't help +it." + +"No," said Bart, feeling relieved, "I could not help it." + +"Course you couldn't, my lad. But now we must get old Sam back, or +he'll hang there till he faints, and then drop." + +"O Joses!" cried Bart. + +"I only wish we could get a bear on the bough beyond him there. That +would make him scuffle back." + +"Frighten him back?" said Bart. + +"Yes; one fright would be bigger than the other, and make him come," +said Joses. + +"Do you think that if we frightened him, he would try to get back then?" +whispered Bart. + +"I'm sure of it," said Joses. + +"Do as I do then," said Bart, as he picked up his rifle. Then speaking +loudly he exclaimed: + +"Joses; we must not leave the poor fellow there to die of hunger. He +can't get back, so let's put him out of his misery at once. Where shall +I aim at? His heart?" + +"No, no, Master Bart; his head. Send a bullet right through his skull, +and it'll be all over at once. You fire first." + +Without a moment's hesitation, Bart rested the barrel of his rifle +against the trunk, took careful aim, and fired so that the bullet +whistled pretty closely by Sam's ear. + +The man started and shuddered, seeming as if he were going to sit up, +but he relapsed into the former position. "I think I can do it, Master +Bart, this time," said Joses; and laying his piece in a notch formed by +the bark, he took careful aim, and fired, his bullet going through Sam's +hat, and carrying it off to go fluttering down into the abyss. + +This time Sam did not move, and Bart gazed at Joses in despair. + +"He's too artful, Master Bart," whispered the latter: "he knows we are +only doing it to frighten him. I don't know how to appeal to his +feelings, unless I was to say, `here's your old wife a-coming, Sam,' for +he run away from her ten years ago. But it wouldn't be no good. He +wouldn't believe it." + +Bart hesitated for a few moments as he reloaded his rifle, and then he +shouted to Sam: + +"Now, no nonsense, Sam. You must get back." + +The man paid no heed to him, and Bart turned to Joses to say loudly: + +"We can't leave him here like this. He must climb back or fall, so if +he won't climb back the sooner he is out of his misery the better." + +"That's a true word," said Joses. + +"Give me your axe then," said Bart, and Joses drew it from his belt, +when Bart took it, and after moistening his hands, drove it into the +branch just where it touched the tree, making a deep incision, and then +drove it in again, when a white, wedge-shaped chip flew out, for the boy +had been early in life taught the use of the axe. + +Then cutting rapidly and well, he sent the chips flying, while every +stroke sent a quiver along the great branch. + +Still Sam clung to the spot where he had been from the first, and made +no effort to move; and at last, when he was half-way through the branch, +Bart stopped short in despair, for the pretence of cutting it off had +not the slightest effect upon Sam. + +"Tired, Master Bart?" cried Joses just then; and snatching away the axe, +he began to apply it with tremendous effect, the chips flying over the +precipice, and a great yawning opening appearing in the upper part of +the branch. + +"Don't cut any farther, Joses," whispered Bart; "it will give way." + +"I shall cut till it begins to, Master Bart," replied the man; and as he +spoke he went on making the chips fly, but still without effect, for Sam +did not move. + +"I shall have to give up directly, my lad," whispered Joses, with a +peculiar look; "but I'll have one more chop." + +He raised the axe, and delivered another sharp blow, when there was a +loud crack as if half a dozen rifles had gone off at once, and almost +before the fact could be realised the branch went down, to remain +hanging only by a few tough portions of its under part. + +Bart and Joses looked over the precipice aghast at what they had done, +and gazed down at Sam's wild face, as, with his legs dislodged from +their position, he seemed to have been turned right over, and to be +clinging solely in a death grip with his arms. + +Then, with cat-like alacrity, he seemed to wrench himself round, holding +on to the lower part of the bough with his legs; and the next moment he +was climbing steadily up, with the bough swinging to and fro beneath his +weight. + +It was a question now of the toughness of the fibres by which the bough +hung; and the stress upon the minds of the watchers was terrible, as +they crouched there, gazing over the edge of the awful precipice, +momentarily expecting to see branch and man go headlong down as the +bears had fallen before them. + +But Sam climbed steadily up during what seemed to be a long time, but +which was only a few moments, reaching at last the jagged points where +the branch was broken, when there came an ominous crack, and Sam paused, +as if irresolute. + +"Keep it up," panted Bart, and his words seemed to electrify the man, +who made one or two more clutches at the branch, and then he was in +safety beside his companions, staring stupidly from one to the other. + +"I didn't think I was going to get back," he said at last. "It was you +cutting the branch did it. I shouldn't have moved else." + +There was no show of resentment--no annoyance at having been treated in +this terrible manner. Sam only seemed very thankful for his escape, and +trotting off to where he had dropped his rifle when pursued by the +bears, he rejoined his companions, and proceeded with them back towards +the camp; for they had not the least idea where to find a way down into +the plain, even if they had entertained any desire to try and get the +skins and some steaks off the bears. + +As they journeyed on, Sam related how he had suddenly come upon one of +the bears feeding upon the fruit of a clump of bushes, and as the animal +seemed tame and little disposed to fly from him he had refrained from +firing, but had picked up a lump of rock and thrown it at the beast. + +The stone hit its mark, and uttering a loud grunting yell, the bear +charged its assailant, Sam to his horror finding that the cry had +brought a second enemy into the field, when he dropped his rifle, fled +for his life, and took refuge from the following danger in the way and +with the result that we have seen. + + + +CHAPTER THIRTEEN. + +BLACK BOY AMUSES HIMSELF. + +Upon learning the fact that they had so nearly crossed the ridge of +mountains, the Doctor resolved next day to proceed as far as the point +where the adventure with the bears had taken place, and there endeavour, +by the aid of his glass, to determine which direction to take: whether +to find a ravine by which they might descend into the plain, or whether +it would be better to remain amongst these mountains, and here continue +his search. + +The place was reached in due time, and for the time being there seemed +to be no chance of getting down into the plain, either to search for the +bears or to pursue their course in that direction. + +The Doctor examined the slopes and ravines, plunged down into the most +sheltered chasms, and chipped at the fragments of rock, but no sign of +silver rewarded the search, and their journey would have been useless +but for the fact that, as they were making a circuit, Joses suddenly +arrested them, for he had caught a glimpse of a little flock of mountain +sheep, and these he and Bart immediately set themselves to try and +stalk. + +It was no easy task, for the little group were upon a broad shelf high +above them, and in a position that gave them an excellent opportunity +for seeing approaching danger. But this time, after taking a long +circuit, the hunters were rewarded by finding themselves well within +shot, and only separated from the timid beasts by some rugged masses of +rock. + +These they cautiously approached, crawling upon hands and knees, when, +after glancing from one to the other by way of signal, Bart and Joses +fired exactly together, with the result that a splendid young ram made a +bound into the air and rolled over the edge of the shelf, falling +crashing down amongst the bushes and loose stones, to land at last but a +very short distance from where the Doctor was awaiting his companions' +return. + +The most remarkable part of the little hunt, though, was the action of +the rest of the flock, which went off with headlong speed to the end of +the shelf of the mountain, where they seemed to charge the perpendicular +face of the rock and run up it like so many enlarged beetles, to +disappear directly after over the edge of the cliff upon which they had +climbed. + +"At last!" panted Bart eagerly. "We shall have something good in the +larder to-day instead of running short." + +"Just you wait till you've tasted it," said Joses, as he came up, drew +his knife, and he and Sam rapidly dressed the sheep, getting rid of the +useless parts, and dividing it so that each might have a share of the +load back to camp, where Joses' words proved true, the various joints +being declared to be more delicious than any meat the eaters had tasted +yet. + +In these thorough solitudes amongst the hills the practice of keeping +watch had not been so strictly attended to as during the journeying in +the plains, for the horse--Indians seldom visited these rugged places,-- +in fact, none but the searchers after mineral treasures were likely to +come into these toilsome regions. Hence it was then that the next night +the party were so wanting in vigilance. + +Harry had been appointed to the latter half of the night, and after +diligently keeping guard through the earlier hours, Joses awakened his +successor, and fully trusting in his carrying out his duties, went and +lay down in his blanket, and in a few seconds was fast asleep. + +That morning at sunrise, after a delicious night's rest, Bart rose to +have a look round before breakfast, when to his horror he saw that the +camp was apparently in the hands of the Indians, who had been allowed by +the negligent sentinel to approach while those who would have defended +it slept. + +Bart's first movement was to seize his gun, his next to arouse the +Doctor. + +Then he stopped short, sorry for what he had done, for just then, free +from all sling and stiffness in his wounded arm, their old friend the +chief came striding across the open space before the waggon, and upon +seeing Bart held out his hands in token of friendship. + +Bart shook hands with him, and as he glanced round he could see that the +faces of those around were all familiar except one, whom the chief had +beckoned to approach, which the strange Indian did with a stately air, +when a short conversation between them and the chief took place, after +which the new-comer turned to Bart, and said in very fair English: + +"The great chief Beaver-with-the-Sharp-Teeth bids me tell you that he +has been back to his people to fetch one of his warriors who can speak +the tongue of the pale-faced people, and I am that warrior. The great +chief Beaver-with-the-Sharp-Teeth says it is peace, and he comes to see +his friends and the great medicine-man, who brought him back to life +when wounded by the poisonous arrows of the Indian dogs of the plains." + +"We are very glad to see Beaver-with-the-Sharp-Teeth again," cried Bart +heartily, "and delighted to find he has brought a great warrior who can +speak our language." + +"So that it flows soft and sweet," said a hoarse voice, and Joses stood +up. "How are you, chief?" + +The hearty, friendly look and extended hand needed no interpretation, +and the greeting between them was warm enough to bring smiles into the +faces of all the Indians, who had no scruple soon afterwards about +finishing the mountain mutton. + +After the breakfast Bart and the Doctor learned that the chief Beaver, +as it was settled to call him, had been off really on purpose to get an +interpreter, knowing that he could find the trail of his friends again; +and this he had done, following them right into the mountains, and +coming upon them as we have seen. + +Conversation was easy now, and Bart learned that their friends had had a +severe fight in the plains a short time before the first meeting, and +that the Beaver had felt sure that he would die of his wound, and be +left in the wilderness the same as they had left fifteen of their +number, the odds against them having been terribly great. + +Later on came questions, the Beaver being anxious to know why the +Doctor's party were there. + +"You have not come upon the war-path," the Beaver said, "for you are +weak in number, and you have brought a woman. Why are you here?" + +Then the Doctor explained his object--to find a vein of either gold or +silver somewhere in the mountains; and as soon as it was all +interpreted, the chief laughed outright. + +"He does not set much store by the precious metals, Bart," said the +Doctor, "and when I see the simplicity of their ways, it almost makes me +ashamed of our own." + +Just then the Beaver talked earnestly for a few moments with the warrior +who interpreted, and returned to the Doctor. + +"The Beaver-with-the-Sharp-Teeth says you gave him life when all was +growing black, and he thought to see his people never more; and now he +says that he rejoices that he can take his brother across the plains to +where a great river runs deep down by the side of a mighty mountain, +where there is silver in greater quantities than can be carried away." + +"Does the chief know of such a place?" cried the Doctor, excitedly. + +"Yes; he and I have seen it often," said the Indian. + +"And will he take me there?" + +"Yes; the Beaver will take his brother there, and give it all into his +hands." + +"At last!" cried the Doctor excitedly. Then in a low voice, "Suppose it +should not prove to be silver after all?" + +"I know it is silver," said the Indian, quietly. "Look," he cried, +taking a clumsily-made ring from his medicine-bag. "That came from +there, so did the ring upon the lariat of the chief." + +"Ask him when he will take me there!" cried the Doctor. + +"He says now," replied the Indian, smiling at the Doctor's eagerness and +excitement. "It is a long way, and the plains are hot, and there is +little water; but we can hunt as we go, and all will be well." + +"You know the way from here down into the plain?" said the Doctor. "It +is a long way, is it not?" + +The Indian smiled. "It is a very short journey," he said. "I know the +way." + +In effect they started as soon as the camp was struck, and the Beaver, +leading the way, took them down a deep gulch, of whose existence they +were unaware, by which they made an easy descent into the plain, and +into which they passed with such good effect that at sunset the bold +bluff where the adventure with the bears had taken place stood up in the +distance, with the steep wall falling away on either side, looking +diminutive in the distance, and very different to what it really was. + +They had had a rapid progress over a long range of perfectly level +plain, the horses, after the toils in the mountains, seeming quite +excited at having grass beneath their feet; and hence it was that when +they were camping for the night, and Bart's beautiful cob with long mane +and tail had been divested of saddle and bridle, and after being watered +was about to be secured by its lariat to the tether-peg, the excitable +little creature, that had been till now all docility and tractableness, +suddenly uttered a shrill neigh, pranced, reared up, and before Bart +could seize it by the mane, went off across the plain like the wind. + +The loss of such a beast would have been irreparable, and the Doctor and +Joses ran to untether their horses to join pursuit, but before they +could reach them, the Beaver and half a dozen of his men were after the +cob at full speed, loosing their lariats as they rode and holding them +over their heads ready to use as lassoes as soon as they could get +within reach of the fugitive. + +No easy task this, for as, dolefully enough, Bart looked on from the +waggon, he could see his little horse keeping a long distance ahead, +while now the Indians seemed to be making to the left to try and cut the +restive little creature off, as he made for a wild-looking part of the +plain about a couple of miles away. + +Bart was helpless, for there was no horse of their own left that was of +the slightest use for pursuit of his swift little cob, and all he could +do was to stare after those engaged in the pursuit in a hopeless way as +the truant galloped on at full speed, swishing its tail, tossing its +head, and apparently revelling in its newly-found liberty. + +All at once Bart became aware of the fact that one of the Indians had +been for some minutes watching him attentively, and the man had uttered +a low guttural laugh as if he were enjoying the youth's misfortune. + +"I wonder how he would like it," thought Bart, as he darted an indignant +look at the Indian, who sat upon his swift pony like a group cut in +bronze. "He might just as well have gone after Black Boy, for his pony +looks as if it could go." + +Just then the Indian threw himself lightly from his nag and drew near to +Bart, with the horse-hair rein in his hand. Then he made signs to the +young fellow to mount. + +"Do you mean that you will lend me the pony to go after my own?" said +Bart eagerly. + +The Indian did not understand his words, but evidently realised their +meaning, for he smiled and nodded, and placed the rein in Bart's hand, +when he leaped into the saddle, or rather into the apology for a saddle, +for it was only a piece of bison hide held on by a bandage, while a sort +of knob or peg was in the place of the pommel, a contrivance invented by +the Indians to hold on by when attacking a dangerous enemy, so as to lie +as it were alongside of their horse, and fire or shoot arrows beneath +its neck, their bodies being in this way thoroughly protected by their +horses. + +The Indian smiled and drew back when Bart touched the pony with his +heel, the result being that, instead of going off at a gallop, the +little restive beast reared up, pawing at the air with its hoofs, and +nearly falling backwards upon its rider. + +The Indian looked on intently as if ready to leap forward and seize the +bridle should Bart be dismounted. But the lad kept his seat, and the +pony went on all fours again, but only to begin kicking furiously, to +dislodge the strange white-faced being upon its back. It was like an +insult to an animal that had been accustomed to carry true-blooded +Indians all its life, dressed in skins ornamented with feathers and +neatly painted up for special occasions, to have a pale-faced, +undersized human animal in strange clothes mounted upon it; and the +proper thing seemed to be to kick him off as soon as it could. + +These seemed to be the ideas of the Indian pony as exemplified by its +acts; but the wildest of animals of the horse family cannot always do as +they please, and it was evidently with something like astonishment that +the little steed found Bart, still fixed firmly upon its back instead of +flying over its head or slipping off backwards over the tail. + +This being so, the pony began to what is called "buck," that is to say, +instead of letting its back remain in an agreeable hollow curve, one +which seems to have been made by nature on purpose to hold a human +being, it curved its spine in the opposite direction, arching it as a +cat would, but of course in a modified way, and then began leaping up +from the earth in a series of buck jumps, all four hoofs from the ground +at once. + +Still, in spite of this being the most difficult form of horse trouble +to master, Bart kept his seat. He was jerked about a great deal, but he +had been long used to riding restive horses, and he sat there as coolly +as if in a chair. + +Then the Indian pony uttered a few shrill snorts and squeaks, throwing +up its head, and finally turning round, first on one side then upon the +other, it tried to bite its rider's legs--attacks which Bart met by a +series of sharp blows, given with the lariat that was coiled by the +horse's neck. + +These pranks went on for a few minutes, the Indian looking smilingly on +the while, till, seeing that Bart was not to be dislodged, the pony +began to back and finally lay down. + +This of course dismounted the rider, and with a snort of triumph the +pony sprang to its feet again, evidently meaning to bound off after +Black Boy and enjoy a turn of freedom. + +The pony had reckoned without its rider, for Bart was too old at such +matters to leave his grasp of the rein, and the Indian cob's first +knowledge of its mistake was given by a sharp check to its under jaw, +round which the horse-hair rope was twitched, the next by finding its +rider back in his old place where he had leaped as lightly as could be. + +The Indian gave an approving grunt, and uttering what was quite a sigh, +the pony resigned itself to its fate, and obeying the touch of Bart's +heel, went off at a fine springing gallop. + +It was a long chase and an arduous one, for Black Boy seemed to laugh to +scorn all attempts at capture--of course these were horse-laughs--and +led his pursuers a tremendous run; and had it not been for his master, +late as he was in the field, the cob would not have been captured that +night. As it was, Bart went off at speed, setting at defiance +prairie-dogs' burrows, and other holes that might be in his way, and at +last he contrived to cut off a corner so as to get nearer to his nag, +when, taking the rein beneath his leg, he placed both hands to his mouth +and uttered a long shrill cry. + +It acted like magic upon Black Boy, who recognised it directly as his +master's call, and having had his frolic, he trotted slowly towards +where Bart cantered on, suffered himself to be caught, and the party +returned in triumph, none the worse, save the tiring, for the adventure. + + + +CHAPTER FOURTEEN. + +THE SILVER CANYON. + +A week's arduous journey over a sterile stretch of country, where water +was very scarce and where game was hard to approach, brought them at +last in reach of what looked to be a curiously formed mountain far away +in the middle of an apparently boundless plain. Then it struck Bart +that it could not be a mountain, for its sides were perpendicular, and +its top at a distance seemed to be perfectly flat, and long discussions +arose between him and the Doctor as to the peculiarity of the strange +eminence standing up so prominently right in the middle of the plain. + +While they were discussing the subject, the Beaver and his +English-speaking follower came to their side, and pointing to the +mountain, gave them to understand that this was their destination. + +"But is there silver there?" said the Doctor eagerly, when the Indian +smiled and said quietly, "Wait and see." + +The mountain on being first seen appeared to be at quite a short +distance, but at the end of their first day's journey they seemed to +have got no nearer, while after another day, though it had assumed more +prominent proportions, they were still at some distance, and it was not +until the third morning that the little party stood on the reedy shores +of a long narrow winding lake, one end of which they had to skirt before +they could ride up to the foot of the flat-topped mountain which looked +as if it had been suddenly thrust by some wondrous volcanic action right +from the plain to form what appeared to be a huge castle, some seven or +eight hundred feet high, and with no ravine or rift in the wall by which +it could be approached. + +All Bart's questions were met by the one sole answer from the Indian, +"Wait and see;" and in this spirit the savages guided them along beneath +the towering ramparts of the mountain, whose scarped sides even a +mountain sheep could not have climbed, till towards evening rein was +drawn close under the mighty rocks, fragments of which had fallen here +and there, loosened by time or cut loose by the shafts of storms to lie +crumbling about its feet. + +There seemed to be no reason for halting there, save that there was a +little spring of water trickling down from the rocks, while a short +distance in front what seemed to be a wide crack appeared in the plain, +zigzagging here and there, one end going off into the distance, the +other appearing to pass round close by the mountain; and as soon as they +were dismounted and the horses tethered, the Beaver signed to Bart and +the Doctor to accompany him, while the interpreter followed close +behind. + +It was a glorious evening, and after the heat of the day, the soft, cool +breeze that swept over the plain was refreshing in the extreme; but all +the same Bart felt very hungry, and his thoughts were more upon some +carefully picked sage grouse that Joses and Maude were roasting than +upon the search for silver; but the Doctor was excited, for he felt that +most likely this would prove to be the goal of their long journey. His +great fear was that the Indians in their ignorance might have taken some +white shining stone or mica for the precious metal. + +The crack in the plain seemed to grow wider as they approached, but the +Indians suddenly led them off to the right, close under the towering +flank of the mountain, and between it and a mass of rock that might have +been split from it at some early stage in the world's life. + +This mass was some forty or fifty feet high, and between it and the +parent mountain there was a narrow rift, so narrow in fact that they had +to proceed in single file for about a hundred yards, winding in and out +till, reaching the end, the Indians stood upon a broad kind of shelf of +rock in silence as the Doctor and Bart involuntarily uttered a cry of +surprise. + +For there was the crack in the plain below their feet, and they were +standing upon its very verge where it came in close to the mountain, +whose top was some seven hundred feet above their heads, while here its +perpendicular side went down for fully another thousand to where, in the +solemn dark depths of the vast canyon or crack in the rocky crust of the +earth, a great rushing river ran, its roar rising to where they stood in +a strangely weird monotone, like low echoing thunder. + +The reflections in the evening sky lighted up the vast rift for a while, +and Bart forgot his hunger in the contemplation of this strange freak of +nature, of a river running below in a channel whose walls were perfectly +perpendicular and against which in places the rapid stream seemed to +beat and eddy and swirl, while in other parts there were long stretches +of pebbly and rocky shore. For as far as Bart could judge, the walls +seemed to be about four hundred feet apart, though in the fading evening +light it was hard to tell anything for certain. + +A more stupendous work of nature had never met Bart's eye, and his first +thoughts were natural enough--How should he manage to get to the top of +that flat mountain?--How should he be able to lower himself down into +the mysterious shades of that vast canyon, and wander amongst the +wonders that must for certain be hidden there? + +Just then the Beaver spoke. He had evidently been taking lessons from +the interpreter, as, smiling loftily and half in pity at the eagerness +of men who could care for such a trifle as white ore when they had +horses and rifles, he pointed up at the perpendicular face of the +mountain and then downward at the wall of the canyon, and said:-- + +"Silver--silver. Beaver give his brother. Medicine-man." + +"He means there is silver here, sir, and he gives it to you," said Bart +eagerly. + +"Yes. Give. Silver," said the chief, nodding his head, and holding out +his hand, which the Doctor grasped, Bart doing the same by the other. + +"I am very grateful," said the Doctor at last, while his eyes kept +wandering about, "but I see none." + +"Silver--silver," said the chief again, as he looked up and then down, +ending by addressing some words in the Indian dialect to the +interpreter, who pointed in the direction of the camp. + +"The Beaver-with-Sharp-Teeth says, let us eat," he said. + +This brought back Bart's hunger so vividly to his recollection that he +laughed merrily and turned to go. + +"Yes," he said, "let us eat by all means. Shall we come in the morning +and examine this place, sir?" + +"Yes, Bart, we will," said the Doctor, as they turned back; "but I'm +afraid we shall be disappointed. What was that?" + +"An Indian," said Bart. "I saw him glide amongst the rocks. Was it an +enemy?" + +"No; impossible, I should say," replied the Doctor. "One of our own +party. Our friends here would have seen him if he had been an enemy, +long before we should." + +"And so you think there is no silver here, sir?" said Bart. + +"I can't tell yet, my boy. There may be, but these men know so little +about such things that I cannot help feeling doubtful. However, we +shall see, and if I am disappointed I shall know what to do." + +"Try again, sir?" said Bart. + +"Try again, my boy, for there is ample store in the mountains if we can +find it." + +"Yes," he said, as they walked back, "this is going to be a +disappointment." He picked up a piece of rock as he went along between +the rocks; "this stone does not look like silver-bearing stratum. But +we'll wait till the morning, Bart, and see." + + + +CHAPTER FIFTEEN. + +DANGEROUS NEIGHBOURS. + +Upon reaching the waggon it was to find Joses smiling and sniffing as he +stood on the leeward side of the fire, so as to get the full benefit of +the odour of the well-done sage grouse which looked juicy brown, and +delicious enough to tempt the most ascetic of individuals, while Maude +laughed merrily to see the eager glances Bart kept directing at the iron +rod upon which the birds had been spitted and hung before the fire. + +"Don't you wish we had a nice new loaf or two, Bart?" she said, looking +very serious, and as if disappointed that this was not the case. + +"Oh, don't talk about it," cried Bart. + +"I won't," said Maude, trying to appear serious. "It makes you look +like a wolf, Bart." + +"And that's just how I feel," he cried--"horribly like one." + +Half an hour later he owned that he felt more like a reasonable being, +for not only had he had a fair portion of the delicate sage grouse, but +found to his delight that there was an ample supply of cakes freshly +made and baked in the ashes while he had been with the Doctor exploring. + +Bart took one turn round their little camp before lying down to sleep, +and by the wonderfully dark, star-encrusted sky, the great flat-topped +mountain looked curiously black, and as if it leaned over towards where +they were encamped, and might at any moment topple down and crush them. + +So strange was this appearance, and so thoroughly real, that it was a +long time before Bart could satisfy himself that it was only the shadow +that impressed him in so peculiar a way. Once he had been about to call +the attention of the Doctor to the fact, but fortunately, as he thought, +he refrained. + +"He lay down directly," said Bart to himself as he walked on, and then +he stopped short, startled, for just before him in the solemn stillness +of the great plain, and just outside the shadow cast by the mountain, he +saw what appeared to be an enormously tall, dark figure coming towards +him in perfect silence, and seeming as if it glided over the sandy +earth. + +Bart's heart seemed to stand still. His mouth felt dry. His breath +came thick and short. He could not run, for his feet appeared to be +fixed to the ground, and all he felt able to do was to wait while the +figure came nearer and nearer, through the transparent darkness, till it +was close upon him, and said in a low voice that made the youth start +from his lethargy, unchaining as it did his faculties, and giving him +the power to move: + +"Hallo, Bart! I thought you were asleep." + +"I thought you were, sir," said Bart. + +"Well, I'm going to lie down now, my boy, but I've been walking in a +silver dream. Better get back." + +He said no more, but walked straight to the little camp, while, +pondering upon the intent manner in which his guardian seemed to give +himself up to this dream of discovering silver, Bart began to make a +circuit of the camp, finding to his satisfaction that the Beaver had +posted four men as sentinels, Joses telling his young leader afterwards +when he lay down that the chief had refused to allow either of the white +men to go on duty that night. + +"You think he is to be trusted, don't you, Joses?" asked Bart sleepily. + +"Trusted? Oh yes, he's to be trusted, my lad. Injuns are as bad as can +be, but some of 'em's got good pyntes, and this one, though he might +have scalped the lot of us once upon a time, became our friend as soon +as the Doctor cured his arm. And it was a cure too, for now it's as +strong and well as ever. I tell you what, Master Bart." + +No answer. + +"I tell you what, Master Bart." + +No answer. + +"I say, young one, are you asleep?" + +No reply. + +"Well, he has dropped off sudden," growled Joses. "I suppose I must +tell him what another time." + +Having made up his mind to this, the sturdy fellow gave himself a bit of +a twist in his blanket, laid his head upon his arm, and in a few seconds +was as fast asleep as Bart. + +The latter slept soundly all but once in the night, when it seemed to +him that he had heard a strange, wild cry, and, starting up on his +elbow, he listened attentively for some moments, but the cry was not +repeated, and feeling that it must have been in his dreams that he had +heard the sound, he lay down again and slept till dawn, when he sprang +up, left every one asleep, and stole off, rifle in hand, to see if he +could get a shot at a deer anywhere about the mountain, and also to have +a look down into the tremendous canyon about whose depths and whose +rushing stream he seemed to have been dreaming all the night. + +He recollected well enough the way they had gone on the previous +evening, and as he stepped swiftly forward, there, at the bottom of the +narrow rift between the mass of fallen rock and the mountain, was the +pale lemon-tinted horizon, with a few streaks above it flecking the +early morning sky and telling of the coming day. + +"The canyon will look glorious when the sun is up," said Bart to +himself; "but I don't see any game about, and--oh!--" + +_Click_--_click_--_click_--_click_ went the locks of his double rifle as +he came suddenly upon a sight which seemed to freeze his blood, forcing +him to stand still and gaze wildly upon what was before him. + +Then the thought of self-preservation stepped in, and as if from the +lessons taught of the Indians, he sprang to shelter, sheltering himself +behind a block of stone, his rifle ready, and covering every spot in +turn that seemed likely to contain the cruel enemy that had done this +deed. + +For there before him--but flat upon his back, his arms outstretched, his +long lance beneath him--lay one of the friendly Indians, while his +companion lay half raised upon his side, as if he had dragged himself a +short distance so as to recline with his head upon a piece of rock. His +spear was across his legs, and it was very evident that he had been like +this for some time after receiving his death wound. + +For both were dead, the morning light plainly showing that in their +hideous glassy eyes, without the terrible witness of the pool of blood +that had trickled from their gaping wounds. + +Bart shuddered and felt as if a hand of ice were grasping his heart. +Then a fierce feeling of rage came over him, and his eyes flashed as he +looked round for the treacherous enemies who had done this deed. + +He looked in vain, and at last he stole cautiously out of his +lurking-place; then forgot his caution, and ran to where the Indians +lay, forgetting, in his eagerness to help them, the horrors of the +scene. + +But he could do nothing, for as he laid his hand upon the breast of each +in turn, it was to find that their hearts had ceased to beat, and they +were already cold. + +Racing back to the camp, he spread his news, and the Beaver and his +little following ran off to see for themselves the truth of his story, +after which they mounted, and started to find the trail of the +treacherous murderers of their companions, while during their absence +the Doctor examined the two slaughtered Indians, and gave it as his +opinion that they had both been treacherously stabbed from behind. + +It was past mid-day before the Beaver returned to announce that there +had only been two Indians lurking about their camp. + +"And did you overtake them?" said Bart. + +The chief smiled in a curious, grim way, and pointed to a couple of +scalps that hung at the belts of two of his warriors. + +"They were on foot. We were mounted," he said quietly. "They deserved +to die. We had not injured them, or stolen their wives or horses. They +deserved to die." + +This was unanswerable, and no one spoke, the Indians going off to bury +their dead companions, which they did simply by finding a suitable +crevice in the depths of the ravine near which they had been slain, +laying them in side by side, with their medicine-bags hung from their +necks, their weapons ready to their hands, and their buffalo robes about +them, all ready for their use in the happy hunting-grounds. + +This done they were covered first with bushes, and then with stones, and +the Indians returned to camp. + + + +CHAPTER SIXTEEN. + +IN NATURE'S STOREHOUSE. + +All this seemed to add terribly to the sense of insecurity felt by the +Doctor, and Joses was not slow to speak out. + +"We may have a mob of horse-Injun down upon us at any moment," he +growled. "I don't think we're very safe." + +"Joses is right," said the Doctor; "we must see if there is a rich +deposit of silver here, and then, if all seems well, we must return, and +get together a force of recruits so as to be strong enough to resist the +Indians, should they be so ill advised as to attack us, and ready to +work the mines." + +"'Aven't seen no mines yet," growled Joses. + +The Doctor coughed with a look of vexation upon his countenance, and, +beckoning to the chief, he took his rifle. Bart rose, and leaving Joses +in charge of the camp, they started for the edge of the canyon. + +There was no likelihood of enemies being about the place after the event +of the morning; but to the little party every shrub and bush, every +stone, seemed to suggest a lurking-place for a treacherous enemy. Still +they pressed on, the chief taking them, for some unknown reason, in the +opposite route along beneath the perpendicular walls of the mountain, +which here ran straight up from the plain. + +They went by a rugged patch of broken rock, and by what seemed to be a +great post stuck up there by human hands, but which proved, on a nearer +approach, to be the remains of a moderate-sized tree that had been +struck by lightning, the whole of the upper portion having been charred +away, leaving only some ten feet standing up out of the ground. + +A short distance farther on, as they were close in by the steep wall of +rock, they came to a slight projection, as if a huge piece had slipped +down from above, and turning sharply round this, the Beaver pointed to a +narrow rift just wide enough to allow of the passage of one man at a +time. + +He signed to the Doctor to enter, and climbing over a few rough stones, +the latter passed in and out of sight. + +"Bart! quick, my boy! quick!" he said directly after, and the lad sprang +in to help him, as he thought, in some perilous adventure, but only to +stop short and stare at the long sloping narrow passage fringed with +prickly cactus plants, which slope ran evidently up the side of the +mountain. + +"Why, it's the way up to the top," cried Bart. "I wonder who made it." + +"Dame Nature, I should say, my boy," said the Doctor. "We must explore +this. Why, what a natural fortification! One man could hold this +passage against hundreds." + +Just then the chief appeared below them, for they had climbed up a few +yards, and signed to them to come down. + +The Doctor hesitated, and then descended. + +"Let's see what he has to show, Bart. I have seen no silver yet." + +They followed the Beaver down, and he led them straight back, past the +camp, through the narrow ravine, once more to the shelf of rock +overlooking the canyon, and now, in the full glow of the sunny +afternoon, they were able to realise the grandeur of the scene where the +river ran swiftly down below, fully a thousand feet, in a bed of its +own, shut out from the upper world by the perpendicular walls of rock. + +At the first glance it seemed that it would be impossible to descend, +but on farther examination there seemed in places to be rifts and +crevices and shelves, dotted with trees and plants of the richest +growth, where it might be likely that skilful climbers could make a way +down. + +From where they stood the river looked enchanting, for while all up in +the plain was arid and grey, and the trees and shrubs that grew there +seemed parched and dry, and of a sickly green, all below was of the +richest verdant hues, and lovely groves of woodland were interspersed +with soft patches of waving grass that flourished where stormy winds +never reached, and moisture and heat were abundant. + +Still this paradise-like river was not without signs of trouble visiting +it at times, and these remained in huge up-torn trees, dead branches, +and jagged rocks, splintered and riven, that dotted the patches of plain +from the shores of the river to the perpendicular walls of the canyon. + +Bart needed no telling that these were the traces of floods, when, +instead of the bright silver rushing river, the waters came down from +the mountains hundreds of miles to the north, and the great canyon was +filled to its walls with a huge seething yellow flow, and in imagination +he thought of what the smiling emerald valley would be after such a +visitation. + +But he had little time for thought, the chief making signs to the Doctor +to follow him, first laying down his rifle and signing to the Doctor to +do the same. + +Dr Lascelles hesitated for a moment, and then did as the chief wished, +when the Beaver went on for a few yards to where the shelf of rock +seemed to end, and there was nothing but a sheer fall of a thousand feet +down to the stones and herbage at the bottom of the canyon, while above +towered up the mountain which seemed like a Titanic bastion round which +the river curved. + +Without a moment's hesitation the chief turned his face to them, lowered +himself over the edge of the shelf down and down till only his hands +remained visible. Then he drew himself up till his face was above the +rock, and made a sign to the Doctor to come on. + +"I dare not go, Bart," said the Doctor, whose face was covered with dew. +"Would you be afraid to follow him, my boy?" + +"I should be afraid, sir," replied Bart laying down his rifle, "but I'll +go." + +"No, no, I will not be such a coward," cried the Doctor; and going +boldly to the edge, he refrained from looking over, but turned and +lowered himself down, passing out of Bart's sight; and when the latter +crept to the edge and looked down, he could see a narrow ledge below +with climbing plants and luxuriant shrubs, but no sight of the Doctor or +his guide. + +Bart remained motionless--horror-stricken as the thought came upon him +that they might have slipped and gone headlong into the chasm below; but +on glancing back he saw one of the Indians who was of the party smiling, +and evidently quite satisfied that nothing was wrong. + +This being so, Bart remained gazing down into the canyon, listening +intently, and wondering whither the pair could have gone. + +It was a most wonderful sight to look down at that lovely silver river +that flashed and sparkled and danced in the sunshine. In places where +there were deep, calm pools it looked intensely blue, as it reflected +the pure sky, while other portions seemed one gorgeous, dazzling +damascene of molten metal, upon which Bart could hardly gaze. + +Then there was the wonderful variety of the tints that adorned the +shrubs and creepers that were growing luxuriantly wherever they could +obtain a hold. + +There were moments when Bart fancied that he could see the salmon plash +in the river, but he could make out the birds in the depths below as +they floated and skimmed about from shore to shore, and over the tops of +the trees that looked like shrubs from where he crouched. + +Just then, as he was forgetting the absence of the Doctor in an intense +desire to explore the wonders of the canyon, to shoot in the patches of +forest, to fish in the river, and find he knew not what in those +wondrous solitudes where man had probably never yet trod, he heard a +call, and, brought back to himself from his visionary expedition, he +shouted a reply. + +"The Beaver's coming to you, Bart. Lower yourself down, my boy, and +come." + +These--the Doctor's words--sounded close at hand, but the speaker was +invisible. + +"All right; I'll come," cried Bart; and as he spoke a feeling of +shrinking came over him, and he felt ready to draw back. But calling +upon himself, he went closer to the edge, trying to look under, and the +next moment there was the head of the Beaver just below, gazing up at +him with a half-mocking smile upon his face. + +"You think I'm afraid," said Bart, looking down at him, "but I can't +help that. I'll come all the same;" and swiftly turning, he lowered +himself down till his body was hanging as it were in space, and only his +chest and elbows were on the shelf. + +Then for a moment he seemed to hesitate, but he mastered the shrinking +directly after, and lowered himself more and more till he hung at the +extremity of his hands, vainly seeking for a foothold. + +"Are you there, Beaver?" he shouted, and he felt his waist seized and +his sides pinioned by two strong hands, his own parted company from the +shelf, and he seemed to fall a terrible distance, but it was only a +couple of feet, and he found himself standing upon the solid rock, with +the shelf jutting out above his head, and plenty of room to peer about +amongst the clustering bushes that had here made themselves a home. + +The chief smiled at his startled look, and pointing to the left, Bart +glanced sidewise at where the precipice went down, and then walked +onward cautiously along a rugged shelf not much unlike the one from +which he had descended, save that it was densely covered with shrubby +growth. + +This shelf suddenly ended in a rift like a huge crevice in the face of +the mountain, but there was a broad crack before it, and this it was +necessary to leap before entering the rift. + +Bart stopped short, gazing down into what seemed an awful abyss, but the +Beaver passed him lightly, as if there were no danger whatever, and +lightly leaped across to some rough pieces of rock. + +The distance was nothing, but the depths below made it seem an awful +leap, till Bart felt that the Doctor must have gone over it before him, +and without further hesitation he bounded across and stood beside the +chief, who led the way farther into the rift to where, some fifty feet +from the entrance, the Doctor was standing, hammer in hand, gazing +intently at the newly chipped rock and the fragments that lay around. + +"At last, Bart!" he cried joyously. + +"What! Is it a vein?" said Bart, eagerly. + +"A vein, boy? It is a mountain of silver--a valley of silver. Here are +great threads of the precious metal, and masses of ore as well. It +seems as if it ran right down the sides of the canyon, and from what the +Indian appears to know, it does, Bart, I never expected to make such a +find as this." + +As he spoke, he handed pieces of the rock to Bart, who found that in +some there were angular pieces of what seemed to be native silver, while +others were full of threads and veins, or appeared as pieces of dull +metalliferous stone. + +"It is a huge fortune--wealth untold, Bart," said the Doctor. + +"Is it, sir?" said Bart coolly, for he could not feel the same rapture +as the Doctor. + +"Is it, boy? Yes! enormous wealth." + +"But how are we to carry it away, sir?" asked Bart dryly. + +"Carry it away! Why, do you not understand that this mine will want +working, and that we must have a large number of men here? But no; you +cannot conceive the greatness of this find." + +As he spoke, the Doctor hurried to the mouth of the rift, and then +cautiously lowered himself into the chasm, over which Bart had leaped, +clinging to the stout stems of the various shrubs. + +For a few moments Bart hesitated. Then he followed till they were both +quite a hundred feet below the shelf, and the part of the rift they had +first entered, and were able to creep right out till they were level +with the side of the canyon, and able to look down to the river. + +But the Doctor did not care to look down upon the river, for tearing +away some of the thick growth from the rock, he cast it behind him, so +that it fell far out into the canyon. Then two or three pieces of rock +followed, and somehow Bart felt more interested in their fall than in +the search for silver, listening in the hope of hearing them crash down +deep in the great stream. + +"Yes; as I thought," cried the Doctor, excitedly, "the vein or mass runs +right down the side of this vast canyon, Bart--the Silver Canyon, we +must call it. But come, let's get back. I must tell my child. Such a +discovery was never made before. Discovery, do I say! Why, these poor +ignorant Indians must have known of it for years, perhaps for +generations, and beyond working up a few pieces to make themselves rings +for their horses' lariats, or to secure their saddles, they have left is +as it is." + +As he spoke, he was already climbing up towards the shelf, his +excitement in his tremendous find making him forget the risks he kept +running, for to one in cool blood, the face of the rock, the insecurity +of the shrubs to which he clung, and the many times that silver-veined +stones gave way beneath his feet, were very terrible, and Bart drew his +breath hard, climbing slowly after his companion till at last they stood +once more upon the shelf. + +And all this time the Beaver was looking calmly on, following each +movement, helping his white friends to climb where it was necessary, and +seeming half amused at the Doctor's intense eagerness. In fact, Bart +fancied that at times he looked rather contemptuously on at the Doctor's +delight with what he found, for it was so much whitey-grey metallic +stone to him, and as nothing beside the possession of a fine swift pony, +or an ample supply of powder and lead. + + + +CHAPTER SEVENTEEN. + +UNTRUSTWORTHY SENTINELS. + +They soon reached the little camp, where the Doctor eagerly communicated +his news to his child, and then taking Joses aside he repeated it to +him. + +"Well, that's right, master. I'm glad, of course; and I hope it'll make +you rich, for you want it bad enough after so many years of loss with +your cattle." + +"It has made me rich--I am rich, Joses!" cried the Doctor, excitedly. + +"That's good, master," said the man, coolly. "And now what's going to +be done? Are we to carry the mountain back to the old ranche?" + +The Doctor frowned. + +"We shall have to return at once, Joses, to organise a regular mining +party. We must have plenty of well-armed men, and tools, and machinery +to work this great find. We must go back at once." + +"Now, master?" + +"No, no, perhaps not for a week, my man," said the Doctor, whose nervous +excitement seemed to increase. "I must thoroughly investigate the +extent of the silver deposit, descend into the canyon, and ascend the +mountain. Then we must settle where our new town is to be." + +"Ah, we're going to have a new town, are we, master?" + +"To be sure! Of course! How could the mining adventure be carried on +without?" + +Joses shook his head. + +"P'r'aps we shall stay here a week then, master?" he said at last. + +"Yes; perhaps a fortnight." + +"Then if you don't mind, master, I think we'll move camp to that little +patch of rocks close by that old blasted tree that stands up like a +post. I've been thinking it will be a better place; and if you'll give +the word, I'll put the little keg of powder in a hole somewhere. I +don't think it's quite right to have it so near our fire every day." + +"Do what you think best, Joses," said the Doctor, eagerly. "Yes; I +should bury the powder under the rocks somewhere, so that we can easily +get it again. But why do you want to move the camp?" + +"Because that's a better place, with plenty of rocks for cover if the +Injuns should come and look us up." + +"Let us change, then," said the Doctor, abstractedly; and that afternoon +they shifted to the cluster of rocks near the blasted tree, close under +the shelter of the tall wall-like mountain-side. Rocks were cleared +from a centre and piled round; the waggon was well secured; a good place +found for the horses; and lastly, Joses lit his cigarette, and then took +the keg of gunpowder, carried it to a convenient spot near the withered +tree, and buried it beneath some loose stones. + +The Beaver smiled at the preparations, and displayed his knowledge of +English after a short conversation with the interpreter by exclaiming: + +"Good--good--good--very good!" + +A hasty meal was snatched, and then the Doctor went off again alone, +while the Beaver signed to Bart to follow him, and then took him past +the narrow opening that led to the way up the mountain, and showed him a +second opening, through which they passed, to find within a good open +cavernous hollow at the foot of the mountain wall, shut in by huge +masses of rock. + +"Why, our horses would be safe here, even if we were attacked," +exclaimed Bart. + +"Horses," said the Beaver, nodding. "Yes; horses." + +There was no mistaking the value of such a place, for there was secure +shelter for at least a hundred horses, and the entrance properly +secured--an entrance so narrow that there was only room for one animal +to pass through--storm or attack from the hostile Indians could have +been set at defiance. + +"Supposing a town to be built here somewhere up the mountain, this great +enclosure would be invaluable," said Bart, and, hurrying back, he +fetched Joses to inspect the place. + +"Ah, that's not bad," said the rough frontier man. "Why, Master Bart, +what a cattle corral that would make! Block the mouth up well, they'd +be clever Injuns who got anything away. Let's put the horses in here at +once." + +"Do you think it is necessary, Joses?" said Bart. + +"It's always necessary to be safe out in the plain, my lad," replied +Joses. "How do we know that the Injuns won't come to-night to look +after the men they've lost? Same time, how do we know they will? All +the same, though, you can never be too safe. Let's get the horses +inside, my lad, as we have such a place, and I half wish now we'd gone +up the mountain somewhere to make our camp. You never know when danger +may come." + +"Horses in there," said Bart to the Beaver, and he pointed to the +entrance. + +The chief nodded, and seemed to have understood them all along by their +looks and ways, so that when the horses belonging to the English party +were driven in that evening he had those of his own followers driven in +as well, and it was settled that Joses was to be the watchman that +night. + +It was quite sundown when the Doctor returned, this time with Maude, +whom he had taken to be an eye-witness of his good fortune. Bart went +to meet them, and that glorious, glowing evening they sat in their +little camp, revelling in the soft pure air, which seemed full of +exhilaration, and the lad could not help recalling afterwards what a +thoroughly satisfied, happy look there was in his guardian's countenance +as he sat there reckoning up the value of his grand discovery, and +making his plans for the future. + +Then came a very unpleasant episode, one which Bart hid from the Doctor, +for he would not trouble him with bad news upon a night like that; but +all the same it caused the lad intense annoyance, and he went off to +where Joses was smoking his _cigarito_ and staring at the stars. + +"Tipsy! drunk!" he exclaimed. "What! Sam and Juan? Where could they +get the stuff?" + +"They must have crept under the waggon, and broken a hole through, for +the brandy lay there treasured up in case of illness." + +"I'll thrash 'em both till they can't crawl!" cried Joses, wrathfully. +"I didn't think it of them. It's no good though to do it to-night when +they can't understand. Let them sleep it off to-night, my boy, and +to-morrow morning we'll show the Beaver and his men what we do to +thieves who steal liquor to get drunk. I wouldn't have thought it of +them." + +"What shall you do to them, Joses?" said Bart. + +"Tie them up to that old post of a tree, my boy, and give them a taste +of horse-hair lariat on the bare back. That's what I'll do to them. +They're under me, they are, and I'm answerable to the master. But +there, don't say no more; it makes me mad, Master Bart. Go back now, +and let them sleep it out. I'm glad I moved that powder." + +"So am I, Joses," said Bart; and after a few more, words he returned to +the little camp, to find the two offenders fast asleep. + +Bart was very weary when he lay down, after glancing round to see that +all proper precautions had been taken; and it seemed to him that he +could not have been asleep five minutes when he felt a hand laid upon +his mouth, and another grasp his shoulder, while on looking up, there, +between him and the star-encrusted sky, was a dark Indian face. + +For a moment he thought of resistance. The next he had seen whose was +the face, and obeying a sign to be silent, he listened while the Beaver +bent lower, and said in good English, "Enemy. Indians coming." + +Bart rose on the instant, and roused the Doctor, who immediately +awakened Maude, and obeying the signs of the Indian, they followed him +into the shadow of the mountain, for the Beaver shook his head fiercely +at the idea of attempting to defend the little camp. + +It all took place in a few hurried moments, and almost before they were +half-way to their goal there was a fierce yell, the rush of trampling +horses, and a dark shadowy body was seen to swoop down upon the camp. +While before, in his excitement, Bart could realise his position, he +found himself with the Doctor and Maude beyond the narrow entrance, and +on the slope that seemed to lead up into the mountains. + +As soon as Maude was in safety, Bart and the Doctor returned to the +entrance, to find it well guarded by the Indians; and if the place were +discovered or known to the enemy, it was very plain that they could be +easily kept at bay if anything like a determined defence were made, and +there was no fear of that. + +Then came a sort of muster or examination of their little force, which, +to Bart's agony, resulted in the discovery that while all the Indians +were present, and Harry was by their side, Joses, Sam, and Juan were +away. + +In his excitement, Bart did not realise why this was. Now he recalled +that when he lay down to sleep the two offenders had been snoring +stertorously, and it was evident that they were helplessly stupefied +when the Indians came, and were taken. + +But Joses? + +Of course he was at his post, and the question now was, would he remain +undiscovered, or would the Indians find the hiding-place of the horses, +and after killing Joses sweep them all away? + +It was a terrible thought, for to be left alone in that vast plain +without horses seemed too hard to be borne. At the first blush it made +Bart shudder, and it was quite in despair that with cocked rifle he +waited for morning light, which seemed as if it would never come. + +Bart's thoughts were many, and frequent were the whispered conversations +with the Doctor, as to whether the Indians would not find the _cache_ of +the horses as soon as it was daylight by their trail, though to this he +had answered that the ground all around was so marked by horses' hoofs +that it was not likely that any definite track would be made out. + +Then moment by moment they expected their own hiding-place to be known, +and that they would be engaged fighting for their lives with their +relentless foes; but the hours wore on, and though they could hear the +buzz of many voices, and sometimes dark shadowy forms could be made out +away on the plain, the fugitives were in dense shadow, and remained +unmolested till the break of day. + +By this time Bart had given Maude such comforting intelligence as he +could, bidding her be hopeful, for that these Indians must be strangers +to the place, or they would have known of the way up the mountain, and +searched it at once. + +"But if they found it in the morning, Bart," she said, "what then?" + +"What then?" said Bart, with a coolness he did not feel. "Why, then we +shall have to kill all the poor wretches--that's all." + +Maude shuddered, and Bart returned to where the Beaver was at the +opening, watching the place where the enemy had been plundering the +waggon, and had afterwards stirred up the camp fire and were seated +round. + +"Joses was glad that he had put away the powder," thought Bart, as he +saw the glare of the fire. "I begin to wish it had been left." + + + +CHAPTER EIGHTEEN. + +TWO HORRORS. + +Morning at last, and from their hiding-place the fugitives could see +that the Indians were in great numbers, and whilst some were with their +horses, others were gathered together in a crowd about the post-like +tree-trunk half-way between the gate of the mountains, as Bart called +it, and the camp. + +The greatest caution was needed to keep themselves from the keen sight +of the Indians, who had apparently seen nothing of the horses' trail; +and as far as Bart could tell, Joses was so far safe. Still it was like +this:--If the Indians should begin to examine the face of the rock, they +must find both entries, and then it was a question of brave defence, +though it seemed impossible but that numbers must gain the mastery in +the end. + +"Poor Joses!" thought Bart, and the tears rose to his eyes. "I'd give +anything to be by his side, to fight with him and defend the horses." + +Then he began to wonder how many charges of powder he would have, and +how long he could hold out. + +"A good many will fall before they do master him," thought Bart, "if +he's not captured already. I wonder whether they have hurt Juan and +Sam." + +Just then the crowd about the post fell back, and the Doctor put his +glass to his eye, and then uttered a cry of horror. + +He glanced round directly to see if Maude had heard him, but she, poor +girl, had fallen fast asleep in the niche where they had placed her, to +be out of reach of bullets should firing begin. + +"What is it, sir?" cried Bart. "Ah, I see. How horrible! The +wretches! May I begin to shoot?" + +"You could do no good, and so would only bring the foe down upon my +child," said the Doctor sternly. + +"But it is Juan, is it not?" cried Bart, excitedly. + +"Yes," said the Doctor, using the glass, "and Sam. They have stripped +the poor fellows almost entirely, and painted Death's heads and +cross-bones upon their hearts." + +"Oh yes," cried Bart, in agony, "I can see;" and he looked with horror +upon the scene, for there, evidently already half dead, their breasts +scored with knives, and their ankles bound, Juan and Sam were suspended +by means of a lariat, bound tightly to their wrists, and securely +twisted round the upper part of the old blasted tree. The poor fellows' +hats and a portion of their clothes lay close by them, and as they hung +there, inert and helpless, Bart, and his companion saw the cruel, +vindictive Indians draw off to a short distance, and joining up into a +close body, they began to fire at their prisoners, treating them as +marks on which to try their skill with the rifle. + +The sensation of horror this scene caused was indescribable, and Bart +turned to the Doctor with a look of agony in his eyes. + +"Quick!" he said; "let us run out and save them. Oh, what monsters! +They cannot be men." + +The Indian who acted as interpreter spoke rapidly to the chief, who +replied, and then the Indian turned to the Doctor and Bart. + +"The Beaver-with-Sharp-Teeth says if we want to go out to fight, they +are so many we should all be killed. We must not go." + +"He is right, Bart," said the Doctor, hoarsely. "I am willing enough to +fight, but the presence of Maude seems to unman me. I dare not attempt +anything that would risk her life." + +"But it is so horrible," cried Bart, peering out of his hiding-place +excitedly, but only to feel the Beaver's hand upon his shoulder, forcing +him down into his old niche. + +"Indian dog see," whispered the Beaver, who was rapidly picking up +English words and joining them together. + +The sharp report of rifle after rifle was heard now, and after every +shot there was a guttural yell of satisfaction. + +"They will kill them, sir," panted Bart, who seemed as if he could +hardly bear to listen to what was going on. + +"They must have been dead, poor fellows, when they were hung up there, +Bart. I would that we dared attack the monsters." + +"Can you see any sign of Joses, sir?" asked Bart. + +"No, my boy; no sign of him, poor fellow! Heaven grant that he be not +seen." + +All this time the Indians were rapidly loading and firing at the two +unfortunate men, and, to Bart's horror, he could hear bullet after +bullet strike them, the others hitting the rocky face of the mountain +with a sharp pat, and in the interval of silence that followed those in +hiding could hear some of the bullets afterwards fall. + +Every time the savages thought they had hit their white prisoners they +uttered a yell of triumph, and Dr Lascelles knew that this terrible +scene was only the prologue to one of a far more hideous nature, when, +with a fiendish cruelty peculiar to their nature, they would fall upon +their victims with their knives, to flay off their scalps and beards, +leaving the terribly mutilated bodies to the birds and beasts of the +plains. + +"I could hit several of them, I'm sure," panted Bart, eagerly. "Pray, +sir, let's fire upon them, and kill some of the wretches. I never felt +like this before, but now it seems as if I must do something to punish +those horrible fiends." + +"We could all fire and bring down some of them, Bart," whispered the +Doctor; "but there are fully a hundred there, my boy, and we must be the +losers in the end. They would never leave till they had killed us every +one." + +Bart hung his head, and stood there resting upon his rifle, wishing that +his ears could be deaf to the hideous yelling and firing that kept going +on, as the Indians went on with their puerile sport of wreaking their +empty vengeance upon the bodies of the two men whom they had slain. + +Twenty times over the Doctor raised his rifle, and as often let it fall, +as he knew what the consequences of his firing would be, while, when +encouraged by this act on the part of his elder, Bart did likewise, it +was for the Beaver to press the barrel down with his brown hand, shaking +his head and smiling gravely the while. + +"The Beaver-with-Sharp-Teeth," said the interpreter, "says that the +young chief must wait till the Indian dogs are not so many; then he +shall kill all he will, and take all their scalps." + +"Ugh!" shuddered Bart, "as if I wanted to take scalps! I could feel +pleased though if they killed and took the scalps of all these wretches. +No, I don't want that," he muttered, "but it is very horrible, and it +nearly drives me mad to see the cruel monsters shooting at our two poor +men. How they can--" + +"Good heavens!" ejaculated the Doctor; "what's that?" + +They were all gazing intently at the great post where the firing was +going on, and beyond it at the group of Indians calmly loading and +firing, with a soft film of smoke floating away above their heads, when +all at once, just in their midst, there was a vivid flash of light, and +the air seemed to be full of blocks of stone, which were driven up with +a dense cloud of smoke. Then there was a deafening report, which echoed +back from the side of the mountain; a trembling of the ground, as if +there had been an earthquake; the great pieces of stone fell here and +there; and then, as the smoke spread, a few Indians could be seen +rushing hard towards where their companions were gathered with their +horses, while about the spot where the earth had seemed to vomit forth +flame, rocks and stones were piled-up in hideous confusion, mingled with +quite a score of the bodies of Indians. + +There was no hesitation on the part of the survivors. The Great Spirit +had spoken to them in his displeasure, and those who had not been +smitten seized their horses, those which had no riders now kept with +them, and the whole band went off over the plain at full speed; while no +sooner were they well away upon the plain, than the Beaver and his party +laid their rifles aside, and dashed out, knife and hatchet in hand, +killing two or three injured men before the Doctor could interfere, as +he and Bart ran out, followed by Harry. + +It was a hideous sight, and perhaps it was a merciful act the killing of +the wretches by the Beaver and his men, for they were horribly injured +by the explosion, while others had arms and legs blown off. Some were +crushed by the falling stones, others had been killed outright at first; +and as soon as he had seen but a portion of the horrors, the Doctor sent +Bart back to bid Maude be in no wise alarmed, for the enemy were gone, +but she must not leave the place where she was hiding for a while. + +Bart found her looking white and trembling with dread, but a few words +satisfied her, and the lad ran back, to pass the horrible mass of +piled-up stones and human beings with a shudder, as he ran on and joined +the Doctor and Joses, who was standing outside his hiding-place, +perfectly unharmed, and leaning upon his rifle. + +Bart was about to burst forth into a long string of congratulations, but +somehow they all failed upon his lips. He tried to speak, but he choked +and found it impossible. All he could do for a few moments was to catch +the great rough hands of Joses in his, and stand shaking them with all +his might. + +Joses did not reply; he only looked a little less grim than usual as he +returned Bart's grip with interest. + +"Why, you thought the Injun had got me, did you, Master Bart? You +thought the Injun had got me. Well, they hadn't this time, you see, but +I 'spected they'd find me out every moment. I meant to fight it out +though till all my powder was gone, and then I meant to back the horses +at the Injun, and make them kick as long as I could, for of course you +wouldn't have been able to come." + +"I am glad you are safe, Joses," cried Bart, at last. "It is almost +like a miracle that they didn't find you, and that the explosion took +place. It must have been our keg of powder, Joses, that you hid under +the stones." + +"Think so, Master Bart?" said Joses, as if deeply astonished. + +"Yes," cried Bart, "it must have been that." + +"Yes," said the Doctor. "The wretches must have dropped a burning wad, +or something of that kind." + +"But it was very horrible," cried Bart. + +"Yes, horrible," assented the Doctor. + +"But it saved all us as was left, Master," said Joses, gruffly. "They'd +have found us out else, and served us the same as they did poor old Sam +and old Juan. What beasts Injun is." + +"Yes, it saved our lives, Joses, and it was as it were a miracle. But +there, don't let's talk about it. We must take steps to bury those poor +creatures, and that before my child comes out. Do you think the enemy +will come back?" he continued, turning to the interpreter. + +"The Beaver-with-Sharp-Teeth says no: not for days," was the reply; and, +willingly enough, the Indians helped their white friends to enlarge the +hole ploughed out by the explosion of the powder keg, which was easily +done by picking out a few pieces of rock, when there was ample room for +the dead, who, after some hour or two's toil, were buried beneath the +stones. + +The remains of the two poor fellows, Juan and Sam, were buried more +carefully, with a few simple rites, and then, saddened and weary, the +Doctor turned to seek Maude. + +Bart was about to follow him, when Joses took him by the sleeve. + +"I wouldn't say anything to the master, but I must tell you." + +"Tell me what?" + +"About the explosion, Master Bart." + +"Well, I saw it," said Bart. + +"Yes, but you didn't see how it happened." + +"I thought we had decided that." + +"Well, you thought so, but you wasn't right, and I didn't care to brag +about it; but I did it, Master Bart." + +"You fired that powder, and blew all those poor wretches to eternity!" +cried Bart, in horror. + +"Now don't you get a looking like that, Master Bart. Why, of course I +did it. Where's the harm? They killed my two poor fellows, and they'd +have killed all of us, and set us up to shoot at if they'd had the +chance." + +"Well, Joses, I suppose you are right," said Bart, "but it seems very +horrible." + +"Deal more horrible if they'd killed Miss Maude." + +"Oh, hush! Joses," cried Bart excitedly, "Tell me, though, how did you +manage it." + +"Well, you see, Master Bart, it was like this. I stood looking on at +their devilry till I felt as if I couldn't bear it no longer, and then +all at once I recollected the powder, and I thought that if I could put +a bullet through the keg it would blow it up, and them too." + +"And did you, Joses?" + +"Well, I did, Master Bart, but it took me a long while for it. I knew +exactly where it was, but I couldn't see it for the crowd of fellows +round, and I daren't shoot unless I was sure, or else I should have +brought them on to me like a shot." + +"Of course, of course, Joses," cried Bart, who was deeply interested. + +"Well, Master Bart, I had to wait till I thought I should never get a +chance, and then they opened right out, and I could see the exact spot +where to send my bullet, when I trembled so that I daren't pull trigger, +and when I could they all crowded up again." + +"But they gave you another chance, Joses?" cried Bart excitedly. + +"To be sure they did, my lad, at last, and that time it was only after a +deal of dodging about that there was any chance, and, laying my rifle on +the rock, I drew trigger, saw the stones, flash as the bullet struck, +just, too, when they were all cheering, the beasts, at what they'd done +to those two poor fellows." + +"And then there was the awful flash and roar, Joses?" + +"Yes, Master Bart, and the Injuns never knew what was the matter, and +that's all." + +"All, Joses?" + +"Yes, Master Bart, and wasn't it enough? But you'd better not tell the +master; he might say he didn't object to an Injun or two killed in +self-defence, but that this was wholesale." + +Bart promised to keep the matter a secret, and he went about for the +rest of the day pondering upon the skill of Joses with the rifle, and +what confidence he must have had in his power to hit the keg hidden +under the stones to run such a risk, for, as he said, a miss would have +brought down the Indians upon him, and so Bart said once more. + +"Yes, Master Bart; but then, you see, I didn't miss, and we've got rid +of some of the enemy and scared the rest away." + + + +CHAPTER NINETEEN. + +BEATING UP FOR RECRUITS. + +The cause of the explosion remained a secret between Bart and Joses, and +in the busy times that followed there was but little opportunity for +dwelling upon the trouble. The Doctor was full of the discovery and the +necessity for taking steps to utilise its value, for now they were +almost helpless--the greater part of their ammunition was gone; their +force was weakened by the loss of two men; and, worst of all, it was +terribly insecure, for at any moment the Indians might get over their +fright, and come back to bury their dead. If this were so, they would +find that the task had already been done, and then they would search for +and find the occupants of the camp. + +This being so, the Doctor suddenly grew calm. + +"I've made my plans," he said, quietly. + +"Yes?" exclaimed Maude and Bart, in a breath. + +"We must go straight back to our starting-place, and then on to Lerisco, +and there I must get the proper authorisations from the government, and +afterwards organise a large expedition of people, and bring them here at +once." + +He had hardly made this announcement when the Beaver came slowly up to +stand with his follower the interpreter behind, and looking as if he +wished to say something in particular. + +The Doctor rose, and pointed to a place where his visitor could sit +down, but the chief declined. + +"Enemy," he said sharply. "Indian dogs." + +Then he turned round quickly to the interpreter. + +"The Beaver-with-Sharp-Teeth says the Apaches will be back to-night to +see why the earth opened and killed their friends." + +"Indeed! So soon?" said the Doctor. + +"The chief says we must go from here till the Indian dogs have been. +Then we can come back." + +"That settles it, Bart," exclaimed the Doctor. "We'll start at once." + +The preparations needed were few, and an hour later they were retreating +quickly across the plain, the coming darkness being close at hand to +veil their movements, so that when they halted to rest in the morning +they were a long distance on their way, and sheltered by a patch of +forest trees that looked like the remains of some tract of woodland that +had once spread over the plain. + +It was deemed wise to wait till evening, and taking it in turns, they +watched and slept till nearly sundown. + +The Beaver had had the last watch, and he announced that he had seen a +large body of Apaches going in the direction of the canyon, but at so +great a distance off across the plain that there was no need for alarm. + +They started soon afterwards, and after a very uneventful but tedious +journey, they reached the spot where they had first encountered the +Beaver and his followers. Here the Indians came to a halt: they did not +care to go farther towards the home of the white man, but readily +entered into a compact to keep watch near the Silver Canyon, and return +two moons hence to meet the Doctor and his expeditionary party, when +they were once more on their way across the plains. + +The journey seemed strange without the company of the chief and his men, +and during many of their halts but little rest was had on account of the +necessity for watchfulness. The rest of the distance was, however, got +over in safety, and they rode at last into the town of Lerisco, where +their expedition having got wind soon after they had started, their +return was looked upon as of people from the dead. + +For here the Doctor encountered several old friends and neighbours from +their ranches, fifteen or even twenty miles from the town, and they were +all ready with stories of their misfortunes, the raids they had had to +endure from the unfriendly Indians; and the Doctor returned to his +temporary lodgings that night satisfied that he had only to name his +discovery to gain a following of as many enterprising spirits as he +wished to command. + +There was a good deal to do, for the Doctor felt that it would not be +very satisfactory to get his discovery in full working order, and then +have it claimed by the United States Government, or that of the Republic +then in power in those parts. + +He soon satisfied himself, however, of the right course to pursue, had +two or three interviews with the governor, obtained a concession of the +right to work the mine in consideration of a certain percentage of +silver being paid to the government; and this being all duly signed and +sealed, he came away light-hearted and eager to begin. + +His first care was to make arrangements for the staying of Maude in some +place of safety, and he smiled to himself as he realised how easy this +would be now that he was the owner of a great silver mine. It was +simplicity itself. + +No sooner did Don Ramon the governor comprehend what was required than +an invitation came from his lady, a pleasant-looking Spanish-Mexican +dame, who took at once to the motherless girl, and thus the difficulty +was got over, both the governor and his wife declaring that Maude should +make that her home. + +Then the Doctor rode out to three or four ranches in the neighbourhood, +and laid his plan before their owners, offering them such terms of +participation that they jumped at the proposals; and the result was that +in a very short time no less than six ranches had been closed, the +female occupants settled in the town, and their owners, with their +waggons, cattle, mules, horses, and an ample supply of stores, were +preparing for their journey across the forest to the Silver Canyon. + +There was a wonderfully attractive sound in that title--The Silver +Canyon, and it acted like magic on the men of English blood, who, though +they had taken to the dress, and were burned by the sun almost to the +complexion of the Spanish-Americans amongst whom they dwelt, had still +all the enterprise and love of adventure of their people, and were ready +enough to go. + +Not so the Mexicans. There was a rich silver mine out in the plains? +Well, let it be there; they could enjoy life without it, and they were +not going to rob themselves of the comfort of basking in the sun and +idling and sauntering in the evenings. Besides, there were the Indians, +and they might have to fight, a duty they left to the little army kept +up by the republic. The lancers had been raised on purpose to combat +with the Indians. Let them do it. They, the Mexican gentlemen, +preferred their _cigaritos_, and to see a bolero danced to a couple of +twanging guitars. + +The Englishmen laughed at the want of enterprise by the "greasers," as +they contemptuously called the people, and hugged themselves as they +thought of what wealth there was in store for them. + +One evening, however, Bart, who was rather depressed at the idea of +going without his old companion Maude, although at the same time he +could not help feeling pleased at the prospect of her remaining in +safety, was returning to his lodgings, which he shared with Joses, when +he overtook a couple of the English cattle-breeders, old neighbours of +the Doctor, who were loudly talking about the venture. + +"I shouldn't be a bit surprised," said one, "if this all turns out to be +a fraud." + +"Oh no, I think it's all right." + +"But there have been so many cheats of this kind." + +"True, so there have," said the other. + +"And if the Doctor has got us together to take us right out there for +the sake of his own ends?" + +"Well, I shouldn't care to be him," said the other, "if it proves to be +like that." + +They turned down a side lane, and Bart heard no more, but this was +enough to prove to him that the Doctor's would be no bed of roses if +everything did not turn out to be as good as was expected. + +He reported this to the Doctor, who only smiled, and hurried on his +preparations. + +Money was easily forthcoming as soon as it was known that the government +favoured the undertaking; and at last, with plenty of rough mining +implements, blasting powder, and stores of all kinds, the Doctor's +expedition started at daybreak one morning, in ample time to keep the +appointment with the Beaver. + +"I say, Master Bart," said Joses, as he sat upon his strong horse side +by side with Bart, watching their train go slowly by, "I think we can +laugh at the Apaches now, my lad; while, when the Sharp-Toothed Beaver +joins us with his dark-skinned fighting men, we can give the rascals +such a hunting as shall send 'em north amongst the Yankees with fleas in +their ears." + +"It's grand!" cried Bart, rousing himself up, for he had been feeling +rather low-spirited at parting from Maude, and it had made him worse to +see the poor girl's misery when she had clung to her father and said the +last good-byes. Still there was the fact that the governor and his lady +were excellent people, and the poor girl would soon brighten up. + +And there sat Bart, on his eager little horse, Black Boy, which kept on +champing its bit and snorting and pawing the ground, shaking its head, +and longing, after weeks of abstinence, to be once more off and away on +a long-stretching gallop across the plains. + +There were men mounted on horses, men on mules, greasers driving cattle +or the baggage mules, some in charge of the waggons, and all well-armed, +eager and excited, as they filed by, a crowd of swarthy, poncho-wearing +idlers watching them with an aspect of good-humoured contempt and pity +on their faces, as if saying to themselves, "Poor fools! what a lot of +labour and trouble they are going through to get silver and become rich, +while we can be so much more happy and comfortable in our idleness and +dirt and rags!" + +A couple of miles outside the town the mob of idlers to the last man had +dropped off, and, bright and excited, the Doctor rode up in the cheery +morning sunshine. + +"I'm going to ride forward, Bart," he cried, "so as to lead the van and +show the line of march. You keep about the middle, and mind there's no +straggling off to right or left. You, Joses, take the rear, and stand +no tricks from stragglers. Every man is to keep to his place and do his +duty. Strict discipline is to be the order of the day, and unless we +keep up our rigid training we shall be in no condition to encounter the +Indians when they come." + +"What are these coming after us?" cried Bart, looking back at a cloud of +dust. + +"Lancers," said Joses. + +"Surely there is no trouble with the governor now," exclaimed the +Doctor, excitedly, as a squadron of admirably mounted cavalry, with +black-yellow pennons to their lances, came up at a canter, their leader +riding straight up to the Doctor. + +"Don Ramon sends me to see you well on the road, Don Lascelles," he +cried. "We are to set you well upon your journey." + +As he spoke, he turned and raised his hand, with the result that the +next in command rode forward with a troop of the body of cavalry, to +take the lead till they had reached the first halting-place, where the +lancers said farewell, and parted from the adventurers, both parties +cheering loudly when the soldiery rode slowly back towards Lerisco, +while the waggon-train continued its long, slow journey towards the +mountains. + + + +CHAPTER TWENTY. + +THE THIRSTY DESERT. + +The journey was without adventure. Signs of Indians were seen, and this +made those of the train more watchful, but there was no encounter with +the red men of the desert, till an alarm was spread one morning of a +party of about twenty well-mounted Indians being seen approaching the +camp, just as it was being broken up for a farther advance towards the +mountains. + +The alarm spread; men seized their rifles, and they were preparing to +fire upon the swiftly approaching troop, when Bart and Joses set spur to +their horses, and went off at full gallop, apparently to encounter the +enemy. + +But they had not been deceived. Even at a distance Bart knew his friend +the Beaver at a glance, and the would-be defenders of the camp saw the +meeting, and the hearty handshaking that took place. + +This was a relief, and the men of the expedition gazed curiously at the +bronzed, well-armed horsemen of the plains, who sat their wiry, swift +little steeds as if they were part and parcel of themselves, when they +rode up to exchange greetings with the Doctor. + +From that hour the Beaver's followers took the place of the lancers, +leading the van and closing up the rear, as well as constantly hovering +along the sides of the long waggon-train, which they guarded watchfully +as if it were their own particular charge. + +The Doctor placed implicit reliance in the chief, who guided them by a +longer route, but which proved to be one which took them round the base +of the two mountainous ridges they had to pass, and thus saved the +adventurers a long and arduous amount of toil with the waggons in the +rugged ground. + +At last, when they were well in sight of the flat-topped mountain, and +the Doctor was constantly reining in his horse to sweep the horizon with +his glass in search of the Apaches, the chief rode up to say that he and +his men were about to advance on a scouting expedition to sweep the +country between them and the canyon, while the train was to press on, +always keeping a watchful look-out until their Indian escort returned. + +The Beaver and his men scoured off like the wind, and were soon lost to +view, while that night and the next day the long train moved slowly over +the plain to avoid the dense clumps of prickly cactus and agaves, +suffering terribly from thirst, for what had been verdant when Bart was +there last was now one vast expanse of dust, which rose thickly in +clouds at the tramp of horse or mule. + +The want of water was beginning to be severely felt; and as they went +sluggishly on, towards the second evening horses and mules with drooping +heads, and the cattle lowing piteously, Bart, as he kept cantering from +place to place to say a few encouraging words, knew that he could hold +out no hope of water being reached till well on in the next day, and he +would have urged a halt for rest, only that the Doctor was eager for +them to get as well on their way as possible. + +Night at last, a wretched, weary night of intense heat, and man and +beast suffering horribly from thirst. The clouds had gathered during +the night, and the thunder rolled in the distance, while vivid flashes +of lightning illumined the plains, but no rain fell, and when morning +broke, after the most painful time Bart had ever passed, he found the +Doctor looking ghastly, his eyes bloodshot, his lips cracked, and that +even hardy Joses was suffering to as great an extent. + +The people were almost in a state of mutiny, and ready to ask the Doctor +if he had dragged them to this terrible blinding waste to perish from +thirst; while it was evident that if water was not soon reached half the +beasts must fall down by the way. + +As it was, numbers of the poor animals were bleeding from the mouth and +nostrils from the pricks received as they eagerly champed the various +plants of the cactus family. + +"Let us push on," said the Doctor; "everything depends upon our getting +on to that shallow lake, for there is no water in the way;" but with +every desire to push on, the task became more laborious every hour,--the +cattle were constantly striving to stray off to right or left in search +of something to quench their maddening thirst, while, go where he would, +the Doctor was met by fierce, angry looks and muttered threats. + +It would have been easy enough for the men to ride on to find water, but +there was always the fear that if they did, the Indians would select +just that moment for marching down and driving off their cattle and +plundering the waggons. Such an attack would have been ruin, perhaps +death to all, so there was nothing for it but to ride sullenly on in +company with the now plodding cattle, hour after hour. + +"Why don't the Beaver come back, Joses?" cried Bart, pettishly. "If he +were here, his men could take care of the cattle and waggons, while we +went on for water. The lake can't be many miles ahead." + +"A good ways yet," said Joses. "That mountain looks close when it's +miles away. Beaver's watching the Injuns somewheres, or he'd have been +back before now. Say, Master Bart, I'm glad we haven't got much farther +to go. If we had, we shouldn't do it." + +"I'm afraid not," replied Bart, and then they both had to join in the +task of driving back the suffering cattle into the main body, for they +would keep straying away. + +And so the journey went on all that day through the blinding, choking +dust and scorching heat, which seemed to blister and sting till it was +almost unbearable. + +"Keep it up, my lads," Bart kept on saying. "There's water ahead. Not +much farther now." + +"That mountain gets farther away," said one of the newcomers. "I don't +believe we shall ever get there." + +This was a specimen of the incessant complaining of the people, whom the +heat and thirst seemed to rob of every scrap of patience and endurance +that they might have originally possessed. + +But somehow, in spite of all their troubles, the day wore on, and Bart +kept hopefully looking out for a glimpse of the water ahead. + +They ought to have reached it long before, but the pace of the weary +oxen had been most painfully slow. Then the wind, what little there +was, had been behind them, seeming as out of the mouth of some furnace, +and bringing back upon them the finely pulverised dust that the cattle +raised. + +At last, towards evening, the sky began again to cloud over, and the +mountain that had appeared distant seemed, by the change in the +atmosphere, to be brought nearer to them. Almost by magic, too, the +wind fell. There was a perfect calm, and then it began to blow from the +opposite quarter, at first in soft puffs, then as a steady, refreshing +breeze, and instantly there was a commotion in the camp,--the cattle set +off at a lumbering gallop; the mules, heedless of their burdens, +followed suit; the horses snorted and strained at their bridles, and +Joses galloped about, shouting to the teamsters in charge of the +waggons, who were striving with all their might to restrain their +horses. + +"Let them go, my lads; unhitch and let them go, or they'll have the +waggons over." + +"Stampede! stampede!" some of the men kept shouting, and all at once it +seemed that the whole of the quadrupeds were in motion; for, acting upon +Joses' orders, the teams were unhitched, and away the whole body swept +in a thundering gallop onward towards the mountain, leaving the waggons +solitary in the dusty plain. + +Every now and then a mule freed itself of its pack, and began kicking +and squealing in delight at its freedom, while the cattle tossed their +horns and went on in headlong gallop. + +For once the wind had turned, the poor suffering beasts had sniffed the +soft moist air that had passed over the shallow lake, and their unerring +instinct set them off in search of relief. + +There was no pause, and all the mounted men could do was to let their +horses keep pace with the mules and cattle, only guiding them clear of +the thickest part of the drove. And so they thundered on till the dusty +plain was left behind, and green rank herbage and thickly growing +water-plants reached, through which the cattle rushed to the shallow +water at the edge of the lake. + +But still they did not stop to drink, but rushed on and on, plashing as +they went, till they were in right up to their flanks. Then, and then +only, did they begin to drink, snorting and breathing hard, and drawing +in the pure fresh water. + +Some bellowed with pleasure as they seemed to satisfy their raging +thirst; others began to swim or waded out till their nostrils only were +above the surface; while the mules, as soon as they had drunk their +fill, started to squeal and kick and splash to the endangerment of their +loads. The horses behaved the most soberly, contenting themselves with +wading in to a respectable distance, and then drinking when the water +was undisturbed and pure, as did their masters; the Doctor, Joses, and +Bart bending down and filling the little metal cups they carried again +and again. + +It was growing dark as they turned from the shallow water of the lake, +the mules following the horses placidly enough, and the lumbering cattle +contentedly obeying the call of their masters, and settling themselves +down directly to crop the rich rank grasses upon the marshy shores. + +A short consultation was held now, and the question arose whether they +had been observed by Indians, who might come down and try to stampede +the cattle. + +The matter was settled by one-half the men staying to guard them, while +the other half went back to fetch up the waggons, the mule-drivers +having plenty to do in collecting the burdens that had been kicked off, +but which the mules submitted patiently enough to have replaced. + +Still it was long on towards midnight before the waggons had all been +drawn up to the shores of the lake, whose soft moist grasses seemed like +paradise to the weary travellers over the desolate, dusty plains; and no +sooner had Bart tethered Black Boy, and seen him contentedly cropping +the grass, than, forgetful of Indians, hunger, everything but the fact +that he was wearied out, he threw himself down, and in less than a +minute he was fast asleep. + + + +CHAPTER TWENTY ONE. + +TAKING FULL POSSESSION. + +Waking with the bright sun shining over the waters of the lake, the +cattle quietly browsing, and the well-watered horses enjoying a +thoroughly good feed, the troubles of the journey over the dreary plain +were pretty well forgotten, and as fires were lit and meals prepared, +there were bright faces around ready to give the Doctor a genial "good +morning." + +Soon after those on the look-out, while the rest made a hearty meal to +prepare them for the toil of the day, announced Indians, and arms were +seized, while men stood ready to run to their horses and to protect +their cattle. + +But there was no need for alarm, the new-comers being the Beaver and his +followers, who stated that they had come upon signs of Indians, and +found that they had been by the mountain within the past day or two. +But they had followed the trail, and found that their enemies had gone +due north, following the course of the Great Canyon, and it was probable +that they had finished their raid into these southern parts, and would +not return. + +"If they do," said the Beaver, with contemptuous indifference, "our +young men shall kill them all. Their horses will be useful. They are +no good to live, for they are thieves and murderers without mercy." + +The rest of the journey was soon achieved, and the waggons drawn up in +regular order close beside the mountain, while, after due inspection of +the cavernous place where Joses had remained concealed with the horses, +it was decided as a first step to construct with rocks a semi-circular +wall, whose two ends should rest against the perpendicular +mountain-side, and this would serve as a corral for the cattle, and also +act as a place of retreat for a certain number to protect them, the +horses being kept in Joses' Hole, as Bart christened the place. + +There was plenty of willing labour now that the goal had been reached, +and a few of the principals had been with the Doctor to inspect the vein +of silver, from which they came back enthusiastic to a degree. + +Leaving the greater part busy over the task of forming the cattle corral +or enclosure, the Doctor called upon Bart and Joses, with three or four +of his leading followers, to make the ascent of the mountain, and to +this end a mysterious-looking pole was brought from the Doctor's waggon, +and given to one of the men to carry. A pick and some ropes and pegs +were handed to Joses, Bart received a bag, and thus accoutred they +started. + +"Where are we going?" said one of the party, as he saw that they were +walking straight for the perpendicular wall. + +"Up to the top of the mountain," replied the Doctor. + +"Have you ever been up?" the man asked, staring at him wonderingly. + +"No; but I believe the ascent will be pretty easy, and I have a reason +for going." + +"Is he mad?" whispered the man to Bart. "Why, nothing but a fly could +climb up there." + +"Mad? No," replied Bart, smiling. "Wait a bit, and you'll see." + +"Well, I wouldn't have believed there was a way through here!" said the +man, slapping his leg, and laughing heartily, as they reached the narrow +slit, crept through, and then stood with the long slope above them ready +for the ascent. "It seems as if nature had done it all in the most +cunning way, so as to make a hiding-place." + +"And a stronghold and fort for us," said Bart. "I think when once we +get this place in order, we may set at defiance all the Indians of the +plains." + +"If they don't starve us out, or stop our supply of water," said Joses, +gruffly. "Man must eat and drink." + +By this time the Doctor was leading the way up the long rugged slope, +that seemed as if it had been carved by water constantly rushing down, +though now it was perfectly dry. It was not above ten feet wide, and +the walls were in places almost perpendicular. + +It was a toilsome ascent, for at varying intervals great blocks of stone +barred the path, with here and there corresponding rifts; but a little +labour enabled the party to surmount these, and they climbed on till all +at once the path took a new direction, going back as it were upon +itself, but always upward at a sufficiently stiff angle, so as to form a +zigzag right up the face of the mountain. + +"It is one of the wonders of the world," exclaimed the Doctor, +enthusiastically. + +"It's a precious steep one, then," grumbled Joses. + +"I can hardly understand it yet," continued the Doctor, "unless there +has been a tremendous spring of water up on high here. It seems almost +impossible for this path to be natural." + +"Do you think it was made by men, sir?" said Bart. + +"It may have been, but it seems hardly possible. Some great nation may +have lived here once upon a time, but even then this does not look like +the work of man. But let us go on." + +It was quite a long journey to where the path turned again, and then +they rested, and sat down to enjoy the sweet pure breeze, and gaze right +out over the vast plain, which presented a wondrous panorama even from +where they were, though a far grander view awaited them from the top, +which they at last set off to reach. + +There were the same difficulties in the way; huge blocks of stone, over +which they had to climb; rifts that they had to leap, and various +natural ruggednesses of this kind, to seem in opposition to the theory +that the zigzag way was the work of hands, while at every halting-place +the same thought was exchanged by Bart and the Doctor--"What a fortress! +We might defend it against all attacks!" + +But the Doctor had one other thought, and that was, how high did the +silver lode come up into the mountain, and would they be able to +commence the mining up there? + +"At all events, Bart," he said, "up here will be our stores and +treasure-houses. Nothing can be more safe than this." + +At last, after a breathless ascent, Bart, who was in advance, sprang +upon the top, and uttered a loud cheer, but only to stop short as he +gazed round in wonder at the comparatively level surface of the +mountain, and the marvellous extent of the view around. Whether there +was silver, or whether there was none, did not seem to occur to him: all +he wanted was to explore the many wide acres of surface, to creep down +into the rifts, to cautiously walk along at the very edge of this +tremendous precipice, which went sharply down without protection of any +natural parapet of rock. Above all, he wanted to get over to the +farther side, and, going to the edge, gaze right into the glorious +canyon with the rugged sides, and try from this enormous height to trace +its course to right and left as it meandered through the plain. + +"What a place to live in!" thought Bart, for there were grass, flowers, +bushes, stunted trees, and cactuses, similar to those below them on the +plain. In fact, it seemed to Bart as if this was a piece--almost +roughly rounded--of the plain that had been left when the rest sank down +several hundred feet, or else that this portion had been thrust right up +to stand there, bold and bluff, ready to defy the fury of any storms +that might blow. + +The Doctor led the way half round, till he found what he considered a +suitable spot near the edge on the northern side of the mountain; and +there being no need to fear the Indians any longer, he set Joses to work +with the pick to clear out a narrow rift, into which the pole they had +brought was lowered, and wedged up perpendicularly with fragments of +rock, one of which Bart saw was almost a mass of pure silver; then +staves were set against the bottom, and bound there for strength; then +guy ropes added, and secured to well-driven-down pegs; and lastly, as a +defiance to the Indians, and a declaration of the place being owned by +the government, under whose consent they had formed the expedition, the +national flag was run up, amidst hearty cheers, and its folds blew out +strongly in the breeze. + +"Now," said the Doctor, "we are under the protection of the flag, and +can do as we please." + +"Don't see as the flag will be much protection," growled Joses; "but +it'll bring the Injun down on us before long." + +The Doctor did not hear these words, for he was beginning to explore the +top of the mountain, and making plans for converting the place into a +stronghold. Bart heard them, however, and turned to the grumbler. + +"Do you think the Indians will notice the flag, Joses?" he said. + +"Do I think the Injuns will notice it, Master Bart? Why, they can't +help noticing it. Isn't it flap, flap, flapping there, and asking them +to come as hard as it can. Why, they'll see that bit o' rag miles and +miles away, and be swooping down almost before we know where we are. +Mark my words if they'll not. We shall have to sleep with one eye open +and the other not shut, Master Bart, that's what we shall have to do." + +"Well, we shall be strong enough now to meet any number," said Bart. + +"Yes, if they don't catch us just as we are least expecting it. Dessay +the Doctor knows best, but we shall never get much of that silver home +on account of the Apaches." + +"Oh yes, we shall, Joses," said Bart, merrily. "Wait a bit, and you +will see that the Indians can be beaten off as easily as possible, and +they'll soon be afraid to attack us when they find how strong we are. +Perhaps they'll be glad to make friends. Now, come and have a look +round." + +Joses obeyed his young leader, shouldering his rifle, and following him +in a surly, ill-used sort of way, resenting everything that was +introduced to his notice as being poor and unsatisfactory. + +"Glad to see trees up here, Master Bart," he said, as the lad made a +remark, by a patch whose verdure was a pleasant relief to the eye after +the glare from the bare rock. "I don't call them scrubs of things +trees. Why, a good puff of wind would blow them off here and down into +the plain." + +"Then why hasn't a good puff of wind blown them off and down into the +plain?" said Bart. + +"Why haven't they been blown off--why haven't they been blown off, +Master Bart? Well, I suppose because the wind hasn't blowed hard +enough." + +Bart laughed, and they went on along the edge of the tremendous cliff +till they came above the canyon, down into which Bart, never seemed +weary of gazing. For the place had quite a fascination for him, with +its swift, sparkling river, beautiful wooded islands, and green and +varied shores. The sides of the place, too, were so wondrously +picturesque; here were weather-stained rocks of fifty different tints; +there covered with lovely creepers, hanging in festoons or clinging +close to the stony crevices that veined the rocky face in every +direction. The shelves and ledges and mossy nooks were innumerable, and +every one, even at that great height, wore a tempting look that drew the +lad towards it, and made him itch to begin the exploration. + +"What a lovely river, Joses!" he cried. + +"Lovely? Why, it's one o' those sand rivers. Don't you ever go into it +if we get down there; you'd be sucked into the quicksands before you +knew where you were. I don't think much of this place, Master Bart." + +"I do," cried the lad, stooping to pick up a rough fragment of stone, +and then, as it was long and thin, breaking it against the edge of a +piece of rock, when the newly-fractured end shone brightly in the sun +with a metallic sheen. + +"Why, there is plenty of silver up here, Joses," he said, examining the +stone intently. "This is silver, is it not?" + +Joses took the piece of stone in an ill-used way, examined it carefully, +and with a sour expression of countenance, as if he were grieved to own +the truth, and finally jerked it away from him so that it might fall +into the canyon. + +"Yes," he growled; "that's silver ore, but it's very poor." + +"Poor, Joses?" + +"Yes; horrid poor. There wasn't above half of that silver; all the rest +was stone. I like to see it in great solid lumps that don't want any +melting. That's what I call silver. Don't think much of this." + +"Well, it's a grand view, at all events, Joses," said Bart. + +"It's a big view, and you can see far enough for anything," he growled. +"You can see so far that you can't see any farther; but I don't see no +good in that. What's the good of a view that goes so far you can't see +it? Just as well have no view at all." + +"Why, you are never satisfied, Joses," laughed Bart. + +"Never satisfied! Well, I don't see nothing in this to satisfy a man. +You can't eat and drink a view, and it won't keep Injun off from you. +Pshaw! views are about no good at all." + +"Bart!" + +It was the Doctor calling, and on the lad running to him it was to find +that he was standing by a great chasm running down far into the body of +the mountain, with rough shelving slopes by which it was possible to +descend, though the task looked risky except to any one of the firmest +nerve. + +"Look down there, Bart," said the Doctor, rather excitedly; "what do you +make of it?" + +Bart took a step nearer so as to get a clearer view of the rent, rugged +pit, at one side of which was a narrow, jagged slit where the sunshine +came through, illumining what would otherwise have been gloomy in the +extreme. + +How far the chasm descended it was impossible to see from its +irregularity, the sides projecting in great buttresses here and there, +all of grey rock, while what had seemed to be the softer portions had +probably crumbled away. Here and there, though, glimpses could be +obtained of what looked like profound depths where all was black and +still. + +"What should you think this place must have been?" said the Doctor, as +if eager to hear the lad's opinion. + +"Wait a minute, sir," replied Bart, loosening a great fragment of rock, +which with some difficulty he pushed to the edge, and then, placing his +foot to it, thrust it over, and then bent forward to hear it fall. + +The distance before it struck was not great, for there was a huge mass +of rock projecting some fifty feet below upon which the stone fell, +glanced off, and struck against the opposite side, with the effect that +it was again thrown back far down out of sight; but the noise it made +was loud enough, and as Bart listened he heard it strike heavily six +times, then there was a dead silence for quite a minute, and it seemed +that the last stroke was when it reached the bottom. + +Bart was just about turning to speak to the Doctor when there came +hissing up a horrible echoing, weird sound, like a magnified splash, and +they knew that far down at an immense depth the great stone had fallen +into water. + +"Ugh!" ejaculated Bart, involuntarily imitating the Indians. "What a +hole! Why, it must be ten times as deep as this place is high. I +shouldn't care about going down." + +"Horrible indeed, Bart; but what should you think? Is this place +natural or dug out?" + +"Natural, I should say, sir," replied Bart. "Nobody could dig down to +such a depth as that." + +"Yes, natural," said the Doctor, carefully scanning the sides of the +place with a small glass. "Originally natural, but this place has been +worked." + +"Worked? What, dug out?" said Bart. "Why, what for--to get water?" + +"No," said the Doctor, quietly; "to get silver. This has been a great +mine." + +"But who would have dug it?" said Bart, eagerly. "The Indians would +not." + +"The people who roughly made the zigzag way up to the top here, my boy." + +"But what people would they be, sir? The Spaniards?" + +"No, Bart. I should say this was dug by people who lived long before +the Spaniards, perhaps thousands of years. It might have been done by +the ancient peoples of Mexico or those who built the great temples of +Central America and Yucatan--those places so old that there is no +tradition of the time when they were made. One thing is evident, that +we have come upon a silver region that was known to the ancients." + +"Well, I am disappointed," cried Bart. "I thought, sir, that we had +made quite a new find." + +"So did I at first, Bart," replied the Doctor; "but at any rate, save to +obtain a few scraps, the place has not been touched, I should say, for +centuries; and even if this mine has been pretty nearly exhausted, there +is ample down below there in the canyon, while this mount must be our +fortress and our place for furnaces and stores." + +They descended cautiously for about a couple of hundred feet, +sufficiently far for the Doctor to chip a little at the walls, and find +in one or two places veins that ran right into the solid mountain, and +quite sufficient to give ample employment to all the men without +touching the great lode in the crack of the canyon side; and this being +so, they climbed back to meet Joses, who had been just about to descend +after them. + +"You'll both be killing of yourselves before you're done, master," he +said, roughly. "No man ought to go down a place like that without a +rope round his waist well held at the end." + +"Well, it would have been safer," said the Doctor, smiling. + +"Safer? Yes," growled Joses; "send down a greaser next time. There's +plenty of them, and they aren't much consequence. We could spare a +few." + +The Doctor smiled, and after continuing their journey round the edge of +the old mine, they made their way to the zigzag descent, whose great +regularity of contrivance plainly enough indicated that human hands had +had something to do with it; while probably, when it was in use in the +ancient ages, when some powerful nation had rule in the land, it might +have been made easy of access by means of logs and balks of wood laid +over the rifts from side to side. + + + +CHAPTER TWENTY TWO. + +PREPARATIONS FOR SAFETY. + +The descent was almost more arduous than the ascent, but there was no +danger save such as might result from a slip or wrench through placing a +foot in one of the awkward cracks, and once more down in the plain, +where the camp was as busy as an ant hill, the Doctor called the +principal Englishmen about his waggon, and formed a sort of council, as +he proceeded to lay his plans before them. + +The first was--as they were ready to defy the Indians, and to fight for +their position there, to make the mountain their fortress, and in spite +of the laborious nature of the ascent, it was determined that the tents +should be set up on the top, while further steps were taken to enlarge +the interior of the opening as soon as the narrow entrance was passed, +so as to allow of a party of men standing ready to defend the way +against Indians who might force themselves in. + +This was decided on at once, and men told off to do the work. + +Then it was proposed to build three or four stout walls across the +sloping path, all but just room enough for a man to glide by. These +would be admirable means of defence to fight behind, if the enemy forced +their way in past the first entry, and with these and a larger and +stronger barrier at the top of the slope by the first turn, it was +considered by the Doctor that with ordinary bravery the place would be +impregnable. + +So far so good; but then there were the horses and cattle, the former in +the cavern-like stable, the latter in their stonewalled corral or +enclosure. + +Here was a difficulty, for now, however strong their defence might be, +they were isolated, and it would be awkward in case of attack to have +two small parties of men detailed for the guarding of these places, +which the Indians would be sure to attack in force, in place of throwing +their lives away against the well-defended mountain path. + +"Couldn't we contrive a gallery along the face of the mountain, right +along above the ravine and the stables, sir?" said Bart. "I think some +stones might be loosened out, and a broad ledge made, too high for the +Indians to climb up, and with a good wall of stones along the edge we +could easily defend the horses." + +"A good idea, Bart, if it can be carried out," said the Doctor. "Let's +go and see!" + +Inspection proved that this could easily be done so as to protect the +horses, but not the corral, unless its position were altered and it were +placed close alongside of the cavern stable. + +After so much trouble had been taken in rearing this wall it seemed a +great pity, but the men willingly set to work, while some loosened +stones from above, and levered them down with bars, these fallen stones +coming in handy for building up the wall. + +Fineness of finish was not counted; nothing but a strong barrier which +the cattle could not leap or throw down, if an attempt was made to scare +them into a stampede, was all that was required, and so in a few days +not only was this new corral strongly constructed, and the ledge +projected fifty feet above it in the side of the mountain had been +excavated, and edged with a strong wall of rock. + +There was but little room, only advantage was taken of holes in the +rock, which were enlarged here and there so as to form a kind of +rifle-pit, in which there was plenty of space for a man to creep and +kneel down to load and fire at any enemy who should have determined to +carry off the cattle. In fine, they had at last a strong place of +defence, only to be reached from a spot about a hundred feet up the +sloping way to the summit of the mountain; and the road to and from the +bastion, as the Doctor called it, was quite free from observation in the +plain, if the defenders crept along on hands and knees. + +Beneath the entrance to this narrow gallery a very strong wall was built +nearly across the slope; and at Bart's suggestion a couple of huge +stones were loosened in the wall just above, and a couple of crowbars +were left there ready to lower these still further, so that they would +slip down into the narrow opening left in case of emergency, and thus +completely keep the Indians out. + +All these matters took a great deal of time, but the knowledge of the +danger from the prowling bands of Indians always on the war-path on the +plains, and also that of the large treasure in silver that was within +their reach, made the men work like slaves. + +Water had been found in a spring right at the top of the mountain, and +after contriving a basin in the rock that it should fill, it was +provided with an outlet, and literally led along a channel of silver +down to where it could trickle along a rift, and then down by the side +of the sloping paths to a rock basin dug and blasted out close to the +entrance in the plain. + +This was a good arrangement, for the water was deliciously pure, and +gave an ample supply to the camp, and even to the cattle when necessary, +a second overflow carrying the fount within the corral, where a +drinking-place was made, so that they were thus independent of the lake +upon the plain, or the necessity for contriving a way down to the river +in the canyon. Attention had then to be given to the food supply, and +this matter was mentioned to the Beaver. + +For Bart had suggested that no doubt the Indians would find buffalo for +them, instead of passing their time playing the part of mountain scouts +and herdsmen when the cattle were driven to feed down in the rich +pastures by the lake. + + + +CHAPTER TWENTY THREE. + +OFF ON A HUNT. + +The Beaver did not often smile, but when Bart tried to explain his +wishes to him that he should lead a little party out into the plains to +shoot buffalo for the party, his stolid, warlike countenance began +slowly to expand; there was a twinkle here and a crease there; his +solemn, watchful eyes sparkled; then they flashed, and at last a look of +joy overspread his countenance, and he said a few words eagerly to the +interpreter. + +"The Beaver-with-Sharp-Teeth," began the latter slowly, "says that it is +good, and that we will go and hunt bison, for it is men's work, while +minding the grazing cattle here is only fit for squaws." + +The Indians immediately began their preparations, which were marked by +their brevity. Rifles and ammunition were examined, girths were +tightened, and small portions of dried meat tied to the pad saddles +ready for use if required, though it was hoped that a sufficiency of +fresh meat would soon be obtained. + +Then it was reported to Dr Lascelles that all was ready. + +At that moment it seemed as if there were two boys in the camp, and that +these two were sun-blackened, toil-roughened Joses, and Bart. + +For these two could not conceal their eagerness to be of the hunting +party, and every now and then Joses kept stealing a quick, animal-like +glance at Bart, while the latter kept glancing as sharply at the +frontiersman. + +Neither spoke, but their looks said as plainly as could be: + +"What a shame it will be if he goes, and I have to stay in camp." + +The Indians had mounted, and were sitting like so many bronze statues, +waiting for the Doctor's permission to go; for military precision and +discipline had of late been introduced, and regular guards and watches +kept, much to the disgust of some of the Englishmen, who did not scruple +to say that it was quite unnecessary. + +Meanwhile the Doctor seemed to have been seized with a thoughtful fit, +and stood there musing, as if he were making some plan as to the future. + +Bart kept on trying to catch his eye, but in vain. Then he glanced +towards where the Beaver was seated upon his horse, with his keen black +eyes fixed upon the youth, and his look seemed to Bart to say: "Are not +you coming?" + +"I don't like to ask leave to go," thought Bart; "but oh, if I could +only have permission! What a gallop! To be at the back of a drove of +bison as they go thundering over the plain! It will be horrible if I +have to stay." + +He looked towards where Joses stood frowning heavily, and still the +Doctor gave no orders. He seemed regularly absorbed in his thoughts. +The Beaver was growing impatient, and his men were having hard work to +quiet their fiery little steeds, which kept on snorting and pawing up +the sand, giving a rear up by way of change, or a playful bite at some +companion, which responded with a squeal or a kick. + +At last Joses began making signs to Bart that he should come over to his +side, but the lad did not see them, for his eyes were fixed upon the +Doctor, who at last seemed to start out of his musing fit. + +"Ah!" he said; "yes, you men had better go. Tell them, Bart, to drive +the bison as near camp as they can before they kill them. It will save +so much trouble." + +"Yes, sir," replied Bart, drawing in his breath in a way that sounded +like a sigh. "Any other orders?" + +"No, my boy, no. Or, stop; they ought to have an Englishman with them +perhaps. Better let Harry go; we can spare him. Or, stay, send Joses." + +The frontiersman uttered a snort, and was about turning to go to the +spot where his horse was tethered, when he stopped short, to stand +staring at Bart, with a look full of commiseration, and Bart read it +truly--"I'll stop, my lad, if you can get leave to go instead." + +Then came fresh words from the Doctor's lips--words that sent the blood +galloping through Bart's veins, and made his nerves thrill and his eyes +flash with delight. + +"I suppose you would not care to go upon such a rough expedition as +this, Bart?" the Doctor said. + +"Oh, but I should, sir," the lad exclaimed. "I'd give anything to go-- +if you could spare me," he added. + +The Doctor looked at him in a half-thoughtful, half-hesitating way, and +remained silent for a time, while Bart felt upon the tiptoe of +expectation, and in a horrible state of dread lest his guardian should +alter his mind. + +"Better stop, Bart," he said at last. "Bison-hunting is very difficult +and dangerous work. You might be run or trampled down, or tossed, or +goodness knows what beside." + +"I'd take the greatest care to be out of danger, sir," said Bart, +deprecatingly. + +"By running into it at every turn, eh, my boy?" said the Doctor, +good-humouredly. "Then I'll ask the opinion of Joses, and see what he +says. Here, Joses!" + +The frontiersman came up at a trot, and then stood leaning upon his +rifle. + +"What do you think?" asked the Doctor. "Would it be safe to allow Bart +here to go with you after the bison?" + +"You mean buffler, don't you?" said Joses, in a low, growling tone. + +"No; I mean bison," replied the Doctor, sharply. "You people call them +buffalo. I say, do you think it safe for him to go with you?" + +"Safe? Course it is," growled Joses. "We shall want him too. He's so +light, and his Black Boy is so swift, that the hunting party will get on +better and cut out more buffalo meat if he comes." + +"Well, then, according to that, Bart," said the Doctor, good-humouredly, +"I suppose I must let you go." + +"If you please, sir," said Bart, quietly; and then, with a gush of +boyish enthusiasm, "I'd give anything to go, sir--I would indeed." + +"Then I suppose you must go, Bart. Be off!" + +The lad rushed off, followed by Joses, who seemed quite as much excited +and as overjoyed, for he kept on slapping Bart upon the shoulder, and +giving vent to little "hoorays" and "whoops", and other inhuman cries, +indicative of his delight; while no sooner did the Beaver realise that +Joses and Bart would be of the party than he began to talk quickly to +the interpreter, then to his followers, and at last sat there +motionless, in dignified silence, waiting for what was to come. + +Stolid Indian as he was, though, he could not keep it up, but dashed his +heels into his pony's ribs after a few moments, and cantered to where +Joses and Bart were making their preparations, and, leaping to the +ground, he eagerly proffered his services. + +They were not needed, and he stood looking on, talking eagerly in his +own language, putting in an English word wherever he could think of one, +or fancied that it would fit, till all seemed ready, and Bart stood +patting his little arch-necked black cob, after slinging his rifle over +his shoulder. + +Just then the Doctor waved his hand as a signal to him of farewell, and +reading it also as a sign that they might set off, Bart leaped into his +saddle, Joses followed suit, and saying something to his pony which +started it off, the Beaver seemed to swing himself out into a horizontal +position over his steed's back, and then dropped into his place, and +they all then cantered up to where the rest of the Indians were +impatiently waiting. + +"All ready?" cried Bart. + +"Ready we are, Master Bart," growled Joses. + +"Off, then," cried Bart, waving his hand, when, amidst a ringing cheer +from the little crowd of lookers-on, the bison-hunters went off at full +speed over the sandy plain, making for the left of the lake; and as Bart +turned in his saddle to gaze back, the camp, with its round-topped +waggons, the flat mountain, and the faintly shown track up to its +summit, looked like some beautiful panorama, above which the great flag +blew out in the brisk breeze, and flapped and waved its folds merrily as +if flaunting defiance to every Indian on the plain. But as Bart gazed +up at the flag, he could not help thinking what a mere scrap of coloured +cloth it was, and what a very little the Indians would think of it if +they determined to come down and attack the camp in their might. + + + +CHAPTER TWENTY FOUR. + +HINTS ON BISON-HUNTING. + +"Ease off a bit, Master Bart," cried Joses, after they had all been +riding at full gallop for a couple of miles over the plains. "Whoo-- +hoop, my Injun friends! Whoo--hoop!" + +"Whoo-hoop! whoo-hoop! whoo-hoop!" yelled back the Indians, excitedly; +and taking it as an incentive to renewed exertion, they pressed the +flanks of their horses, which responded freely, and they swept on more +swiftly still. + +"Tell Beaver to stop a bit," cried Joses; "you're nighest to him, my +lad." And Bart was about to shout some words to the chief, who was on +his other side, riding with eyes flashing with excitement, and every +nerve on the throb, thoroughly enjoying the wild race after so long a +time of inaction in the camp. And it was not only the riders who +enjoyed the racing; the horses seemed to revel in it, all tossing their +massive manes and snorting loudly with delight, while swift as they went +they were always so well-prepared that they would try to kick each other +whenever two were in anything like close proximity. + +Bart shouted to the Beaver to check his pace, but he was misunderstood, +and the party swept on, whooping with delight, for all the world like a +pack of excited schoolboys just let loose for a holiday. + +"We shall have our nags regularly blown, my lad," panted Joses;--"and +then if we come upon unfriendly Injuns it'll be the worse for us. Let's +you and me draw rein, then they'll stop." + +A pause in the mad gallop came without the inciting of Bart and his +follower, for all at once one of the Indians' horses planted his hoof in +a gopher hole, cunningly contrived by the rat-like creature just in the +open part of the plain; and unable to recover itself or check its +headlong speed, the horse turned a complete somersault, throwing his +rider right over his head quite twenty feet away, and as the rest drew +rein and gathered round, it seemed for the time as if both pony and +rider were killed. + +Bart leaped down to go to the poor fellow's help, but just as the lad +reached him, the Indian, who had been lying flat upon his back, suddenly +sat up, shook his head, and stared round in bewilderment. The next +moment he had caught sight of his steed, and leaped to his feet to run +and catch the rein just as the pony was struggling up. + +As the pony regained its feet the Indian leaped upon its back, while the +sturdy little animal gave itself a shake that seemed to be like one +gigantic quiver, beginning at its broad inflated nostrils, and ending +with the rugged strands of its great thick uncombed tail. + +Just then the Beaver uttered a yell, and away the whole party swept +again, the Indian who had fallen seeming in no wise the worse for his +encounter with the sandy earth. + +"That's where the Indian gets the better of the white man, Master Bart. +A fall like that would have about knocked all the life out of me. It's +my belief them Injuns likes it, and so you see they can bear so much +that they grow hard to clear away; and in spite of our being so much +more knowing, they're often too much for us." + +"But had we not better pull up, Joses?" cried Bart, for they were +tearing along over the plain once more at a tremendous gallop. + +"It's no use to try, my lad; the horses won't stop and leave them others +galloping on. You may train horses as much as you like, but there's a +lot of nature left in them, and that you can't eddicate out." + +"What do you mean?" panted Bart, for it was hard work riding so fast. + +"What do I mean, my boy? why, that horses is used to going in big droves +together, and this puts 'em in mind of it, and they like it. You try +and pull Black Boy in. There, I told you so. See how he gnaws at his +bit and pulls. There's no stopping him, my lad, no more than there is +mine. Let 'em go, my lad. Perhaps we mayn't meet any one we don't want +to meet after all." + +Hardly had he spoken before the Beaver raised his arm, and his followers +pulled up as if by magic, forming in quite a small circle close to him, +with their horses' heads almost touching him. + +The Beaver signed to Bart and Joses to approach, and room was made for +them to join in the little council which was to be held, and the result +was that being now well out in the plains far north of where they had +originally travelled to reach the mountain, they now headed off to the +west, the Indians separating, and opening out more and more so as to +cover wider ground with their keen eyes, while every little eminence was +climbed so that the horizon could be swept in search of bison. + +"Do you think we shall meet with any, Joses?" asked Bart. + +"What, buffler, my lad? Well, I hope so. There's never no knowing, for +they're queer beasts, and there's hundreds here to-day, and to-morrow +you may ride miles and miles, and not see a hoof. Why, I've known times +when I've come upon a drove that was miles long." + +"Miles, Joses?" + +"Yes, Master Bart, miles long. Bulls, and cows, and calves, of all +kinds, from little bits o' things, right up to some as was nearly as big +as their fathers and mothers, only not so rough and fat; and they'd go +on over the plain in little bands. If you was looking at 'em from far +off, it seemed like one great long drove that there was no counting, but +when you rode nearer to see, you found that what you took for one big +drove was only made up of hundreds of other droves--big families like of +fathers, and mothers, and children, which always kept themselves to +themselves and didn't mix with the others. Then all along outside the +flanks of the great drove of droves you'd see the wolves hanging about, +half-starved, fierce-looking vermin, licking their bare chops, and +waiting their chance to get something to eat." + +"But wolves wouldn't attack the great bison, would they?" asked Bart. + +"Only when they're about helpless--wounded or old, you know, then they +will. What they wolves is waiting for is for the young calves--little, +helpless sort of things that are always being left behind as the great +drove goes feeding on over the plains; and if you watch a drove, you'll +every now and then find a calf lying down, and its mother trying to coax +it to get up and follow the others, while the old cow keeps mooing and +making no end of a noise, and cocking up her tail, and making little +sets of charges at the wolves to drive them back whenever they get too +near. Ah, it's a rum sight to see the lank, fierce, hungry beasts +licking their chops, and thinking every now and then that they've got +the calf, for the old mother keeps going off a little way to try and +make the stupid cow baby get up and follow. Then the wolves make a +rush, and so does the buffalo, and away go the hungry beggars, for a +wolf is about as cowardly a thing as ever run on four legs, that he is." + +"I should like to see a sight like that, Joses," said Bart; "how I would +shoot at the wolves!" + +"What for?" said Joses. + +"What for? Why, because they must be such cowardly, cruel beasts, to +try and kill the calves." + +"So are we cowardly, cruel beasts, then," said Joses, philosophically. +"Wolves want to live same as humans, and it's all their nature. If they +didn't kill and keep down the buffler, the country would be all buffler, +and there wouldn't be room for a man to walk. It's all right, I tell +you; wolves kills buffler for food, and so do we. Why, you never +thought, praps, how bufflers fill up the country in some parts. I've +seen droves of 'em miles upon miles long, and if it wasn't for the +wolves and the Injun, as I said afore, there wouldn't be room for +anything else." + +"Are there so many as you say, Joses?" asked Bart. + +"Not now, my lad. There used to be, but they've been killed down a +deal. You see the Injun lives on 'em a'most. He cuts up and dries the +beef, and he makes himself buffler robes of the skins, and very nice +warm things they are in cold parts up in the mountains. I don't know +what the Injun would do if it wasn't for the buffler. He'd starve. Not +as that would be so very much consequence, as far as some tribes goes-- +Comanches and Apaches, and them sort as lives by killing and murdering +every one they sees. Halloa! what's that mean?" + +He pulled up, and shaded his eyes with his hand, to gaze at where one of +the Indians was evidently making some sign with his spear as he sat in a +peculiar way, right on their extreme left, upon an eminence in the +plain. + +Bart looked eagerly on, so as to try and learn what this signal meant. + +"Oh, I know," said Joses directly, as he saw the Beaver make his horse +circle round. "He can see a herd far out on the plain, and the Beaver +has just signalled him back; so ride on, my lad, and we may perhaps come +across a big run of the rough ones before the day is out." + + + +CHAPTER TWENTY FIVE. + +BART'S FIRST BISON. + +Joses was wrong, for no sign was seen of buffalo that day, and so the +next morning, after a very primitive kind of camp out in the wilderness, +the Beaver took them in quite a different direction, parallel to the +camp, so as to be within range, for distance had to be remembered in +providing meat for so large a company. + +It was what Joses called ticklish work. + +"You must keep your eyes well skinned, Master Bart," he said, with a +grim smile, as they left the plain for an undulating country, full of +depressions, most of which contained water, and whose gentle hills were +covered with succulent buffalo-grass. "If you don't, my lad, you may +find yourself dropping down on to a herd of Apaches instead of +buffaloes; and I can tell you, young fellow, that a buck Injun's a deal +worse thing to deal with than a bull buffler. You must keep a sharp +look-out." + +"I'll do the best I can, Joses, you may be sure; but suppose I should +come upon an Indian party--what am I to do?" + +"Do, my lad? Why, make tracks as sharp as ever you can to your +friends--that is, if you are alone." + +"But if I can't get away, and they shoot at me?" + +"Well, what do you mean?" said Joses, dryly. + +"I mean what am I to do if I am in close quarters, and feel that they +will kill me?" + +"Oh," said Joses, grimly, "I should pull up short, and go up to them and +give them my hatchet, and rifle, and knife, and say to 'em that you hope +they won't be so wicked as to kill you, for you are very fond of Injun, +and think 'em very nice; and then you'll see they'll be as pleased as +pleased, and they'll make such a fuss over you." + +"Do you mean that, Joses?" + +"Mean it, my lad? to be sure I do. A friend of mine did so, just as +I've told you, for he was afraid to fight." + +"And did the Indians make a fuss over him?" asked Bart. + +"To be sure they did, my lad; they took his weppuns, and then they set +him on his knees, and pulled all the hair off his head to make an +ornament for one of their belts, and then, because he hollered out and +didn't like it, they took their lariats and tethering pegs, and after +fixing the pegs in the ground, they put a rope round each of his ankles +and his wrists, and spread-eagled him out tight, and then they lit a +fire to warm themselves, for it was a very cold day." + +"What!" cried Bart, looking aghast at his companion, who was evidently +bantering him. + +"Oh no, not to roast him," said Joses, laughing; "they didn't mean that. +They lit the fire on purpose to warm themselves; and where do you think +they lit it?" + +"In a hole in the ground," said Bart. + +"No, my boy; they lit it on that poor fellow's chest, and kept it +burning there fiercely, and sat round it and warmed themselves; and the +more that poor wretch shrieked for mercy, the more they laughed." + +"Joses, it's too horrid to believe," cried Bart. + +"Well, it does sound too horrid; don't it, eh? But it's the simple, +honest truth, my boy, for some of they Injuns is regular demons, and +stop at nothing. They do any mortal thing under the sun to a white." + +"Then you would not surrender?" said Bart. + +"Surrender? What! to an Indian? Not till I hadn't got a bit o' life in +my body, my lad. Not before." + +"But would you have me turn upon them and shoot them, Joses?" said the +lad, with all a boy's horror of shedding blood. + +"Bart, my lad," said Joses, holding out his rough hand, which the boy +readily grasped, "if you ask me for a bit of advice, as one who knows +pretty well what unfriendly Injun is, I'll give it to you." + +"I do ask it, Joses, for it horrifies me to think of trying to take a +man's life." + +"Of course it does, my lad; so it used to me. But here's my bit of +advice for you:--Whenever you meet Injun, don't trust 'em till they're +proved to be of the right grit. Don't hurt a hair of any one of their +heads, and always be honest in dealing with them. But if it comes to +fighting, and you see they mean your life, fight for it like a man. +Show 'em that an English boy has got a man's heart, only it's young, and +not full growed. Never give up, for recklect that if the Injuns get +hold of you it means death--horrible death--while if you fight you may +beat 'em, and if you don't it's only death all the same." + +"But it seems so dreadful to shoot at a man, knowing that you may kill +him." + +"So it does, my lad, but it's ever so much more dreadful for them to +shoot at you. They've only got to leave you alone and it's all right." + +Just then the Beaver came cantering up to them, gently lying right down +upon his horse. + +"Jump off, Master Bart," cried Joses; "there's buffler in sight, and we +don't want to scare 'em." + +Setting the example, he slid from his horse, and stood behind it, Bart +imitating his acts, and they waited there till the Beaver came up, and +pointed towards an opening in the distance, where, for the moment, Bart +could see nothing; but watching attentively, he soon made out what +seemed to be a dark patch moving slowly towards them. + +"Are those bison?" he whispered to Joses; though the objects at which he +gazed were miles away. + +"No, they aren't," growled Joses; "them's buffler, and they're a feeding +steadily on in this way, so that we shall be able to get a good few, I +hope, and p'r'aps drive two or three a long way on towards the camp, so +as to save carrying them there." + +"May we ride up to them now?" cried Bart. + +"I ain't going to have anything to do with the hunt," cried Joses, +grimly. "Let the Beaver do it all; he's used to it. I haven't had +anything to do with buffler-hunting for a many years." + +"Are the bulls very dangerous?" said Bart then. "I mean may I ride +pretty close up to one without getting gored?" + +"They ain't half so dangerous as our own bulls used to be down at the +ranche, my lad, and not a quarter so dangerous as them that have taken +to a wild life after jumping out of the corral." + +By this time the Beaver had signalled his followers to approach, and +after giving them some instructions, they all rode off together into a +bit of a valley, the Beaver and his English companions following them, +so that in a few minutes they were out of sight of the approaching herd +of buffalo, which came steadily on in profound ignorance of there being +enemies in their neighbourhood. + +The country was admirably adapted for a hunt, the ground being +unencumbered by anything larger than a scrubby kind of brush, while its +many shallow valleys gave the hunters ample opportunity for riding +unseen until they had reached a favourable situation for their +onslaught. + +The Beaver was evidently a thorough expert in such a hunt as this, for +he kept on dismounting and making observations, directing his followers +here and there, and often approaching pretty near, making retrograde +movements, so as to bring them forward again in a more satisfactory +position. + +His last arrangement was to place his following in couples about a +hundred yards apart, parallel with the line of march of the herd, which +was still invisible to Bart, though on the other side of the ridge in +whose valley he sheltered he could hear a strange snorting noise every +now and then, and a low angry bellow. + +"We're to wait his signal, Master Bart, and then ride up the slope here, +and go right at the buffler. Don't be afraid, my lad, but pick out the +one you mean to have, and then stick to him till you've brought him down +with a bullet right through his shoulder." + +"I'll try not to be afraid, Joses," said Bart; "but I can't help feeling +a bit excited." + +"You wouldn't be good for much if you didn't, my boy," said the +frontiersman. "Now then, be ready. Is your rifle all right?" + +"Yes." + +"Mind then: ride close up to your bull, and as he gallops off you gallop +too, till you reach out with your rifle in one hand and fire." + +"But am I to ride right up to the herd, Joses?" + +"To be sure you are, my boy. Don't you be afraid, I tell you. It's +only getting over it the first time. Just you touch Black Boy with your +heels, and he'll take you right in between a couple of the bulls, so +that you can almost reach them on each side. Then you'll find they'll +begin to edge off on both sides, and get farther and farther away, when, +as I told you before, you must stick to one till you've got him down." + +"Poor brute!" said Bart, gently. + +"Poor stuff!" cried Joses. "We must have meat, mustn't we? You +wouldn't say poor salmon or poor sheep because it had to be killed. +Look out. Here we go." + +For the Beaver had made a quick signal, and in a moment the hunting +party began to ascend the slope leading to the ridge, beyond which Bart +knew that the bison were feeding, and most probably in a similar +depression to the one in which the horsemen had been hidden. + +"Look out for yourself," said Joses, raising his rifle; and nerving +himself for the encounter, and wondering whether he really was afraid or +no, Bart pressed his little cob's sides with his heels, making it +increase its pace, while he, the rider, determined to dash boldly into +the herd just as he had been told. + +At that moment Bart's courage had a severe trial, for it seemed as if by +magic that a huge bull suddenly appeared before him, the monster having +trotted heavily to the top of the ridge, exactly opposite to Bart, and, +not ten yards apart, the latter and the bull stopped short to gaze at +each other. + +"What a monster!" thought Bart, bringing his rifle to bear upon the +massive head, with the tremendous shoulders covered with long coarse +shaggy hair, while the short curved horns and great glowing eyes gave +the bull so ferocious an aspect that upon first acquaintance it was +quite excusable that Bart's heart should quail and his hands tremble as +he took aim, for the animal did not move. + +Just then Bart remembered that Joses had warned him not to fire at the +front of a bison. + +"He'd carry away half-a-dozen balls, my lad, and only die miserably +afterwards in the plain. What you've got to do is to put a bullet in a +good place and bring him down at once. That's good hunting. It saves +powder and lead, makes sure of the meat, and don't hurt the buffler half +so much." + +So Bart did not fire, but sat there staring up at the bull, and the bull +stood above him pawing the ground, snorting furiously, and preparing +himself for a charge. + +Truth must be told. If Bart had been left to himself on this his first +meeting with a bison, especially as the beast looked so threatening, he +would have turned and fled. But as it happened, he was not left to +himself, for Black Boy did not share his rider's tremor. He stood +gazing warily up at the bull for a few moments, and then, having +apparently made up his mind that there was not much cause for alarm, and +that the bison was a good deal of a big bully without a great deal of +bravery under his shaggy hide, he began to move slowly up the slope, +taking his master with him, to Bart's horror and consternation. + +"He'll charge at and roll us over and over down the slope," thought +Bart, as he freed his feet from the stirrups, ready to leap off and +avoid being crushed beneath his nag. + +Nine yards--eight yards--six yards--closer and closer, and the bison did +not charge. Then so near that the monster's eyes seemed to flame, and +still nearer and nearer, with the great animal tossing its head, and +making believe to lower it and tear up the earth with one horn. + +"If he don't run we must," thought Bart, at last, as Black Boy slowly +and cautiously took him up to within a yard of the shaggy beast, whose +bovine breath Bart could smell now as he tossed his head. + +Then, all at once, the great fellow wheeled round and thundered down the +slope, while, as if enjoying the discomfiture, Black Boy made a bound, +cleared the ridge, and descended the other slope at full gallop close to +the bison's heels. + +All Bart's fear went in the breeze that swept by him. He felt ready to +shout with excitement, for the valley before him seemed to be alive with +bison, all going along at a heavy lumbering gallop, with Joses and the +Indians in full pursuit, and all as much excited as he. + +His instructions were to ride right in between two of the bison, single +out one of them, and to keep to him till he dropped; and Bart saw +nothing but the huge drove on ahead, with the monstrous bull whose +acquaintance he had made thundering on between him and the main body. + +"I must keep to him," thought Bart; "and I will, till I have shot him +down." + +"If I can," he added a few minutes later, as he kept on in the exciting +chase. + +How long it lasted he could not tell, nor how far they went. All he +knew was that after a long ride the bull nearly reached the main body; +and once mingled with them, Bart felt that he must lose him. + +But this did not prove to be the case, for Black Boy had had too good a +training with cattle-driving. He had been a bit astonished at the +shaggy hair about the bison's front, but it did not trouble him much; +and without being called upon by spur or blow, no sooner did the bison +plunge into the ranks of his fellows as they thundered on, than the +gallant little horse made three or four bounds, and rushed close up to +his haunch, touching him and the bison on his left, with the result that +both of the shaggy monsters edged off a little, giving way so that Bart +was carried right in between them, and, as Joses had suggested, there +was one moment when he could literally have kicked the animals on either +side of his little horse. + +That only lasted for a moment, though; for both of the bison began to +edge away, with the result that the opening grew wider and wider, while, +remembering enough of his lesson, Bart kept close to the bull's flank, +Black Boy never flinching for a moment; and at last the drove had +scattered, so that the young hunter found himself almost all alone on +the plain, going at full speed beside his shaggy quarry, the rest of the +herd having left him to his fate. + +And now the bull began to grow daring, making short rushes at horse and +rider, but they were of so clumsy a nature that Black Boy easily avoided +them, closing in again in the most pertinacious manner upon the bull's +flanks as soon as the charge was ended. + +All at once Bart remembered that there was something else to be done, +and that he was not to go on riding beside the bison, but to try and +shoot it. + +Easier said than done, going at full gallop, but he brought his rifle to +bear, and tried to get a good aim, but could not; for it seemed as if +the muzzle were either jerked up towards the sky or depressed towards +the ground. + +He tried again and again, but could not make sure of a shot, so, +checking his steed a little, he allowed the bison to get a few yards +ahead, and then galloped forward till he was well on the right side, +where he could rest the rifle upon his horse's withers, and, waiting his +time, get a good shot. + +It might have been fired into the earth for all the effect it had, save +to produce an angry charge, and it was the same with a couple more +shots. Then, all at once, as Bart was re-loading, the poor brute +suddenly stood still, panting heavily, made an effort to charge the +little horse, stopped, ploughed up the ground with its right horn, and +then shivered and fell over upon its flank--dead. + +Bart leaped from his horse in his excitement, and, running to the bison, +jumped upon its shaggy shoulder, took off his cap, waved it above his +head, and uttered a loud cheer. + +Then he looked round for some one to echo his cry, and he saw a +widespread stretch of undulating prairie land, with some tufts of bush +here, some tall grass there, and beneath his feet the huge game beast +that he had fairly run down and shot, while close beside him Black Boy +was recompensing himself for his long run by munching the coarse brown +grass. + +And that was all. + + + +CHAPTER TWENTY SIX. + +ALONE IN THE PLAINS. + +Where were the hundreds of buffalo that had been thundering over the +plain? + +Where was Joses? + +Where were the Indians? + +These were the questions Bart asked as he gazed round him in dismay. +For the excitement of his gallop was over now, and, though they wanted +meat so badly, he felt half sorry that he had shot the poor beast that +lay stiffening by his side for he had leaped down, and had, as if by +instinct, taken hold of Black Boy's rein, lest he should suddenly take +it into his head to gallop off and leave his master in the solitude by +himself. + +For a few minutes there was something novel and strange in the sensation +of being the only human being in that vast circle whose circumference +was the horizon, seen from his own centre. + +Then it began to be astonishing, and Bart wondered why he could not see +either hunters or buffaloes. + +Lastly, it began to be painful, and to be mingled with a curious +sensation of dread. He realised that he was alone in that vast plain-- +that he had galloped on for a long while without noticing in which +direction he had gone, and then, half-stunned and wondering as he fully +realised the fact that he was lost, he mounted his horse and sat +thinking. + +He did not think much, for there was a singular, stupefied feeling in +his head for a time. But this passed off, and was succeeded by a +bewildering rush of thought--what was to become of him if he were left +here like this--alone--without a friend--hopeless of being found? + +This wild race of fancies was horrible while it endured, and Bart +pressed the cold barrel of his rifle to his forehead in the hope of +finding relief, but it gave none. + +The relief came from his own effort as he tried to pull himself +together, laughing at his own cowardice, and ridiculing his fears. + +"What a pretty sort of a hunter I shall make!" he said aloud, "to be +afraid of being left alone for a few minutes in broad daylight, with the +sun shining down upon my head, and plenty of beef to eat if I like to +light myself a fire." + +It was ridiculous, he told himself, and that he ought to feel ashamed; +for he was ignorant of the fact that even old plainsmen and practised +hunters may lose their nerve at such a time, and suffer so from the +horror of believing themselves lost that some even become insane. + +Fortunately, perhaps, Bart did not know this, and he bantered himself +until he grew cooler, when he began to calculate on what was the proper +thing to do. + +"Let me see," he said; "they are sure to begin looking for me as soon as +I am missed. What shall I do? Fire my rifle--make a fire--ride off to +try and find them?" + +He sat upon his horse thinking. + +If he fired his rifle or made a fire, he might bring down Indians upon +him, and that would be worse than being lost, so he determined to wait +patiently until he was able to see some of his party; and no sooner had +he come to this determination than he cheered up, for he recollected +directly that the Beaver, or some one or other of his men, would be sure +to find him by his trail, even though it had been amongst the trampling +hoof-marks of the bison. The prints of a well-shod horse would be +unmistakable, and with this thought he grew more patient, and waited on. + +It was towards evening, though, before he had the reward of his patience +in seeing the figure of a mounted Indian in the distance; and even then +it gave no comfort, for he felt sure that it might be an enemy, for it +appeared to be in the very opposite direction from that which he had +come. + +Bart's first idea was to go off at a gallop, only he did not know where +to go, and after all, this might be a friend. + +Then another appeared, and another; and dismounting, and turning his +horse and the bison into bulwarks, Bart stood with his rifle resting, +ready for a shot, should these Indians prove to be enemies, and +patiently waited them as they came on. + +This they did so quickly and full of confidence that there was soon no +doubt as to who they were, and Bart at last mounted again, and rode +forward to meet them. + +The Indians came on, waving their rifles above their heads, and no +sooner did they catch sight of the prize the lad had shot than they gave +a yell of delight; and then, forgetting their customary stolidity, they +began to chatter to him volubly in their own tongue, as they flung +themselves from their horses and began to skin the bison as it lay. + +Bart could not help thinking how thoroughly at home these men seemed in +the wilds. A short time before he had been in misery and despair +because he felt that he was lost. Here were these Indians perfectly at +their ease, and ready to set to work and prepare for a stay if needs be, +for nothing troubled them--the immensity and solitude had no terrors for +their untutored minds. + +They had not been at work above an hour before a couple more Indians +came into sight, and soon after, to his great delight, Bart recognised +Joses and the Beaver coming slowly over a ridge in the distance, and he +cantered off to meet them at once. + +"Thought we lost you, Master Bart," cried Joses, with a grim smile. +"Well, how many bufflers did you shoot?" + +"Only one," replied Bart, "but it was a very big fellow." + +"Calf?" asked Joses, laughing. + +"No; that great bull that came over the ridge." + +"You don't mean to say you ran him down, lad, and shot him, do you?" +cried Joses, excitedly. + +"There he lies, and the Indians are cutting him up," said Bart quietly. + +Joses pressed his horse's sides with his heels, and went off at a gallop +to inspect Bart's prize, coming back in a few minutes smiling all over +his face. + +"He's a fine one, my lad. He's a fine one, Master Bart--finest shot +to-day. I tell you what, my lad, if I'd shot that great bull I should +have thought myself a lucky man." + +As he spoke he pointed to the spot, and the Beaver cantered off to have +his look, and he now came back ready to nod and say a few commendatory +words to the young hunter, whom they considered to have well won his +spurs. + +The result of this first encounter with the bison was that nine were +slain, and for many hours to come the party were busy cutting up the +meat into strips, which were hung in the sun to dry. + +Then four of the Indians went slowly off towards the miners' camp at the +mountain, their horses laden with the strips of meat, their instructions +being to come back with a couple of waggons, which Joses believed they +would be able to fill next day. + +"How far do you think we are from the camp?" asked Bart. + +"'Bout fifteen miles or so, no more," replied Joses. "You see the run +after the bison led us down towards it, so that there isn't so far to +go." + +"Why, I fancied that we were miles upon miles away," cried Bart; +"regularly lost in the wilderness." + +"Instead of being close at home, eh, lad? Well, we shall have to camp +somewhere out here to-night, so we may as well pick out a good place." + +"But where are the other Indians?" asked Bart. + +"Cutting up the buffler we killed," replied Joses. + +"Faraway?" + +"Oh, no; mile or so. We've done pretty well, my lad, for the first day, +only we want such a lot to fill so many mouths." + +A suitable place was selected for the camp, down in a well-sheltered +hollow, where a fire was lit, and some bison-meat placed upon sticks to +roast. The missing Indians seemed to be attracted by the odour, for +just as it was done they all came straight up to camp ready to make a +hearty meal, in which their white companions were in no wise behind +hand. + +"Not bad stuff," said Joses, after a long space, during which he had +been too busy to speak. + +"I never ate anything so delicious," replied Bart, who, upon his side, +was beginning to feel as if he had had enough. + +"Ah, there's worse things than roast buffler hump," said Joses; "and +now, my lad, if I was you I'd take as big and as long a sleep as I +could, for we must be off again before daylight after the herd." + +"Shall we catch up to them again, Joses?" asked Bart. + +"Catch up to 'em? why, of course, they haven't gone far." + +A quarter of an hour later Bart was fast asleep, dreaming that he was +hunting a bull bison ten times as big as the one he had that afternoon +shot, and that after hunting it for hours it suddenly turned round and +began to hunt him, till he became so tired that he lay down and went off +fast asleep, when, to his great disgust, when he was so weary, Joses +came and began to shake him by the shoulder, saying: + +"Come, Master Bart, lad, wake up. The buffer's been coming close in to +camp during the night." + + + +CHAPTER TWENTY SEVEN. + +MORE FOOD FOR THE CAMP. + +For it was nearly day, and Bart jumped up, astonished that he could have +slept so long--that is to say, nearly since sundown on the previous +evening. + +A good fire was burning, and buffalo steaks were sizzling and spurting +ready for their repast, while the horses were all standing together +beneath a little bold bluff of land left sharp and clear by the action +of a stream that doubtless flowed swiftly enough in flood time, but was +now merely a thread of water. + +The party were settling down to their meal, for which, in spite of the +previous evening's performance, Bart felt quite ready, when the horses +suddenly began to snort and show a disposition to make a stampede, for +there was a rushing noise as of thunder somewhere on ahead, and as the +Indians rushed to their horses' heads, and he made for Black Boy, +thinking that there must be a flood rolling down from the hills, he +caught a glimpse of what was amiss. + +For, as Bart stood up, he could see over the edge of the scarped bank +beneath which they had made their fire, that the plain was literally +alive with bison, which, in some mad insensate fit of dread, were in +headlong flight, and their course would bring them right over the spot +where the party was encamped. + +The Beaver saw it, and, prompt in action, he made his plans:--Signing to +several to come to his side, while the rest held the horses, he leaped +upon the edge of the stream bed just as the bison were within a hundred +yards, and Bart and Joses followed him. Then altogether, as the huge +herd was about to sweep over them, they uttered a tremendous shout, and +all fired together right in the centre of the charging herd. + +Bart set his teeth, feeling sure that he would be run down and trampled +to death; but the effect of the sudden and bold attack was to make the +herd separate. It was but a mere trifle, for the bison were so packed +together that their movements were to a great extent governed by those +behind; but still they did deviate a little, those of the front rank +swerving in two bodies to right and left, and that saved the little +party. + +Bart had a sort of confused idea of being almost crushed by shaggy +quarters, of being in the midst of a sea of tossing horns and dark hair, +with lurid eyes glaring at him; then the drove was sweeping on--some +leaping down into the stream bed and climbing up the opposite side, +others literally tumbling down headlong, to be trampled upon by those +which followed; and then the rushing noise began to die away, for the +herd had swept on, and the traces they had left were the trampled ground +and a couple of their number shot dead by the discharge of rifles, and +lying in the river bed, while another had fallen a few hundred yards +farther on in the track of the flight. + +Fortunately the horses had been held so closely up to the bluff that +they had escaped, though several of the bison had been forced by their +companions to the edge, and had taken the leap, some ten feet, into the +river bed below. + +It had been a hard task, though, to hold the horses--the poor creatures +shivering with dread, and fighting hard to get free. The worst part of +the adventure revealed itself to Bart a few moments later when he turned +to look for Joses, whom he found rubbing his head woefully beside the +traces of their fire, over which the bison had gone in enormous numbers, +with the result that the embers had been scattered, and every scrap of +the delicious, freshly-roasted, well-browned meat trampled into the +sand. + +"Never mind, Joses," cried Bart, bursting out laughing; "there's plenty +more meat cut up." + +"Plenty more," growled Joses; "and that all so nicely done. Oh, the +wilful, wasteful beasts! As if there wasn't room enough anywhere else +on the plain without their coming right over us!" + +"What does the Beaver mean?" said Bart just then. + +"Mean? Yes; I might have known as much. He thinks there's Injun +somewhere; that they have been hunting the buffler and made 'em +stampede. We shall have to be off, my lad. No breakfast this morning." + +It was as Joses said. The Beaver was of opinion that enemies must be +near at hand, so he sent out scouts to feel for the danger, and no fire +could be lighted lest it should betray their whereabouts to a watchful +foe. + +A long period of crouching down in the stream bed ensued, and as Bart +waited he could not help thinking that their hiding-place in the plain +was, as it were, a beginning of a canyon like that by the mountain, and +might, in the course of thousands of years, be cut down by the action of +flowing water till it was as wide and deep. + +At last first one and then another scout came in, unable to find a trace +of enemies; and thus encouraged, a fire was once more made and meat +cooked, while the three bison slain that morning were skinned and their +better portions cut away. + +The sun was streaming down with all its might as they once more went off +over the plain in search of the herd; and this search was soon rewarded, +the party separating, leaving Bart, and Joses together to ride after a +smaller herd about a mile to their left. + +As they rode nearer, to Bart's great surprise, the herd did not take +flight, but huddled together, with a number of bulls facing outwards, +presenting their horns to their enemies, tossing and shaking their +shaggy heads, and pawing up the ground. + +"Why don't they rush off, Joses?" asked Bart. + +"Got cows and calves inside there, my boy," replied the frontiersman. +"They can't go fast, so the bulls have stopped to take care of them." + +"Then it would be a shame to shoot them," cried Bart. "Why, they are +braver than I thought for." + +"Not they," laughed Joses. "Not much pluck in a bison, my lad, that I +ever see. Why, you might walk straight up to them if you liked, and +they'd never charge you." + +"I shouldn't like to try them," said Bart, laughing. + +"Why not, my lad?" + +"Why not? Do you suppose I want to be trampled down and tossed?" + +"Look here, Master Bart. You'll trust me, won't you?" + +"Yes, Joses." + +"You know I wouldn't send you into danger, don't you?" + +"Of course, Joses." + +"Then look here, my lad. I'm going to give you a lesson, if you'll +learn it." + +"A lesson in what?" asked Bart. + +"In buffler, my lad." + +"Very well, go on; I'm listening. I want to learn all I can about +them," replied Bart, as he kept on closely watching the great, fierce, +fiery-eyed bison bulls, as they stamped and snorted and pawed the +ground, and kept making feints of dashing at their approaching enemies, +who rode towards them at a good pace. + +"I don't want you to listen, my lad," said Joses; "I want you to get +down and walk right up to the buffler bulls there, and try and lay hold +of their horns." + +"Walk up to them?" cried Bart. "Why, I was just thinking that if we +don't turn and gallop off, they'll trample us down." + +"Not they, my lad," replied Joses. "I know 'em better than that." + +"Why, they rushed right over us at the camp." + +"Yes, because they were on the stampede, and couldn't stop themselves. +If they had seen us sooner they'd have gone off to the right, or left. +As for those in front, if they charge, it will be away from where they +can see a man." + +"But if I got down and walked towards them, the bulls would come at me," +cried Bart. + +"Not they, I tell you, my lad; and I should like to see you show your +pluck by getting down and walking up to them. It would be about the +best lesson in buffler you ever had." + +"But they might charge me, Joses," said Bart, uneasily. + +"Did I tell you right about 'em before," said Joses, "or did I tell you +wrong, my lad?" + +"You told me right; but you might be wrong about them here." + +"You let me alone for that," replied Joses, gruffly. "I know what I'm +saying. Now, then, will you get down and walk up to 'em, or must I?" + +"If you'll tell me that I may do such a thing, I'll go up to them," said +Bart, slowly. + +"Then I do tell you, my lad, and wouldn't send you if it wasn't safe. +You ought to know that. Now, then, will you go?" + +For answer Bart slipped off his horse and cocked his rifle. + +"Don't shoot till they're turning round, my lad," said Joses; "and then +give it to that big young bull in the middle there. He's a fine one, +and we must have meat for the camp." + +"But it seems a pity; he looks such a brave fellow," said Bart. + +"Never mind; shoot him. All the other bulls will be precious glad, for +he's the tyrant of the herd, and leads them a pretty life. Now then, on +you go." + +They were now some sixty yards from the herd, and no sooner did Bart +take a step forward than Joses leaped lightly from his horse, and rested +his rifle over the saddle ready for a sure shot when he should see his +chance. + +Bart tried to put on a bold front, but he felt very nervous, and walked +cautiously towards the herd, where ten or a dozen bulls faced him, and +now seemed to be furious, snorting and stamping with rage. + +But he walked on, gaining courage as he went, but ere he had gone +half-a-dozen steps six of the bulls made a headlong charge at him, and +Bart stood still, ready to fire. + +"How stupid I was," he said to himself. "They'll go right over me;" and +with his heart beating heavily he felt that he must turn and run. + +"Go on, my lad, go on," shouted Joses, encouragingly; and in spite of +himself, and as if bound to obey orders, the lad took a step forward +again, when, to his utter amazement, the bison bulls, now not twenty +yards away, stopped short, shook their heads at him, made some impotent +tosses in the air, pawed up a little grass, and then turned altogether, +and trotted back to take up their old position in front of the herd. + +"Ha! ha! ha!" laughed Joses, behind him. "What did I tell you? Go on, +my lad. You've got more heart than a bison." + +This emboldened Bart, who went steadily on, reducing the distance +between him and the herd; and it was a curious sensation that which came +upon the lad as he walked nearer and nearer to the furious-looking +beasts. + +Then his heart gave a tremendous throb, and seemed to stand still, for, +without warning, and moved as if by one impulse, the bison charged +again, but this time not half the distance; and as Bart did not run from +them, they evidently thought that some one ought to flee, so they +galloped back. + +Bart was encouraged now, and began to feel plenty of contempt for the +monsters, and walking more swiftly, the beasts charged twice more, the +last time only about the length of their bodies, and this was when Bart +was so near that he could almost feel their hot moist breath. + +This was the last charge, for as they turned the leading bull evidently +communicated his opinion that the young visitor was a stupid kind of +being, whom it was impossible to frighten, and the whole herd set off at +a lumbering gallop, but as they did so two rifle-shots rang out, and two +bulls hung back a little, evidently wounded. + +Joses led up Bart's horse as the lad reloaded, and put the rein in his +hand. + +"There, off after your own bull, my lad. It was bravely done. I'm off +after mine." + +Then they separated, and after a short, gallop Bart reached his quarry, +and better able now to manage his task, he rode up on its right side, +and a well-placed bullet tumbled the monstrous creature over on the +plain dead. + +Joses had to give two shots before he disabled his own bison, but the +run was very short; and when Bart and he looked round they were not +above a couple of hundred yards apart, and the Beaver and a couple of +Indians were cantering towards them. + +That evening their messengers returned with a couple of the white men +and two waggons, which were taken in triumph next morning to the camp, +heavily laden with bison-meat; and as they came near the mountain, Bart +drew rein to stay and watch the curious sight before him, for, evidently +in pursuance of the Doctor's idea to make the top of the mountain the +stronghold of the silver adventurers, there was quite a crowd of the +people toiling up the path up the mountain, all laden with packages and +the various stores that had been brought for the adventure. + +"Been pretty busy since we've been gone, Master Bart," said Joses, +grimly. "Won't they come scuffling down again when they know there's +meat ready for sharing out." + +But Joses was wrong, for the meat was not shared out down in the plain, +but a second relay of busy hands were set to work to carry the store of +fresh food right up the mountain-side to a tent that had already been +pitched on the level top, while as soon as the waggons were emptied they +were drawn up in rank along with the others close beneath the wall-like +rock. + + + +CHAPTER TWENTY EIGHT. + +DOWN IN THE SILVER CANYON. + +The Doctor had not lost any time. Tents had been set up, and men were +busy raising sheds of rough stone which were to be roofed over with +poles. But at the same time, he had had men toiling away in opening up +a rift that promised to yield silver pretty bounteously, for the ancient +mine seemed hardly a likely place now, being dangerous, and the +principal parts that were easy of access apparently pretty well worked +out. + +This was something of a disappointment, but a trifling one, for the +mountain teemed with silver, and then there was the canyon to explore. + +This the Doctor proposed to examine on the day following Bart's return, +for the services of the chief would be required to find a way down +unless the descent was to be made by ropes. + +The Beaver and his interpreter were brought to the Doctor's tent, and +the matter being explained, the Indian smiled, and expressed his +willingness to show them at once; so a few preparations having been +made, and some provisions packed in case that the journey should prove +long, Bart, the Doctor, Joses, and the interpreter started, leaving the +Beaver in front to lead the way. + +He started off in a line parallel to the canyon, as it seemed to Bart, +and made for a patch of good-sized trees about half a mile from the +mountain, and upon reaching this they found that the great river chasm +had curved round, so that it was not above a hundred yards away, and +Bart began to think that perhaps it would not prove to be so precipitous +there. + +The Beaver, seeing his eagerness, smiled and nodded, and thrusting the +bushes aside, he entered the patch of dense forest, which was apparently +about half a mile in length, running with a breadth of half that +distance along the edge of the canyon. + +The interpreter followed, and after a few minutes they returned to say +that no progress could be made in that direction, so they re-entered the +forest some fifty yards lower, and where it looked less promising than +before. + +The chief, however, seemed to be satisfied, and drawing his knife, he +hacked and chopped at the projecting vines and thorns so as to clear a +way for those who followed; till after winding in and out for some time, +he came at length to what seemed little more than a crack in the ground +about a yard wide, and pretty well choked up with various kinds of +growth. + +At the first glance it seemed impossible for any one to descend into +this rift, but the interpreter showed them that it was possible by +leaping down, and directly after there was a loud, rattling noise, and +an extremely large rattlesnake glided out of the rift on to the level +ground. It was making its escape, when a sharp blow from the chief's +knife divided it nearly in two, and he finished his task by crushing its +head with the butt of his rifle. + +"We must be on the look-out, Bart," said the Doctor, "if these reptiles +are in any quantity;" and as the Beaver leaped down he followed, then +came Bart, and Joses closed up the rear. + +"I shall get all the sarpents," he grumbled. "You people will disturb +them all, and they'll do their stinging upon me." + +Then the descent became so toilsome that conversation ceased, and +nothing was heard but the crackling of twigs, the breaking off of +branches, and the sharp, rustling noise that followed as the travellers +forced their way through the bushes. + +This lasted for about fifty yards, and then the descent became very +rapid, and the trees larger and less crowded together. The rift +widened, too, at times, but only to contract again; and then its sides +so nearly approached that their path became terribly obscure, and +without so energetic a guide as they possessed it would have required a +stout-hearted man to proceed. + +Every here and there they had to slide down the rock perhaps forty or +fifty feet; then there would be a careful picking of the way over some +rugged stones, and then another slide down for a while. + +Once or twice it seemed as if they had come to a full stop, the rift +being closed up by fallen masses of earth and stones; but the Beaver +mounted these boldly, as if he knew of their existence, and lowered +himself gently down the other side, waiting to help the Doctor, for Bart +laughingly declined, preferring as he did to leap from stone to stone, +and swing himself over cracks that seemed almost impassable. + +"This is nature's work, Bart," the Doctor said, as he paused to wipe his +streaming face. "No former inhabitants ever made this. It is an +earthquake-split, I should say." + +"But it might be easily made into a good path, sir," replied Bart. + +"It might be made, Bart, but not easily, and it would require a great +deal of engineering to do it. How dark it grows! You see nothing +hardly can grow down here except these mosses and little fungi." + +"Is it much farther, sir?" cried Bart. + +"What! are you tired, my lad?" + +"No, sir; not I. Only it seems as if we must be near the bottom of the +canyon." + +"No, not yet," said the Beaver in good English, and both the Doctor and +Bart smiled, while the chief seemed pleased at his advance in the +English tongue being noticed. "Long down--long down," he said in +continuation. + +"The Beaver-with-Sharp-Teeth tells the English chief and the little boy +English chief that it is far yet to the bottom of the way to the rushing +river of the mountain," said the interpreter, and the chief frowned at +him angrily, while Bart felt as if he should like to kick him for +calling him a "little boy English chief;" but the stoical Indian calmly +and indifferently allowed the angry looks he received to pass, and +followed the party down as they laboriously stepped from stone to stone. + +"There's a pretty good flush o' water here in rainy times, master," +shouted Joses. "See how all the earth has been washed out. Shouldn't +wonder if you found gold here." + +"I ought to have thought of that, Joses," replied the Doctor, as he +proceeded to examine the crevices of the rock over which he was walking +as well as he could for the gloom and obscurity of the place, and at the +end of five minutes he uttered a cry of joy. "Here it is!" he +exclaimed, holding up two or three rounded nodules of metal. "No; I am +wrong," he said. "This light deceives me; it is silver." + +To his surprise, the Beaver took them from his hand with a gesture of +contempt, and threw the pieces away, though they would have purchased +him a new blanket or an ample supply of ammunition at Lerisco or any +other southern town. + +"Wait," he said, airing his English once more. "Plenty! plenty!" and he +pointed down towards the lower part of the narrow crevice or crack in +the rock along which they were passing. + +"Go on, then," said the Doctor; and once more they continued their +descent, which grew more difficult moment by moment, and more dark, and +wild, and strange. + +For now the rock towered up on either side to a tremendous height, and +the daylight only appeared as a narrow streak of sky, dappled with dark +spots where the trees hung over the rift. Then the sky was shut out +altogether, and they went on with their descent in the midst of a +curious gloom that reminded Bart of the hour just when the first streaks +of dawn are beginning to appear in the morning sky. + +This went on for what seemed to be some time, the descent growing +steeper and more difficult; but at last there came a pleasant rushing +sound, which Bart knew must be that of the river. Then there was the +loud song of a bird, which floated up from far below, and then all at +once a pale light appeared on the side of the rocks, which were now so +near together that the sides in places nearly touched above their heads. + +Five minutes' more arduous descent, and there was glistening wet moss on +the rock, and the light was stronger, while the next minute the pure, +clear light of day flashed up from an opening that seemed almost at +their feet--an opening that was almost carpeted with verdant green, upon +which, after dropping from a rock some ten feet high, they stood, +pausing beneath an arch of interweaving boughs that almost hid the +entrance to the rift, and there they stood, almost enraptured by the +beauty of the scene. + +For the bottom of the canyon had been reached, and its mighty +verdure-decked, rocky walls rose up sheer above their heads, appearing +to narrow towards the top, though this was an optical delusion. All was +bright and glorious in the sunshine. The trees and shrubs were of a +vivid green, the grass was brilliant with flowers; and running in +serpentine waves through the middle of the lovely prairie that softly +sloped down to it on either side, and whose sedges and clumps of trees +dipped their tips in its sparkling waters, ran the river, dancing and +foaming here over its rocky bed, there swirling round and forming deep +pools, while in its clear waters as they approached Bart could see the +glancing scales of innumerable fish on its sun-illumined shallows. + +Hot and weary with their descent, the first act of all present was to +dip their cups into the pure clear water, and then, as soon as their +feverish thirst was allayed, the Doctor proceeded to test the sand of +the river to see if it contained gold, while Bart, after wondering why a +man who had discovered a silver mine of immense wealth could not be +satisfied, went wandering off along the edge of the river, longing for +some means of capturing the fish, whose silver scales flashed in the +sunshine whenever they glided sidewise over some shallow ridge of yellow +sand that would not allow of their swimming in the ordinary way. + +Sometimes he was able to leap from rock to rock that stood out of the +river bed, and formed a series of barriers, around which the swift +stream fretted and boiled, rushing between them in a series of cascades; +and wherever one of these masses of water-worn stone lay in the midst of +the rapid stream, Bart found that there was always a deep still +transparent pool behind; and he had only to approach softly, and bend +down or lie upon his chest, with his head beyond the edge, to see that +this pool was the home of some splendid fish, a very tyrant ready to +pounce upon everything that was swept into the still water. + +"I wish we were not bothering about gold and silver," thought Bart, as +after feasting his eyes upon the fish he turned to gaze upon the +beauties of the drooping trees, and spire-shaped pines that grew as +regular in shape as if they had been cast in the same mould; while, +above all, the gloriously coloured walls of the canyon excited his +wonder, and made him long to scale them, climbing into the many +apparently inaccessible places, and hunting for fruit, and flower, and +bird. + +Bart had rambled down the river, so rapt in the beauties around him that +he forgot all about the Doctor and his search for the precious metals. +All at once, as he was seated out upon a mass of stone by the river +side, it struck him that, though he had watched the fish a good deal, it +would be very pleasant to wade across a shallow to where a reef of rocks +stood out of the water, so placed that as soon as he reached them he +could leap from one to the other, and settle himself down almost in the +very middle of the river; and when there he determined to wait his +chance and see if he could not shoot two or three of the largest trout +for their meal that night. + +The plan was no sooner thought of than Bart proceeded to put it in +execution. + +He waded the shallow pretty easily, though he could not help wondering +at the manner in which his feet sank down into the soft sand, which +seemed to let them in right up to the knees at once, and then to close +so tightly round them that, to use his own words, he seemed to have been +thrusting his legs into leaden boots. However, he dragged them out, +reached the first rock of the barrier or reef, and stood for a few +minutes enjoying the beauty of the scene, while the stream rushed by on +either side with tremendous force. + +The next stone was a good five feet away, with a deep glassy flood +rushing around. Bart leaped over it, landed safely, and found the next +rock quite six feet distant, and a good deal higher than the one he was +upon. + +He paused for a moment or two to think what would be the consequences if +he did not reach this stone, and judged that it meant a good ducking and +a bit of a swim to one of the shallows below. + +"But I should get my rifle and cartridges wet," he said aloud, "and that +would never do. Shall I? Shan't I?" + +Bart's answer was to gather himself up and leap, with the result that he +just reached the edge of the rock, and throwing himself forward managed +to hold on, and then scramble up in safety. + +Going back's easy enough, thought Bart, as he prepared to bound to the +next rock, a long mass, like the back of some monstrous alligator just +rising above the flood. Along this he walked seven or eight yards, +jumped from block to block of a dozen more rugged pieces, and then +bounded upon a roughly semi-circular piece that ended the ridge like a +bastion, beyond which the water ran deep and swift, with many an eddy +and mighty curl. + +"This is grand!" cried Bart, whose eyes flashed with pleasure; and +settling himself down in a comfortable position, he laid his rifle +across his knees with the intention of watching the fish in a shallow +just above him, but only to forget all about them directly after, as he +sat enjoying the beauties of the scene, and wished that his sisterly +companion Maude were there to see how wonderfully grand their mother +Nature could be. + +"If there were no Indians," thought Bart, "and a good large town close +by, what a lovely place this would be for a house. I could find a +splendid spot; and then one could hunt on the plains, and shoot and +fish, and the Doctor could find silver and gold, and--good gracious! +What's that?" + + + +CHAPTER TWENTY NINE. + +A NARROW ESCAPE. + +Bart laid down his rifle as he uttered this very feminine exclamation, +and shading his eyes, gazed before him up the river. + +For as he had been dreamily gazing before him at the shallow where the +water ran over a bed of the purest sand for about a hundred yards, it +seemed to him that he had seen a dark something roll over, and then for +a moment a hand appeared above the water, or else it was the ragged leaf +of some great water-plant washed out from its place of growth in the +bank. + +"It looks like--it must be--it is!" cried Bart. "Somebody has fallen +in, and is drowning." + +As he thought this a chill feeling of horror seemed to rob him of the +power of motion. And now, as he gazed at the glittering water with +starting eyes, he knew that there was no mistake--it was no fancy, for +their was a body being rolled over and over by the stream, now catching, +now sweeping along swiftly, and nearer and nearer to where the lad +crouched. + +The water before him was shallow enough, and all clear sand, so without +hesitation Bart lowered himself down from the rock, stepped on to the +sand with the water now to his knees, and was then about to wade towards +the body, when he turned sharply and clutched the rough surface of the +rock, clinging tightly, and after a brief struggle managed to clamber +back panting, and with the perspiration in great drops upon his brow. + +He knew now what he had only partly realised before, and that was the +fact that these beautiful, smooth sands, over which the swift current +pleasantly glided, were quicksands of the most deadly kind, and that if +he had not struggled back there would have been no chance of escape. +Another step would have been fatal, and he must have gone down, for no +swimming could avail in such a strait. + +But Bart, in spite of the shock of his narrow escape, had not forgotten +the object for which he had lowered himself from the rock, and gazing +eagerly towards the shallows, he saw that it was just being swept off +then into the deep water that rushed round the buttress upon which he +stood. + +It was the work of moments. Reaching out as far as he could, he just +managed to grip the clinging garment of the object sweeping by, and as +he grasped it tightly, so great was the power of the water, that he felt +a sudden snatch that threatened to tear the prize from his hand. But +Bart held on fiercely, and before he could fully comprehend his position +he found that he had overbalanced himself, and the next moment he had +gone under with a sullen plunge. + +Bart was a good swimmer, and though encumbered with his clothes, he felt +no fear of reaching the bank somewhere lower down; and, confident in +this respect, he looked round as he rose to the surface for the body of +him he had tried to save, for as he struck the water he had loosened his +hold. + +There was just a glimmer of something below the surface, and taking a +couple of sturdy strokes, Bart reached it before it sank lower, caught +hold, and then guiding his burden, struck out for the shore. + +The rocks from which he had come were already a hundred yards above +them, the stream sweeping them down with incredible swiftness, and Bart +knew that it would be folly to do more than go with it, striving gently +the while to guide his course towards some projecting rocks upon the +bank. There was the possibility, too, of finding some eddy which might +lead him shoreward; and after fighting hard to get a hold upon a piece +of smooth stone that promised well, but from which he literally seemed +to be plucked by the rushing water, Bart found himself in a deep, still +pool, round which he was swept twice, and, to his horror, nearer each +time towards the centre, where, with an agonising pang, he felt that he +might be sucked down. + +Dreading this, he made a desperate effort, and once more reached the +very edge of the great, calm, swirling pool just as the bushes on the +bank were parted with a loud rush, and the Beaver literally bounded into +the water, to render such help that when, faint and exhausted, they all +reached a shallow, rocky portion of the stream a quarter of a mile below +where Bart had made his plunge, the chief was ready to lift out the +object the lad had tried to save, and then hold out his hand and help +the lad ashore. + +The next minute they were striving all they knew to try and resuscitate +him whom Bart had nearly lost his life in trying to save, the +interpreter joining them to lend his help; and as they worked, trying +the plan adopted by the Indians in such a case, the new-comer told Bart +how the accident had occurred. + +His words amounted to the statement that while the speaker and the chief +had been collecting sticks for a fire to roast a salmon they had speared +with a sharp, forked stick, they had seen the Doctor busily rinsing the +sand in a shallow pool of the rocks, well out, where the stream ran +fast. They had not anticipated danger, and were busy over their +preparations, when looking up all at once, they found the Doctor was +gone. + +Even then they did not think there was anything wrong, believing that +while they were busy their leader had gone to some other part among the +rocks, till, happening to glance down the stream some minutes later, the +Beaver's quick eyes had caught sight of the bright tin bowl which the +Doctor had been using to rinse the sand in his hunt for gold, floating +on the surface a hundred yards below, and slowly sailing round and round +in an eddy. + +This started them in search of the drowning man, with the result that +they reached Bart in time to save both. + +For after a long and arduous task the Doctor began to show signs of +returning life, and at last opened his eyes and stared about him like +one who had just awakened from a dream. + +"What--what has happened?" he asked. "Did--did I slip from the rocks, +or have I been asleep?" + +He shuddered, and struggled into a sitting position, then thoroughly +comprehending after a few minutes what had passed: + +"Who saved me?" he asked quickly. + +The Beaver seemed to understand the drift of the question, for he +pointed with a smile to Bart. + +"You?" exclaimed the Doctor. + +"Oh, I did nothing," said Bart modestly. "I saw you floating down +towards me, and tried to pull you on a rock; instead of doing which, you +pulled me in, and we swam down together till I got near the shore, and +then I could do no more. It was the Beaver there who saved us." + +The Doctor rose and grasped the chief's hand, wringing it warmly. + +"Where's Joses?" he said sharply. + +No one knew. + +"Let us go back," said the Doctor; "perhaps we shall meet him higher +up;" and looking faint and utterly exhausted, he followed the two +Indians as they chose the most easy part of the valley for walking, the +Doctor's words proving to be right, for they came upon Joses toiling +down towards the passage leading to the plain with six heavy fish +hanging from a tough wand thrust through their gills. + +They reached the chimney, as Bart christened it, just about the same +time as Joses, who stared as he caught sight of the saturated clothes. + +"What! been in after the fish?" he said with a chuckle. "I got mine, +master, without being wet." + +"We've had a narrow escape from drowning, Joses," said the Doctor, +hoarsely. + +"That's bad, master, that's bad," cried Joses. "It all comes o' my +going away and leaving you and Master Bart, there; but I thought a few +o' these salmon chaps would be good eating, so I went and snared 'em out +with a bit o' wire and a pole." + +"I shall soon be better, Joses," replied the Doctor. "The accident +would have happened all the same whether you had been there or no. Let +us get back to the camp." + +"Are we going to leave them beautiful fish the Beaver and old +Speechworks here have caught and cooked?" asked Joses, regretfully. + +"No," said the Doctor, sinking down upon a stone, "let us rest and eat +them. We shall not hurt out here in this bright sunshine, Bart, and +we'll wring some of the water out of our clothes, and have less weight +to carry." + +This speech gave the greatest of satisfaction, for the party were +ravenously hungry, and the halt was not long enough to do any one hurt, +for the broiled salmon was rapidly eaten. Then they started, and after +a rather toilsome climb, ascended once more to the level of the plain, +and reaching the waggons learned that all was well, before proceeding to +the Doctor's quarters in his tent at the top of the mountain. + + + +CHAPTER THIRTY. + +THE BEAVER SNIFFS DANGER. + +"There's something wrong, Master Bart," said Joses that evening, as +Bart, rejoicing in the luxury of well-dried clothes, sat enjoying the +beauty of the setting sun, and thinking of the glories of the canyon, +longing to go down again and spend a day spearing trout and salmon for +the benefit of the camp. + +"Wrong, Joses!" cried Bart, leaping up. "What's wrong?" + +"Dunno," said Joses, gruffly, "and not knowing, can't say." + +"Have you seen anything, then?" + +"No." + +"Have you heard of anything?" + +"No." + +"Has anybody brought bad news?" + +"No." + +"Then what is it?" cried Bart. "Why don't you speak." + +"'Cause I've nothing to say, only that I'm sure there's something +wrong." + +"But why are you sure?" + +"Because the Beaver's so busy." + +"What is he doing?" + +"All sorts of things. He hasn't said anything, but I can see by his way +that he sniffs danger somewhere. He's getting all the horses into the +cavern stable, and making his men drive all the cattle into the corral, +and that means there's something wrong as sure as can be. Injun smells +danger long before it comes. There's no deceiving them." + +"Let's go and see him, Joses," cried Bart; and, shouldering their +rifles, they walked past the drawn-up rows of empty waggons, whose +stores were all high up on the mountain. + +As they reached the entrance to the corral the Indians had driven in the +last pair of oxen, while the horses and mules were already in their +hiding-place. + +"Did the Doctor order this?" asked Bart. + +"Not he, sir: he's busy up above looking at the silver they dug out +while we were down in the canyon. It's all the Beaver's doing, Master +Bart, and you may take it for granted there's good cause for it all." + +"Ah, Beaver," said Bart, as the chief came out of the corral, "why is +this?" + +"Indian dog. Apache," said the chief, pointing out towards the plain. + +Bart turned sharply round and gazed in the indicated direction, but he +could see nothing, neither could Joses. + +The Beaver smiled with a look of superior wisdom. + +"The Beaver-with-Sharp-Teeth," said the interpreter, coming up, "hears +the Indian dog, the enemies of his race, on the wind; and he will not +stampede the horses and cattle, but leave the bones of his young men +upon the plain." + +"But where are the Apaches?" cried Bart. "Oh, he means, Joses, that +they are out upon the plain, and that it is wise to be ready for them." + +"Yes; he means that they are out upon the plain, and that they are +coming to-night, my lad," said Joses. Then, turning to the chief, he +patted the lock of his rifle meaningly, and the chief nodded, and said, +"Yes." + +"Come," he said directly after, and he led the frontiersman and Bart to +the entrance of the stable, where his followers were putting the last +stones in position. Then he took them to the corral, which was also +thoroughly well secured with huge stones; and the Indians now took up +their rifles, and resuming their ordinary sombre manner, stood staring +indifferently about them. + +Just then there was a loud hail, and turning quickly round, Bart saw the +Doctor waving his hand to them to join him. + +"Indians are on the plains," exclaimed the Doctor. "I saw them from the +top of the castle,"--he had taken to calling the mountain rock "the +castle,"--"with the glass. They are many miles away, but they may be +enemies, and we must be prepared. Get the horses secured, Joses; and +you, interpreter, ask the Beaver to see to the cattle." + +"All safely shut in, sir," said Bart, showing his teeth; "the Beaver +felt that there was danger an hour ago, and everything has been done." + +"Capital!" cried the Doctor; "but how could he tell?" + +"That's the mystery," replied Bart, "but he said there were Indian dogs +away yonder on the plains." + +"Indian dog, Apache," said the Beaver, scowling, and pointing towards +the plain. + +"Yes, that's where they are," said the Doctor, nodding; "he is quite +right, and this being so, we must get up into our castle and man the +walls. Let me see first if all is safe." + +He walked to both entrances, and satisfied himself, saying: + +"Yes; they could not be better, but, of course, all depends upon our +covering them from above with our rifles, for the Apaches could pull +those rocks down as easily as we put them there. Now then, let us go +up; the waggons are fortunately empty enough." + +The Doctor led the way, pausing, however, to mount a waggon and take a +good look-out into the plain, which he swept with his glass, but only to +close it with a look of surprise. + +"I can see nothing from here," he said, "but we may as well be safe;" +and entering the slit in the rock they called the gateway, he drew aside +for the last few "greasers," who had been tending the cattle, to mount +before him; then Joses, Bart, the Beaver, and his followers came in. +The strong stones kept for the purpose were hauled into place, and the +entry thoroughly blocked, after which the various points of defence were +manned, the Doctor, with several of the Englishmen, taking the passage +and the gate, while the Beaver, with Joses, Bart and the Indians, were +sent to man the ramparts, as the Doctor laughingly called them; that is +to say, the ingeniously contrived gallery that overlooked the stable +cavern and the great corral. + +"You must not spare your powder if the cattle are in danger," said the +Doctor for his last orders. "I don't want to shed blood, but these +savages must have another severe lesson if they mean to annoy us. All I +ask is to be let alone." + +Bart led the way, and soon after was ensconced in his rifle-pit, with +Joses on one side and the Beaver on the other, the rest of the party +being carefully arranged. Then the Doctor spread the alarm up above, +and the men armed and manned the zigzag way, but all out of sight; and +at last, just as it was growing dark, the great plain fortress looked as +silent as if there was not a man anywhere upon its heights, and yet in +their various hiding-places there were scores, each with his deadly +rifle ready to send a return bullet for every one fired by an enemy. + +"No firing unless absolutely necessary," was the Doctor's whispered +order; and then all was silent while they waited to see if any enemy +would really come. + +They were not long kept in doubt, for just as the heavens had assumed +that peculiar rich grey tint that precedes darkness, and a soft white +mist was rising from the depths of the canyon, there was seen, as if +arising from out of the plain itself, a dark body moving rapidly, and +this soon developed itself into a strong band of Indians, all +well-mounted in their half-naked war costume, their heads decked with +feathers, and each armed with rifle and spear. + +They were in their war-paint, but still they might be disposed to be +friendly; and the Doctor was willing to believe it till he saw through +his glass that they wore the skull and cross-bones painted in white upon +their broad, brown chests, and he knew that they were of the same tribe +as had visited them before, and gone off after so severe a lesson. + +Still he hoped that they might be friendly, and he was determined that +they should not be fired upon without good reason. + +A few minutes later he changed his opinion, for, evidently well-drilled +by their chief, the Indians charged towards where the tilted waggons +were drawn up in the shade of the rock, riding with as much precision as +a well-drilled body of cavalry. Then, at a sign, they drew rein in a +couple of ranks, about fifty yards from the waggons, and presenting +their rifles, without word of warning, fired a volley. + +Another volley followed, and another, the thick smoke rising on the +evening air, and then, apparently surprised at there being no replying +shot, about twenty galloped up with lowered spears, thrust two or three +times through the canvas tilts, and galloped back, the whole band +sweeping off the next moment as swiftly and as silently as they came, +gradually becoming fainter and more shadowy, and then quite disappearing +from the watchers' sight. + +"They're gone, then?" whispered Bart, drawing a breath of relief. + +"Yes; they're a bit scared by the silence," said Joses; "but they'll +come back again." + +"When?" said Bart. + +"Sneaking about in the dark, to stampede the horses and cattle, as soon +as ever they know where they are, my boy." + +"Yes--come back," said the Beaver in a low tone, and he whispered then +to the interpreter. + +"Apache dogs will come back in the night when the moon is up," said the +interpreter. "They will steal up to the camp like wolves, and die like +dogs and wolves, for they shall not have the horses and oxen." + +And just then the Beaver, who seemed to comprehend his follower's +English, said softly: + +"It is good." + + + +CHAPTER THIRTY ONE. + +IN THE WATCHES OF THE NIGHT. + +The hours went by, but no sound or sign came from the plain; the stars +started out bright and clear, and in the east there was a faint, lambent +light that told of the coming of the moon ere long, but still all seemed +silent in the desert. + +The Englishmen of the party seemed to grow weary, and began talking so +loudly that the Doctor sent sternly-worded messages to them to be +silent; and once more all was still, save when some one fidgeted about +to change his position. + +"Why can't they keep still?" growled Joses, softly, as he lay perfectly +motionless, listening to every sound. "They don't understand how a +man's life--ah, all our lives--may depend on their being still. Look at +them Injuns. They never move." + +Joses was quite right. Each Indian had taken his place where appointed, +and had not moved since, saving to settle down into a part of the rock. +The swarthy, muscular fellows might have been part of the stone for any +sign they gave of life. + +At last the moon rose slowly above the edge of the vast plain, sending a +flood of light to bring into prominence every bush and tree, striking on +the face of the mountain, and casting its shadow right away over the +plain. From where Bart crouched he could not see the moon, for he and +his companions were behind rocks, but there was the heavy shadow of the +mountain stretching to an enormous distance; and as he watched it, and +saw how boldly it was cut, and how striking was the difference between +the illumined portions of the plain and those where the shadow fell, he +could not help thinking how easily the Indians might creep right up to +them and make a bold assault, and this idea he whispered to Joses. + +"'Taint much in their way, my lad," he whispered. "Injun don't care +about night-fighting, it's too risky for them. They don't mind a sneak +up--just a few of them to scare the horses and cattle and make 'em +stampede, and they don't mind doing a bit o' spy of the enemy's camp in +the dark; but it isn't often they'll fight at night." + +"But you expect them to come, don't you?" + +"I don't," said Joses; "but the Beaver does, and I give in. He knows +best about it, having been so much more among the Injun than I have, and +being Injun himself. I daresay they will come, but they won't stampede +our horses, I'm thinking, and they won't get the cattle. They may get +to know where the ways are into the corral and the horse 'closure, and +perhaps find out the path up to the castle, as the master calls it." + +"But they couldn't unless they came close up, Joses." + +"Well, what's to hinder 'em from coming close up? They'll crawl through +the grass, and from stone to stone in the dark there, and who's to see +'em? My eyes are sharp enough, but I don't know as I should see them +coming. Let's ask the Beaver what he says." + +"The Beaver-with-Sharp-Teeth has heard all you said," whispered the +interpreter, "and he says that the Apaches will come before long to find +the way into the camp, and then they will go away again if they do not +die." + +A curious silence seemed to fall after this, and Bart felt, as he +crouched there watching the plains, that something very terrible was +going to happen ere long. At another time he would have been drowsy, +but now sleep was the last thing of which he thought, all his nerves +being overwrought; and as his eyes swept the wide flat plain, he kept on +fancying that sooner or later he would see the Apaches coming up to them +with the slow, silent approach of so many shadows. + +And now it suddenly struck Bart that the shadow of the mountain was +shorter than when the moon first rose, and that its edges were more +boldly defined, and by this he knew, of course, that the moon was +getting higher. At the same time though, soft fleecy clouds began to +hide the stars, and at times the shadow of the mountain was blotted out, +for the moon was from time to time obscured, and the peculiar +indistinctness of the earth seemed to Bart as exactly suited for an +enemy's approach. + +A slight movement at his side told him that this was the Indians' idea +as well, and that to a man they were eagerly scanning the plain and the +rugged patches of rock beneath. + +Every here and there the fallen masses were piled-up into buttresses, +and it was amongst these that, after failing to keep his attention upon +the misty plain, Bart let his gaze wander till at last he became +convinced that he could see some dark patch in slow motion, and it was +long enough before he could satisfy himself that it was only a stone. + +He was deceived in this way so often--the various little prominences +below him seeming to waver and move, and assume form in accordance with +his ideas--that he grew tired of watching, feeling sure at last that +there would be nothing to trouble them that night, when suddenly a soft +firm hand glided gently and silently as a snake to his wrist, took firm +hold of it and pressed it, before rising and pointing down below them +into the plain. + +Bart followed the direction of the pointing hand, but he could see +nothing, and he was about to say so, when gradually sweeping past, a few +light clouds must have left the moon partially clear, and with the +sudden access of light, Bart could make out two somethings close beside +the piled-up rocks, and for some moments he could not be sure that they +were men prostrated on their chests crawling towards the entrance to the +cattle corral, for they seemed to assimilate with the colour of the +earth; and though he strained his eyes, not a trace of motion could he +detect. + +By degrees though it seemed to him that one of the figures was a man, +the other some shaggy kind of crouching beast, till his eyes grew more +educated, and he decided that one was an Indian naked to the waist, +while the other was wearing his buffalo robe as an additional means of +protection. + +Bart watched them attentively, and still the figures did not move. At +last, however, he saw that they had changed their position, creeping +closer to the piled-up rocks, and at last, evidently encouraged by the +fact that when the firing took place that evening there was no response, +the two savages suddenly rose erect, and went to the piled-up stones +that blocked the corral entry. + +"How did they know the cattle were there?" said Bart, putting his lips +close by Joses' ear. + +"Nose!" whispered back the frontiersman, laconically. + +"But how could they tell that this was the entrance?" whispered Bart +again. + +"Eyes!" replied Joses; and he then laid his hand upon Bart's lips, as a +sign that he must refrain from speaking any more. + +Bart rather chafed at this, and he was growing excited as well, for it +troubled him that Joses and the Beaver should have let these two spies +go right up to such a treasure as the cattle corral unchallenged; and +though he would not have thought of firing at the savages, he could not +help thinking that something ought to be done--what he could not say-- +for the low grating noise he now heard was certainly the Indians moving +one of the blocks of stone that had so carefully been placed there that +afternoon. + +"They're opening the corral, my lad," said Joses just then, in a hoarse +whisper; "and if we don't stop 'em we shall be having 'em drive the +whole lot of bullocks and cows right away into the plains, and never see +a hoof again." + +"What's to be done, then?" whispered Bart, whose face was covered with a +cold dew, while his cheeks were at fever heat. + +"Well, my lad, they seem to have found out the way easy enough by +crawling over the cattle trail, and it's a very unpleasant thing to do, +but I suppose we shall either have to be robbed, or else we must stop +'em; so as the Doctor won't like all our cattle to go, I'm going to stop +'em." + +"It's very horrible," whispered Bart. + +"Horrid, my lad; so's having your cattle and horses stole, for if they +get one they're bound to have t'other; so is being starved to death; and +the worsest of all is being scalped, and that's sure to come if we let +them brutes go." + +"But it is so horrible to shoot them, Joses," panted Bart. + +"'Tis, my lad, so don't you do it. Leave it to us. Hah! that's a big +stone down, and the cattle's beginning to fidget. Now, Beaver, what do +you say?" + +The Beaver answered with his rifle, which gave a sharp report, just as +the moon shone out a little more clearly. + +"Hit!" said Joses, laconically, as they saw quite plainly the two +Indians start back from the rocks right out into the clear moonlight, +one of them uttering a fierce, hoarse yell, and staggering as if about +to fall, when the other sprang forward and caught him by the chest, +holding him up, and, as it was plain to see, forming of the body of his +wounded companion a shield to protect himself from the bullets of their +unseen assailants. + +"They must not go away and tell tales," muttered Joses, as he took aim; +but just then the interpreter's rifle rang out, and the half-nude Indian +turned partly round, so that they could see in white paint upon his +breast, seeming to gleam horribly in the moonlight, the ghastly skull +and cross-bones that seemed to have been adopted as the badge of the +tribe. Then he fell back into the arms of his friend, who clasped his +arms round him, and backed slowly, keeping the wounded man's face to the +firing party, while, as if mechanically, the injured savage kept step. + +_Crack_ went the Beaver's rifle again, and there was a dull thud telling +of a hit, but still the two Indians retreated slowly. + +_Crack_! went Joses' rifle, and he uttered a low growl. + +"I'll swear I hit him, but I dunno whether it touched the t'other one--a +cowardly skunk, to sneak behind his fellow like that." + +_Crack_--_crack_--_crack_--_crack_! four rifles uttered their reports, +which seemed to reverberate from the face of the mountain; and as the +smoke rose slowly, and Bart could gaze at the moonlit plain, and try to +read the meaning of the fierce yell of defiance that he had heard arise, +he saw that the first Indian lay upon his back with the moon shining +upon his ghastly, painted breast, while his companion was rapidly +disappearing as he ran swiftly over the plain. + +The Beaver's rifle rang out again, and he started up into a kneeling +position, gazing after the object at which he had fired, while his +fingers mechanically reloaded his piece. Then he uttered a low guttural +cry of anger, and sank down into his former position. + +"Missed him, Beaver," said Joses, quietly. + +"No," was the sharp retort. "He was hit, but he will escape to his dogs +of people." + +This was a tremendous speech for the chief, who, however, seemed to be +acquiring the English tongue with remarkable rapidity, the fact being +that he had long known a great deal of English, but had been too proud +to make use of it till he could speak sufficiently well to make himself +understood with ease, and therefore he had brought up the interpreter as +a medium between him and his English friends. + +They watched through the rest of the night, after communicating to the +Doctor the reason for the firing, but there was no fresh alarm. The +moon rose higher, and shed a clear effulgence that seemed to make the +plain as light as day, while the shadow of the mountain appeared to +become black, and the ravines and cracks in its sides to be so many +dense marks cut in solid silver. + +Daylight at last, with the silvery moon growing pale and the stars +fading out. First a heavy grey, then a silvery light, then soft, +roseate tints, followed by orange flecks far up in the east, and then +one glorious, golden blaze to herald the sun, as the great orb slowly +seemed to roll up over the edge of the plain, and bring with it life, +and light, and hope. + +"Hurrah!" shouted Bart, as he rose from his cramped position in the +rifle-pit. "Oh, Joses! my back! my legs! Ah, ah! Oh my! Do rub me! +I'm so stiff I can hardly move." + +"That'll soon go off, my lad. There, I suppose most of us may go off +duty now, for I can't see any Injun out on the plains." + +"Yes: hundreds!" said the Beaver, who had been shading his eyes and +gazing attentively over the sunlit expanse of rocky landscape dotted +with trees. + +"Where, Beaver?" said Joses. + +For answer the chief pointed right away, and both Joses and Bart tried +to make out what he meant, but in vain. + +"Your eyes are younger than mine, Bart," said Joses at last, gruffly. +"I can't see nothing--can you?" + +"No, Joses," replied Bart. "I can see nothing but trees." + +The Beaver smiled. + +"Ah, it's all very well for you to laugh," said Joses, bluntly, "but +you've got eyes that see round corners of hills, and through clumps of +wood and bits of mountain. I never saw such eyes in my life." + +"My eyes will do," said the Beaver, quietly. "The Apaches are over +yonder. They will be on the watch to carry off the cattle or to kill us +if they can." + +"Yes, that's it," said Joses; "if they can." + +Without another word, the Beaver and half-a-dozen of his followers went +down the slope, and climbed the stone gateway, to leap into the plain, +where, without a word of instruction, they bore off the body of the +fallen Indian, and buried it down in the rift where the other two had +been laid, after which they returned to partake of the morning meal that +had been prepared--fires being lit in various crevices and chasms off +the zigzag way; and this meal being partaken of in the bright morning +sunshine, seemed to make the dangers of the night appear trifling, and +the spirits of the people rose. + +In fact, there was no time for despondency. Every man knew when he came +out to adventure for silver that he would have to run the risk of +encounters with the Indians, and nothing could be more satisfactory than +their position. For they had a stronghold where they could set half the +Indian nations at defiance, while the savages could not hinder their +mining operations, which could be continued on the mountain if they were +invested, and at the edge of the canyon or down below, where there was +nothing to fear. + +The greatest danger was with respect to the cattle, which had to be +drawn out to pasture along near the side of the lake, and this was done +at once, every available man mounting his horse and forming guard, so as +to protect the cattle and pasture his horse at the same time. + +This was carried on for some days, and a careful watch was kept out +towards the plain; but though bodies of Indians were seen manoeuvring in +the distance, none approached the mountain, whose flag waved out +defiance; and as night after night passed without alarm, there were some +of the party sanguine enough to say that the Indians had had their +lesson and would come no more. + +"What do you say to that, Beaver?" said Joses, laying his hand upon the +chiefs shoulder, and looking him in the face. + +"Indian dog of Apache never forgives," he replied quietly. "They may +come to-day--to-morrow--next moon. Who can tell when the Apache will +come and strike? But he will come." + +"There, Master Bart, hear that!" said Joses. "How about going down into +the canyon to spear salmon now?" + +"The young chief, Bart, can go and spear salmon in the river," said the +Beaver, whose face lit up at the prospect of engaging in something more +exciting than watching cattle and taking care that they did not stray +too far. "The Beaver and his young men will take care the Apaches do +not come without warning." + + + +CHAPTER THIRTY TWO. + +SPEARING SALMON UNDER DIFFICULTIES. + +The undertaking of the chief was considered sufficient, and as a change +of food would be very acceptable to the little mining colony, the Doctor +made no difficulty about the matter, so the Beaver sent out scouts into +the plain to give the earliest notice of the appearance of danger, and +to supplement this, the Doctor posted Harry, their English follower, in +the best position on the mountain, with the powerful glass, so that he +might well sweep the plain, and give an earlier notice of the enemy's +coming than even the Indians could supply. + +The Beaver looked very hard at the telescope, and said that it was very +great medicine, evidently feeling for it a high degree of respect. Then +certain other arrangements having been made, including the choice of +half-a-dozen of the Mexican greasers to carry the salmon that Bart said +laughingly they had not yet caught, the fishing party, which included +Bart, Joses, the Beaver, the interpreter, and six more Indians, all +started for the patch of forest. + +They were all well-armed, and, in addition to their weapons, the Indians +had contrived some ingeniously formed three-pronged spears, keen as +lancets, and well barbed, ready for use in the war against the fish. + +The deep rift leading down to the canyon was soon found, and this time +Bart approached cautiously, lest there should be another of the +rattle-tailed snakes lurking in a crevice of the rock; but this time +they had nothing of the kind to encounter. A magnificent deer, though, +sprang from a dense thicket, and Bart's rifle, like that of Joses, was +at his shoulder on the instant. + +"No, no!" cried the Beaver, eagerly; and they lowered the pieces. + +"Ah!" cried Bart, in a disappointed tone, "I had, just got a good sight +of him. I know I should not have missed." + +"The Beaver's right, Master Bart," said Joses, quietly. "If we fired, +the sound might travel to the Apaches, and bring 'em down upon us. Best +not, my lad. We'll get the salmon without our guns." + +They entered the "chimney," and, acquainted now with its peculiarities, +the party descended much more quickly than on the previous occasion. +The way was clearer, too, the vines and tangled growth having been +cleared at the first descent, when pieces of rock were removed, and +others placed in clefts and cracks to facilitate the walking, so that, +following the same plan again, there was a possibility of the slope +becoming in time quite an easy means of communication between the canyon +and the plain. + +They reached the bottom in safety, and probably to make sure that there +should be no such accident as that to the Doctor occur unseen, the chief +took the precaution of planting the party on rocks out in the stream +well in view one of the other, and just where the fish would pass. He +then set a couple of his men to watch for danger, and the spearing +began. + +"Now, Master Bart," said Joses, "sling your rifle as I do, and let's see +what you can do in spearing salmon." + +"Hadn't we better leave our rifles ashore there, under the trees?" +replied Bart. + +"Yes, my lad, if you want to be taken at a disadvantage. Why, Master +Bart, I should as soon think of leaving an arm or a leg ashore as my +rifle. No, my lad, there's no peace times out here; so no matter how +inconvenient it may be, sling your piece, and be always prepared for the +worst." + +"Oh, all right, Joses," replied Bart, pettishly, and he slung his rifle. + +"Oh, it's of no use for you to be huffy, my lad," growled Joses. "You +never know when danger's coming. I knowed a young fellow once up in the +great north plains. He'd been across the Alkali Desert in a bad time, +and had been choked with the heated dust and worried with the nasty +salty stuff that had filled his eyes and ears, so that when he got to a +branch of one of the rivers up there that was bubbling over rocks and +stones just as this may be, and--ah, stoopid! Missed him!" cried Joses, +after making a tremendous stab at a salmon. + +"Well, Joses?" + +Well! no, it wasn't well. He thought he must have a good swim, and so +he took off his clothes, laid his rifle up against the trunk of a big +pine-tree, and in he went, and began splashing about in the beautiful +cool clear water, which seemed to soften his skin, and melt off quite a +nasty salt crust that had made him itchy and almost mad for days. + +Well, this was so good that he swam farther and farther, till he swam +right across to where the stream ran fast right under the steep rock, +not so big as this, but still so big and steep that a man could not have +climbed up it at the best of times, and--"Got him, my lad?" he +exclaimed, as he saw Bart make a vigorous thrust with his spear. + +"Yes, I have him," cried Bart, excitedly, as he struggled with the +vigorous fish, a large one of fourteen or fifteen pounds' weight, one +which he successfully drew upon the rocks, and after gloating over its +silvery beauty, carried to the shore, returning just in time to see +Joses strike down his fish-spear, and drag out a fish a little larger +than the first one caught. + +"That's a fine one, Master Bart," growled Joses, as he set off to step +from stone to stone to the bank, while Bart, eager and excited, stood +with poised spear, gazing intently down into the clear depths for the +next beauty that should come within his reach. + +Just then one came up stream, saw the danger impending, and went off +like a flash through the water, turning slightly on his side and showing +his great silvery scales. + +"Too late for him, Joses," cried Bart. + +"Ah, you must be sharp with them, my lad, I can tell you," cried his +companion. "Well, as I was telling of you, the rock on the opposite +side of the river rose up like a wall, and there was just a shelf of +stone big enough for a man to land on before he tried to swim back. +Those stones, too, were right in the sunshine, and the wall behind them +was just the same, and they'd be nice and warm." + +"How do you know, Joses?" + +"How do I know? because I've swum across that river often, and it's very +cold--so cold that you're glad to get out and have a good warm on the +rocks before you try to swim back. Got him again?" + +"Yes," replied Bart, who had made a successful thrust. "Only a small +one though." + +"Not so bad, my lad; not so bad. He's a good eight or nine pounds. +Well, as I was telling you, this young man got out on the bit of a +shelf, and was warming himself, when his eyes nearly jumped out of his +head, for he saw half-a-dozen Injuns come from among the pine-trees, and +one of them, when he saw that young man there, ran loping towards where +the gun stood, caught it up, and took a quick aim at him. Now, then-- +Ah, I've got you this time," cried Joses, spearing the largest fish yet +caught, dragging it out of the water, and taking it ashore. + +"Fine one, Joses?" cried Bart. + +"Yes; he's a pretty good one. Ah, you missed him again. It wants a +sharp poke, my lad. Well, now then," he added, as Bart, recovered +himself after an ineffectual thrust, "what ought that young man to have +done, Master Bart?" + +"Taken a header into the river, dived, and swum for his life." + +"Right, boy; but he was so scared and surprised that he sat there +staring at the Injun, and gave him a chance to fire at him, being so +near that the shot whistled by his ear and flattened on the rock behind, +and fell on the shelf where he was sitting." + +"That woke him up, I suppose?" said Bart. + +"It just did, my lad; and before the Indians knew where he was, he went +plop into the river and disappeared, and the Injun ran down to catch him +as he came up again." + +"And," said Bart, quickly, "they didn't catch sight of his head when he +came above the water, because he swam up with the eddy into a dark pool +among some rocks, and squatted there, with only his nose above the +water, till they thought he was drowned, and went, and then he crept +out." + +"Why, how did you know?" growled Joses. + +"Because you've told me half-a-dozen times before. I recollect now," +said Bart, "only you began it in a different way, so that I thought it +was a new story; and you were that young man, Joses." + +"Course I was," growled the other; "but hang me if I tell you a story +again." + +"Never mind, Joses; here's another," cried Bart, laughing. + +"And here's a bigger one, Master Bart," said Joses, chuckling. + +"What splendid sport!" cried Bart, as he followed Joses ashore with his +prize, and added it to the silvery heap. + +"Ay, it ain't amiss. We shall give them a reg'lar treat in the camp, +that we shall." + +"Look, Joses, the Beaver's got a monster. He has let it go. What's he +bounding ashore for like that?" + +"Quick, Master Bart--danger!" cried Joses, excitedly, as a warning cry +rang along the river. "Look out! This way!" + +"What's the danger?" cried Bart, leaping ashore and un-slinging his +rifle. + +"Injun, my lad; don't you see 'em? they're coming down the canyon. This +way. Never mind the fish; make straight for the chimney. We can hold +that again 'em anyhow." + +_Crack_--_crack_! went a couple of rifles from some distance up the +river, and the bullets cut the boughs of the trees above their heads. + +Bart's immediate idea was to sink down amongst the herbage for cover and +return the shot, but the Beaver made a rush at him, shouting, "No, no, +no!" and taking his place, began to return the fire of the approaching +Indians, bidding Bart escape. + +"I don't like leaving all that fish after all, Master Bart," said Joses; +"they'd be so uncommon good up yonder. Go it, you skunks! fire away, +and waste your powder! Yah! What bad shots your savages are! I don't +believe they could hit our mountain upstairs there! Hadn't we better +stop and drive them back, Beaver, and let the greasers carry away the +fish?" + +_Crack_--_crack_--_crack_! rattled the rifles; and as the faint puffs of +smoke could be seen rising above the bushes and rocks high up the +canyon, the sounds of the firing echoed to and from the rocky sides till +they died away in the distance, and it seemed at last, as the firing +grew a little hotter, and was replied to briskly by Joses and the +Indians, that fifty or sixty people were firing on either side. + +The attack was so fairly responded to that the Apaches were checked for +the time, and Joses raised himself from the place he had made his +rifle-pit, and called to the Mexican greasers to run and pick up the +fish, while he and the Indians covered them; but though he called +several times, not one responded. + +"What's come of all them chaps, Master Bart?" he cried. + +"I think they all got to the chimney, and began to climb up," replied +Bart. + +"Just like 'em," growled Joses. "My word, what a brave set o' fellows +they are! I don't wonder at the Injun looking down upon 'em and making +faces, as if they was an inferior kind of beast. Ah, would you?" + +Joses lowered himself down again, for a bullet had whizzed by in +unpleasant proximity to his head. + +"Are you hurt, Joses?" cried Bart, half rising to join him. + +"Keep down, will you, Master Bart! Hurt me? No. They might hit you. +I say, have you fired yet?" + +"Yes, three times," replied Bart; "but I fired over their heads to +frighten them." + +"Hark at that!" cried Joses; "just as if that would frighten an Injun. +It would make him laugh and come close, because you were such a bad +shot. It does more harm than good, my lad." + +_Crack_! + +Joses' rifle uttered its sharp report just then, and the firing ceased +from a spot whence shot after shot had been coming with the greatest +regularity, and the rough fellow turned grimly to his young companion. + +"I don't like telling you to do it, Master Bart, because you're such a +young one, and it seems, of course, shocking to say shoot men. But then +you see these ain't hardly like men; they're more like rattlesnakes. We +haven't done them no harm, and we don't want to do them no harm, but all +the same they will come and they'll kill the lot of us if they can; so +the time has come when you must help us, for you're a good shot, my lad, +and every bullet you put into the Injun means one more chance for us to +save our scalps, and help the Doctor with his plans." + +"Must I fire _at_ them then, Joses?" said Bart, sadly. + +"Yes, my lad, you must. They're five or six times as many as we are, +and they're coming slowly on, creeping from bush to bush, so as to get a +closer shot at us. There, I tell you what you do; fire at their chests, +aim right at the painted skull they have there. That'll knock 'em down +and stop 'em, and it'll comfort you to think that they may get better +again." + +"Don't talk foolery, Joses," cried Bart, angrily, "Do you think I'm a +child?" + +Joses chuckled, and took aim at a bush that stood above a clump of +rocks, one from which another Indian was firing regularly; but just then +the Beaver's rifle sent forth its bullet, and Bart saw an Indian spring +up on to the rocks, utter a fierce yell, shake his rifle in the air, and +then fall headlong into the river. + +"Saved my charge," said Joses, grimly. "There, I won't fool about with +you, Master Bart, but tell you the plain truth. It's struggle for life +out here; kill or be killed; and you must fight for yourself and your +friends like a man. For it isn't only to serve yourself, lad, but +others. It's stand by one another out here, man by man, and make +enemies feel that you are strong, or else make up your mind to go under +the grass." + +Bart sighed and shuddered, for he more than once realised the truth of +what his companion said. But he hesitated no longer, for these savages +were as dangerous as the rattlesnakes of the plains, and he felt that +however painful to his feelings, however dreadful to have to shed human +blood, the time had come when he must either stand by his friends like a +man, or slink off like a cur. + +Bart accepted the stern necessity, and watching the approach of the +Indians, determined only to fire when he saw pressing need. + +The consequence was that a couple of minutes later he saw an Indian dart +from some bushes, and run a dozen yards to a rock by the edge of the +swift river, disappear behind it, and then suddenly his head and +shoulders appeared full in Bart's view; the Indian took quick aim, and +as the smoke rose from his rifle the Beaver uttered a low hissing sound, +and Bart knew that he was hit. + +Not seriously apparently, for there was a shot from his hiding-place +directly after, and then Bart saw the Indian slowly draw himself up into +position again, partly over the top of the rock, from whence he was +evidently this time taking a long and careful aim at the brave chief, +who was risking his life for the sake of his English friends. + +Bart hesitated no longer. Joses had said that he was a good shot. He +was, and a quick one; and never was his prowess more needed than at that +moment, when, with trembling hands, he brought his rifle to bear upon +the shoulders of the savage. Then for a moment his muscles felt like +iron; he drew the trigger, and almost simultaneously the rifle of the +savage rang out. Then, as the smoke cleared away, Bart saw him standing +erect upon the rock, clutching at vacancy, before falling backwards into +the river with a tremendous splash; and as Bart reloaded, his eyes +involuntarily turned towards the rushing stream, and he saw the +inanimate body swept swiftly by. + +"What have I done!" he gasped, as the cold sweat broke out upon his +brow. "Horrible! What a deed to do!" and his eyes seemed fixed upon +the river in the vain expectation of seeing the wretched savage come +into sight again. + +Just then he felt a touch upon his arm, and turning sharply found +himself face to face with the Beaver, whose shoulder was scored by a +bullet wound, from which the blood trickled slowly down over his chest. + +As Bart faced him he smiled, and grasped the lad's hand, pressing it +between both of his. + +"Saved Beaver's life," he said, softly. "Beaver never forgets. Bart is +brave chief." + +Bart felt better now, and he had no time for farther thought, the peril +in which they were suddenly appearing too great. + +For the Beaver pointed back to where the chimney offered the way of +escape. + +"Time to go," the Beaver said. "Come." + +And, setting the example, he began to creep from cover to cover, after +uttering a low cry, to which his followers responded by imitating their +leader's actions. + +"Keep down low, Master Bart," whispered Joses. "That's the way. The +chimney's only about three hundred yards back. We shall soon be there, +and then we can laugh at these chaps once we get a good start up. We +must leave the fish though, worse luck. There won't be so many of 'em +to eat it though as there was at first. Hallo! How's that?" + +The reason for his exclamation was a shot that whizzed by him--one fired +from a long way down the canyon in the way they were retreating, and, to +Bart's horror, a second and a third followed from the same direction, +with the effect that the savages who had attacked first gave a +triumphant yell, and began firing quicker than before. + +"Taken between two fires, Master Bart," said Joses, coolly; "and if we +don't look out they'll be up to the chimney before we can get there, and +then--" + +"We must sell our lives as dearly as we can, Joses," cried Bart. + +"Good, lad--good, lad!" replied Joses, taking deadly aim at one of the +Indians up the river, and firing; "but my life ain't for sale. I want +it for some time to come." + +"That's right; keep up the retreat. Well done, Beaver!" + +This was an account of the action of the chief, who, calling upon three +of his men to follow him, dashed down stream towards the chimney, +regardless of risk, so as to hold the rear enemies in check, while Bart, +Joses, and the other three Indians did the same by the party up stream, +who, however, were rapidly approaching now. + +"I want to know how those beggars managed to get down into the canyon +behind us," growled Joses, as he kept on steadily firing whenever he had +a chance. "They must have gone down somewhere many miles away. I say, +you mustn't lose a chance, my lad. Now then; back behind those rocks. +Let's run together." + +_Crack_--_crack_--_crack_! went the Indians' rifles, and as the echoes +ran down the canyon, they yelled fiercely and pressed on, the Beaver's +men yelling back a defiance, and giving them shot for shot, one of which +took deadly effect. + +There was a fierce yelling from down below as the savages pressed +upwards, and the perils of the whole party were rapidly increasing. + +"Didn't touch you, did they, Master Bart?" cried Joses from his +hiding-place. + +"No." + +"Keep cool, then. Now, Injuns! Another run for it--quick!" + +A dash was made after the Beaver to a fresh patch of cover, and the +firing from above and below became so fierce that the position grew one +of dire extremity. + +"Look out, my lads!" cried the frontiersman; "they're getting together +for a rush. You must each bring down your man." + +There was no mistaking the plan of the Indians now, and Bart could see +them clustering into some bushes just at the foot of the mountain where +it ran perpendicularly down, forming part of the canyon wall. They +seemed to be quite thirty strong, and a bold rush must have meant death +to the little party, unless they could reach the chimney; and apparently +the savages coming up from below had advanced so far that the Beaver had +not been able to seize that stronger point. + +"Keep cool, Master Bart. We must stand fast, and give 'em such a sharp +fire as may check them. As soon as we've fired, you make a run for it, +my lad, straight for the chimney. Never mind anybody else, but risk the +firing, and run in and climb up as fast as you can." + +"And what about you, Joses?" asked Bart. + +"I'll stop and cover your retreat, my lad; and if we don't meet again, +tell the Doctor I did my best; and now God bless you! good-bye. Be +ready to fire." + +"I'm ready, Joses, and I shan't go," replied Bart firmly. + +"You won't go? But I order you to go, you young dog!" cried Joses, +fiercely. + +"Well, of all the--look out, Beaver! Fire, Master Bart! Here they +come!" + +Quite a volley rang out as some five-and-twenty Indians came leaping +forward, yelling like demons, and dashing down upon the little party. +Two of this number fell, but this did not check them, and they were +within fifty yards of Bart, who was rapidly re-charging, when Joses +roared out: "Knives--knives out! Don't run!" + +The bravery of the Indians, of Joses, and Bart would have gone as +nothing at such a time as this, for they were so terribly outnumbered +that all they could have done would have been to sell their lives as +dearly as they could. In fact, their fates seemed to be sealed, when +help came in a very unexpected way, and turned the tide of affairs. + +The savage Apaches had reduced the distance to thirty yards now, and +Bart felt quite dizzy with excitement as he fired his piece and brought +down one of the enemy, whose ghastly, painted breasts seemed to add to +the horror of the situation. + +Another moment or two, and then he knew that the struggle would come, +and dropping his rifle, he wrenched his knife from its light sheath, +when suddenly there was a fierce volley from on high--a fire that took +the Indians in the rear. Six fell, and the rest, stunned by this +terrible attack from a fresh quarter, turned on the instant, and fled up +the canyon, followed by a parting fire from which a couple more fell. + +"Hurray!" shouted Joses; "now for the chimney. Come, Master Bart! Now, +Beaver--now's your time!" + +They ran from cover to cover, meeting shot after shot from below, and in +a minute were close up with the Beaver and his three men, who were hard +pressed by the advancing party. + +"Now, Beaver," cried Joses, finishing the re-loading of his piece, "what +do you say to a bold rash forward--right to the mouth of the chimney?" + +"Yes," said the chief; "shoot much first." + +"Good," cried Joses. "Now, Master Bart, fire three or four times +wherever there's a chance, and then re-load and forward." + +These orders were carried out with so good an effect that the Apaches +below were for the moment checked, and seemed staggered by this +accession of strength, giving the little party an opportunity to make +their bold advance, running from bush to bush and from rock to rock +until they were well up to the mouth of the chimney, but now in terribly +close quarters with their enemies, who held their fire, expecting that +the advance would be continued right on to a hand-to-hand encounter. + +Then there was a pause and a dead silence, during which, in obedience to +signs made by the Beaver, first one and then another crept behind the +bushes to the mouth of the chimney, entered it, and began to ascend. +There was a bit of a fight between Bart and Joses as to which should be +first, with the result that the latter went first, then Bart followed, +and the Beaver came last. + +So close was it, though, that as they climbed up the steep narrow rocky +slope there was a fierce yell and a rush, and they saw the light +slightly obscured as the Apaches dashed by the entrance in a fierce +charge, meant to overwhelm them. + +Directly after the canyon seemed to be filled with yells of +disappointment and rage, as the Apaches found that their intended +victims had eluded them just as they had vowed their destruction. + +This gave a minute's grace, sufficient for the fugitives to get some +little distance up the narrow rock passage, the Beaver and Bart pausing +by the top of the steepest piece of rock about a hundred feet above the +entrance, which, overshadowed as it was by trees, had a beautifully +peaceful appearance as seen against the broad light of day. + +All at once there was a loud yell, betokening the fact that the entrance +to the chimney had been seen, and directly after a couple of Indians +leaped in and began to climb. + +Bart's and the Beaver's rifles seemed to make but one report, when the +narrow chasm was filled with the vapour of exploded gunpowder, and the +two Indians fell back. + +"Climb," whispered the Beaver; and Bart led the way, the chief keeping +close behind him, till they were on the heels of the rest of the party, +who had halted to see if they could be of use. + +The entry was now hidden, and they stopped to listen, just as the +successive reports of three rifles came echoing up in company with the +curious pattering noise made by the bullets, which seemed as if they +glanced here and there against the stones, sending fragments rattling +down, but doing no farther harm, for the fugitives were not in the line +of the shooters' sight. + +The retreat went on, with the Beaver and Joses taking it in turn to +remain behind at a corner of the rift or some barrier of rock to keep +the Apaches in check, for they kept coming fiercely on. Now and then +they were checked by a shot, but in that dark narrow pass there was but +little opportunity for firing, and the chief thing aimed at was retreat. + +The top was reached at last, and as they neared it, to Bart's great +delight, he found that there was a strong party there, headed by the +Doctor, who had heard the firing, and came to his followers' relief. + +The main thing to decide now was how to hold the Apaches in check while +a retreat was made to the mountain, where all was right, the horses and +cattle being in their strong places, and every one on the alert. + +The Beaver decided the matter by undertaking, with one of his men, to +keep the Apaches from getting to the top till their friends had reached +the rock, where they were to be ready to cover his retreat. + +The Doctor made a little demur at first, but the chief insisted, and +after an attempt on the part of the Apaches at fighting their way up had +been met by a sharp volley, the whole party, saving the Beaver and one +follower, retreated to the rock fortress, where they speedily manned all +the points of defence, and waited eagerly for the coming of the chief. +But to Bart's horror he did not come, while simultaneously there was a +shout from the Doctor and another from Joses, the one giving warning +that a very strong body of mounted men was appearing over the plains, +the other that the savages from the canyon had fought their way up the +chimney, and were coming on to the attack. + + + +CHAPTER THIRTY THREE. + +MOURNING LOST FRIENDS. + +The failure of the Beaver and his follower to put in an appearance made +Bart's heart sink down like lead, while Joses turned to him with a dull +look of misery in his eye. + +"It's bad, Master Bart," he said; "it's very bad. I hates all Indians +as hard as ever I can hate 'em, but somehow the Beaver and me seemed to +get on well together, and if I'd knowed what was going to happen, it +isn't me as would have come away and left him in the lurch." + +"No, Joses, neither would I," said Bart, bitterly. "But do you think--" + +"Do I think he has escaped, my lad?" said Joses, sadly, for Bart could +not finish his speech; "no, I don't. The savage creatures came upon him +sudden, or they knocked him over with a bullet, and he has died like an +Indian warrior should." + +"No," said a sharp voice behind them; and the interpreter stood there +with flashing eyes gazing angrily at the speakers. "No," he cried +again, "the Beaver-with-Sharp-Teeth is too strong for the miserable +Apache. He will come back. They could not kill a warrior like that." + +"Well, I hope you're right, Mr Interpreter," growled Joses. "I hope +you are right, but I shall not believe it till I see him come." + +There was no time for further conversation, the approach of the enemies +being imminent. On the one side, far out on the plain, were scattered +bodies of the Apaches, evidently in full war-paint, riding about in some +kind of evolution; and, as the Doctor could see with his glass, for the +most part armed with spears. + +Some of the men bore the strong short bow that had been in use among +them from time immemorial, and these could be made out by the thick +quiver they had slung over their backs. But, generally speaking, each +Indian carried a good serviceable rifle, pieces of which they could make +deadly use. + +At present there seemed to be no intention of making an immediate +attack, the Indians keeping well out in the plain beyond the reach of +rifle-ball, though every now and then they gathered together, and as if +at the word of command, swept over the ground like a whirlwind, and +seemed bent upon charging right up to the mountain. + +This, however, they did not do, but turned off each time and rode back +into the plain. + +"Why do they do that, Joses?" said Bart, eagerly. + +"To see all they can of our defences, my lad. They'll come on foot at +last like the others are doing, though I don't think they'll manage a +very great deal this time." + +For the party from the canyon, now swollen to nearly fifty men, were +slowly approaching from the direction of the chimney, and making use of +every tuft, and bush, and rock, affording Bart a fine view from the +gallery of the clever and cunning means an Indian will adopt to get +within shot of an enemy. + +They had crept on and on till they were so near that from the +hiding-place in the gallery which protected the cattle Joses could have +shot them one by one as they came along, the men being quite ignorant of +the existence of such a defence, as nothing was visible from the face of +the rock. + +"I shan't fire so long as they don't touch the horses or the cattle," +said Joses, "though perhaps I ought to, seeing how they have killed our +best friend. Somehow, though, I don't feel to like shooting a man +behind his back as it were. If they were firing away at us the thing +would be different. I could fire them it back again then pretty +sharply, I can tell you!" + +Joses soon had occasion to use his rifle, for, finding themselves +unmolested, the Indians took advantage of every bit of cover they could +find; and when this ceased, and there was nothing before them but a +patch of open plain, they suddenly darted forward right up to the cattle +corral, the tracks of the animals going to and fro plainly telling them +the entrance, as the odour did the men who had crept up by night. + +Reaching this, they made a bold effort to get an opening big enough for +the cattle to be driven out; but without waiting for orders, the Indians +in the rock gallery opened fire, and Joses and Bart caught the +infection, the latter feeling a fierce kind of desire to avenge his +friend the Beaver. + +The rifle-shots acted like magic, sending the Apaches back to cover, +where they began to return the fire briskly enough, though they did no +more harm than to flatten their bullets, some of which dropped +harmlessly into the rifle-pits, and were coolly appropriated by the +Beaver's followers for melting down anew. + +"Don't shoot, my lads," said Joses before long; "it is only wasting +ammunition. They are too well under cover. Let them fire away as long +as they like, and you can pick up the lead as soon as they are gone." + +The interpreter told his fellows Joses' words, and they ceased firing +without a moment's hesitation, and crouched there with their white +friends, listening to the loud crack of the Apaches' rifles, and the +almost simultaneous _fat_! of the bullet against the rock. + +Not a man in the gallery was injured in the slightest degree, while, as +soon as he had got over a sort of nervous feeling that was the result of +being shot at without the excitement of being able to return the fire, +Bart lay watching the actions of the Apaches, and the senseless way in +which they kept on firing at the spots where they fancied that their +enemies might be. + +The cover they had made for was partly scrubby brush and partly masses +of stone lying singly in the plain, and it was curious to watch an +Indian making his attack. First the barrel of his rifle would be +protruded over some rugged part of the stone, then very slowly a feather +or two would appear, and then, if the spot was very closely watched, a +narrow patch of brown forehead and a glancing eye could be seen. Then +where the eye had appeared was shut out by the puff of white smoke that +suddenly spirted into the air; and as it lifted, grew thin, and died +away, Bart could see that the barrel of the rifle had gone, and its +owner was no doubt lying flat down behind the piece of rock, which +looked as if no Indian had been near it for years. + +Five minutes later the muzzle of the rifle would slowly appear from +quite a different part, and so low down that it was evident the Apache +was lying almost upon his face. This time perhaps Bart would note that +all at once a little patch of dry grass would appear, growing up as it +were in a second, as the Indian balanced it upon the barrel of his +piece, making it effectually screen his face, while it was thin and open +enough for him to take aim at the place from whence he had seen flashes +of fire come. + +Bart saw a score of such tricks as this, and how a patch of sage-brush, +that looked as if it would not hide a prairie dog began to send out +flashes of fire and puffs of smoke, telling plainly enough that there +was an Indian safely ensconced therein. + +The Apaches' attitudes, too, excited his wonder, for they fired face +downwards, lying on their sides or their backs, and always from places +where there had been no enemy a minute before; while, when he was weary +of watching these dismounted men at their ineffective toil, there were +their friends out in the plain, who kept on swooping down after leaving +their spears stuck in the earth a mile away. They would gallop to +within easy range, and then turning their horses' heads, canter along +parallel with the mountain, throw themselves sidewise on the flank of +their horse farthest from the place attacked, take aim and fire beneath +the animal's neck, their own bodies being completely hidden by the +horse. It is almost needless to say that the shots they fired never did +any harm, the position, the bad aim, and the motion of the horse being +sufficient to send the bullets flying in the wildest way, either into +the plain or high up somewhere on the face of the rock. + +All at once this desultory, almost unresisted attack came to an end, as +a fresh body of Indians cantered up; many of the latter leading horses, +to which the attacking party from the canyon now made their way; and +just at sundown the whole body galloped off, without so much as giving +the beleaguered ones a farewell shot. + +Bart watched them go off in excellent order right away out into the +plain, the orange rays of the setting sun seeming to turn the half-nude +figures into living bronze. Then the desert began to grow dim, the sky +to darken, a few stars to peep out in the pale grey arch, and after a +party had been deputed to keep watch, this intermission in the attack +was seized upon as the time for making a hearty meal, the sentries not +being forgotten. + +"And now, Bart," said the Doctor, "I shall keep the gate myself to-night +with half a dozen men. I should like you and Joses to watch in the +gallery once more with the Beaver's men. These Apaches will be back +again to-night to try and drive off the capital prize, if they could get +it, of our cattle." + +"Very good, sir," said Bart, cheerily; "I'll watch." + +"So will I," growled Joses. + +"I wish you had the Beaver to help you. Poor fellow!" said the Doctor, +sadly; "his was a wonderful eye. The interpreter will become chief now, +I suppose." + +"Perhaps so, sir," said Bart; "but he says that the Beaver is not dead, +but will come back." + +"I would he spoke the truth," said the Doctor, sadly. "The poor fellow +died that we might be saved, like a hero. But there, we have no time +for repining. Let us get well into our places before dark. Joses, can +you be a true prophet?" he added. + +"What about, master?" said the frontiersman. + +"And tell me when I may be allowed to mine my silver in peace?" + +"No, master, I'm not prophet enough for that. If you killed off all +these Injun, you might do it for a time, but 'fore long a fresh lot +would have sprung up, and things would be as bad as ever. Seems to me +finding silver's as bad as keeping cattle. Come along, Master Bart. I +wish we had some of them salmon we speared." + +"Never mind the salmon," said Bart, smiling; "we escaped with our +lives;" and leading the way, they were soon ensconced in their places, +watching the darkness creep over the plain like a thick veil, while the +great clusters of stars came out and shone through the clear air till +the sky was like frosted gold. + +"Do you think the Apaches will come again to-night?" said Bart, after an +hour's silence. + +"Can't say, my lad. No, I should say. Yes, I should say," he whispered +back; "and there they are." + +As he spoke, he levelled his rifle at the first of two dusky figures +that had appeared out in the plain, rising as it were out of the earth; +but before he could fire, there was a hand laid upon his shoulder, and +another raised the barrel of his piece. + +"Treachery!" shouted Joses. "Bart, Master Bart, quick--help!" + +There was a fierce struggle for a few moments, and then Joses loosened +his hold and uttered an exclamation full of vexed impatience. + +"It's all right, Master Bart," he cried. "Here, give us your hand, old +Speak English," he added, clapping the interpreter on the shoulder, +"it's of no use for us English to think of seeing like you, Injun." + +"What does all this mean, Joses?" whispered Bart, excitedly, for it +seemed marvellous that two Indians should be allowed to come up to their +stronghold unmolested. + +"Why, don't you see, my lad," cried Joses, "Beaver and his chap arn't +dead after all. There they are down yonder; that's them." + +Bart leaped up, and forgetful of the proximity of enemies, waved his cap +and shouted: "Beaver, ahoy! hurrah!" + +The two Indians responded with a cheery whoop, and ran up to the rocks, +while Bart communicated the news to the Doctor and his fellow-guardians +of the gate, where the lad pushed himself to the front, so as to be the +first to welcome the chief back to their stronghold--a welcome the more +warm after the belief that had been current since his non-return. + +The Doctor's grasp was so friendly that the chief seemed almost moved, +and nodding quietly in his dignified way, he seated himself in silence +to partake of the refreshments pressed upon him by his friends. + +"The Apache dogs must live longer and learn more before they can teach +the Beaver-with-Sharp-Teeth," said the interpreter scornfully to Joses. + +"I'm very glad of it," said the latter, heartily. "I hate Injun, but +somehow I don't hate the Beaver and you, old Speak English, half--no, +not a quarter--so much as I do some of 'em. I say, how could you tell +in the dark that it was the Beaver?" + +"Speak English has eyes," said the Indian, accepting the nickname Joses +gave him without a moment's hesitation. "Speak English uses his eyes. +They see in the dark, like a puma or panther, as much as yours see in +the sunshine." + +"Well, I suppose they do," said Joses, with a sigh. "I used to think, +too, that I could see pretty well." + +They were back now in the gallery, keeping a steady watch out towards +the plain, Bart being with them, and all were most anxiously waiting +till the Beaver and his companion should come; for they were steadily +endeavouring to make up for a very long fast to an extent that would +astound an Englishman who saw a half-starved Indian eating for the first +time. Joses and Bart made no scruple about expressing their wonder as +to how it was that the Beaver had managed to escape; but the interpreter +and his fellows hazarded no conjecture whatever. They took it for +granted that their clever chief would be sure to outwit the Apaches, and +so it had proved. + +At last the Beaver came gliding softly into their midst, taking his +place in the watch as if nothing whatever had happened; and in reply to +Bart's eager inquiries, he first of all raised himself up and took a +long and searching survey of the plain. + +This done, he drew the interpreter's attention to something that had +attracted his own notice, and seemed to ask his opinion. Then the +Indian changed his position, and sheltering his eyes from the starlight, +also took a long searching look, ending by subsiding into his place with +a long, low ejaculation that ended like a sigh. + +"That means it is all right," whispered Joses. + +"Yes; all right," said the Beaver, turning his dark face toward them, +and showing his white teeth, as if pleased at being able to comprehend +their speech. + +"Then now tell us, Beaver, how it was you managed to get away." + +Without following the chief's halting delivery of his adventures in +English, it is sufficient to say that he and his follower kept the +Apaches back as they made attempt after attempt to ascend the chimney, +shooting several, and so maddening the rest that they forgot their usual +cautious methods of approach, and at last gathered together, evidently +meaning to make a headlong rush. + +This, the Beaver knew, meant that he and his man must be overpowered or +shot down before they could reach the pathway of the natural fort, so +cunning was brought to bear to give them time. + +He knew that the Apaches would be sure to spend some few minutes in +firing, partly to distract their enemies and partly to give them the +cover of abundant smoke for their approach before they made their final +rush; and taking off his feather head-gear, he secured it with a couple +of stones so near the top of the rock which sheltered him and his +companion that the eagle plumes could be seen by the Apaches as they +gathered below. + +His companion did the same, and as soon as this was done, they broke +away from their hiding-place, and ran a few yards over the soft, sandy +soil at the edge of the patch of forest, to some rocks, making deep +impressions with their moccasins. Then, taking a few bounds along the +hard rock, they found a suitable place, and there the Beaver bent down, +his follower leaped upon his shoulders, and he walked quickly backward +into the forest. + +"And so made only one trail!" cried Bart, excitedly. + +"And that one coming from the trees if the Apaches should find it," said +Joses, grinning. "Well, you are a clever one, Beaver, and no mistake." + +To put the chiefs words in plain English: + +"We had only just got into cover when we heard the firing begin very +sharply, and knowing that there was not a moment to lose, we backed +slowly in among the trees till it grew stony, and our moccasins made no +sign, and then my young man stepped down, and we crept from cover to +cover, stopping to listen to the yelling and howling of the dogs, when +they found only our feathers; and then we seemed to see them as they +rushed off over the plain, meaning to catch us before we were in safety. +But the dogs are like blind puppies. They have no sense. They could +not find our trail. They never knew that we were behind them in the +forest; and there we hid, making ourselves a strong place on the edge of +the canyon, where we could wait until they had gone; and when at last +they had gone, and all was safe, we came on, and we are here." + +"They wouldn't have escaped you like that, would they, Beaver?" said +Bart, after shaking hands once more warmly, and telling him how glad he +was to see him back. + +"Escaped me?" said the Beaver, scornfully; "there is not one of my young +men who would have been trifled with like that." + +This he said in the Indian tongue, and there was a chorus of assenting +ejaculations. + +"But the Apaches are blind dogs, and children," he went on, speaking +with bitter contempt. "They fight because they are so many that one +encourages the other, but they are not brave, and they are not warriors. +The young men of the Beaver-with-Sharp-Teeth are all warriors, and +laugh at the Apaches, for it takes fifty of them to fight one of my +braves." + +He held up his hand to command silence after this, and then pointed out +into the plain. + +"Can you see anything, Joses?" whispered Bart. + +"Not a sign of anything but dry buffler grass and sage-brush. No; it's +of no use, Master Bart, I've only got four-mile eyes, and these Injun +have got ten-mile eyes. Natur's made 'em so, and it's of no use to +fight again it. 'Tis their natur to, and it arn't our natur to, so all +we can do is to use good medicine." + +"Why, you don't think that physic would do our eyes any good, do you, +Joses?" whispered Bart. + +"Physic, no! I said medicine," chuckled Joses. + +"Well, what's the difference?" replied Bart. + +"Difference enough. I meant Injun's medicine, as they call it. Didn't +the Beaver say that the master's glass was all good medicine? He +thought it was a sort of conjuring trick like their medicine-men do when +they are making rain come, or are driving out spirits, as they call it. +No; we can't help our eyes being queer, my lad, but we can use medicine +spy-glasses, and see farther than the Injun. Hold your tongue; he's +making signs." + +For the Beaver had held up his hand again to command silence. Then he +drew Bart towards him, and pointed outwards. + +"Apache dogs," he whispered. "Young chief Bart, see?" + +"No," replied the lad, after gazing intently for some time; and then, +without a word, he glided off along the narrow, rocky, well-sheltered +path, and made his way to the Doctor, who, with his men, was upon the +_qui vive_. + +"Well, Bart, what is it?" he said, eagerly. + +"The Beaver can see Apaches on the plain." + +"A night attack, eh?" said the Doctor. "Well, we shall be ready for +them. Why have you come--to give us warning?" + +"I came first for the glass," replied Bart. "I'll send you notice if +they appear likely to attack, sir." + +"Then I hope you will not have to send the notice, my lad," said the +Doctor, "for I don't like fighting in the dark." + +As he spoke he handed the glass, and Bart returned to the gallery. + +"Are they still there?" he whispered. + +"Yes; Apache dogs," was the reply. "Good medicine." + +"They won't find it so," growled Joses, "if they come close up here, for +my rifle has got to be hungry again. I'm 'bout tired of not being left +peaceable and alone, and my rifle's like me--it means to bite." + +As he crouched there muttering and thinking of the narrow escapes they +had had, Bart carefully focussed the glass, no easy task in the deep +gloom that surrounded them; and after several tries he saw something +which made him utter an ejaculation full of wonder. + +"What is it, my lad?" whispered Joses. + +"The young chief sees the Apache dogs?" said the interpreter. + +"Yes," exclaimed Bart; "the plain swarms with them." + +"Then they're gathering for a big attack in the morning," said Joses. +"Are they mounted?" + +"Yes, all of them. I can just make them out crossing the plain." + +"Well, their horses are only good to run away on," growled Joses; "they +can't ride up this mountain. Let me have a look, my lad." + +Bart handed the glass, and Joses took a long, eager look through, at the +gathering of Apache warriors. + +"I tell you what," he said, "we shall have to look out or they'll drive +off every head of cattle and every leg of horse. They're as cunning as +cunning, I don't care what any one says, and some of these days we shall +open our eyes and find ourselves in a pretty mess." + +"The Apache dogs shall not have the horses," said the Beaver fiercely. + +"That's right; don't let 'em have them," cried Joses. "I don't want 'em +to go; but here's one thing I should like answered--How are we going to +find 'em in pasture with all these wild beasts hanging about, ready to +swoop down and make a stampede of it, and drive them off?" + +"The Beaver's young men will drive the horses and cattle out," said the +Beaver, in tones of quiet confidence, "and bring them back again quite +safe." + +"If you can do that," said Joses, "perhaps we can hold out; but it don't +seem likely that we shall get much salmon from down in the canyon +yonder, which is a pity, for I've took to quite longing for a bit of +that; and if the Apache don't take care, I shall have some yet." + + + +CHAPTER THIRTY FOUR. + +HARD PRESSED. + +Day broke, and the sun rose, displaying a sight that disheartened many +of the occupants of the rock; for far out on the plain, and well beyond +the reach of rifle-bullets, there was troop after troop of Indian +warriors riding gently here and there, as if to exercise their horses, +but doubtless in pursuance of some settled plan. + +The Doctor inspected them carefully through his glass, to try and +estimate their numbers, and he quite came to the conclusion that they +intended to invest the rock fortress, and if they could make no +impression in one way, to try and starve out its occupants. + +"We must make sure, once for all, Bart, that we have no weak points--no +spot by which these Indian wretches can ascend and take us in the rear. +Suppose you take the Beaver and two of his men with you, ascend the +mountain, and make a careful inspection." + +"But that would hardly be so satisfactory, sir, as if we went all round +the base first to make sure that there is no way up from the plain." + +"No, I know that," replied the Doctor; "but that is too dangerous a +task." + +"I'm beginning to like dangerous tasks now, sir," said Bart; "they are +so exciting." + +"Well, go then," said the Doctor; "but you must be mounted, or you will +have no chance of retreat; and of course you will all keep a sharp +look-out in case the Indians swoop down." + +Bart promised, and went at once to the Beaver and Joses. + +"I'm to come too, ain't I?" said the latter. + +"No, you are to help keep guard," was the reply; and very sulkily Joses +resumed his place, while the Beaver descended with Bart and four of his +men to enter the rock stable and obtain their horses, the rest having to +remain fasting while their companions were mounted and ridden out; the +Indian ponies in particular resenting the indignity of being shut up +again behind the stones by turning round and kicking vehemently. + +The Apaches were so far distant that Bart was in hopes that they would +not see the reconnaissance that was being made, as he rode out at the +head of his little Indian party, after fully explaining to the Beaver +that which they were to do. + +His first step was to inspect the part of the mountain on the side that +was nearest to the chimney, and the chasm into which they had descended +to see the silver on their first coming. + +This was the shortest portion by far, and it had the advantage of a good +deal of cover in the shape of detached rocks, which sheltered them from +the eyes of those upon the plain; but all the same, the Beaver posted +two of his men as scouts in good places for observing the movements of +the foe and giving warning should they approach; the plan being to take +refuge beneath the gallery, where they would be covered by the rifles of +Joses and their friends. + +It was not at all a difficult task to satisfy the most exacting that +ascent from the plain anywhere from the gallery to the precipice at the +edge of the canyon was utterly impossible; and after carefully examining +every crack and rift that ran upwards, the little party cantered back, +said a few words to Joses, and then prepared for their more risky task, +that of examining the mountain round by its northern and more open side, +for there was no cover here, and their path would be more fully in view +of any watchful eye upon the plain. + +They drew up by the gateway, and had a few minutes' conversation with +the Doctor, who said at parting: + +"You can soon satisfy yourself, Bart; but give a good look up as you +come back, in case you may have missed anything in going." + +"I'll be careful," said Bart eagerly. + +"Mind that scouts are left. I should leave at least three at different +points on the road. They can give you warning at once. Then gallop +back as if you were in a race. We shall be ready to cover you with our +rifles if they come on. Now lose no time. Go!" + +Bart touched Black Boy with his heels, and went off at a canter, but +checked his speed instantly, so that he might the more easily gaze up at +the mountain-side, while, thoroughly intent upon his task, the Beaver +left scouts at intervals, each man backing close in to the rock, and +sitting there like a statue watching the plain. + +No Indians were in sight as far as Bart could see, and he rode slowly +on, inspecting every opening in the face of the mountain, and so intent +upon his task that he left the care of his person to the chief, whose +watchful eyes were everywhere, now pointing out rifts in the rock, now +searching the plain. + +It was a much longer distance, and the importance of the task and its +risk gave a piquancy to the ride that made the blood dance through +Bart's veins. He could not help a little shudder running through him +from time to time, though it was almost more of a thrill, and he could +not have told, had he been asked, whether it was a thrill of dread or of +pleasure. Perhaps there may have been more of the former, for he kept +glancing over his right shoulder from time to time to see if a body of +Indians might be sweeping at full gallop over the plain. + +Half the distance was ridden over, and this gave confidence to the +adventurer, who rode more steadily on, and spared no pains to make sure +of there being no possibility of the Indians reaching the top from that +side. + +On went Bart, and three-fourths of the way were passed with nothing +overhead but towering perpendicular rocks, impossible for anything but a +fly to scale. The Indians had been left one after the other as scouting +sentries, and at last, when no one was in company with the young +adventurer but the Beaver, the edge of the canyon on this side was well +in sight, and only a few hundred yards of the rock remained to be +inspected. + +"We will do this, at all events," said Bart, pressing his cob's sides +with his heels; and he cantered on, for the face of the mountain was now +so perpendicular and smooth that there was no difficulty in determining +its safety at a glance. + +Only about three hundred yards more and then there was the canyon, +presenting a barrier of rock so steep, as well as so much higher, that +there was nothing to fear on that side. Only these three hundred yards +to examine, and the dangerous enterprise was almost as good as done, for +every step taken by the horses then would be one nearer to safety. Bart +had ridden on, leaving the Beaver, who had drawn rein, looking back at +the plain, when suddenly there was a warning cry, and the lad looked +over his shoulder to see the Beaver signalling to him. + +"A minute won't make much difference," thought Bart excitedly, and +instead of turning, he pressed his horse's flanks and galloped on to +finish his task, rejoicing in the fact as he reached the canyon edge +that he had seen every yard of the mountain-side, and that it was even +more perpendicular than near the gateway. + +"Now for back at a gallop," said Bart, who was thrilling with +excitement; and turning his steed right on the very edge of the canyon, +he prepared to start back, when, to his horror, he saw a party of +dismounted Indians rise up as it were from the canyon about a hundred +yards away, the place evidently where they had made their way down on +the occasion of the attack during the salmon-fishing. With a fierce +yell they made for the young horseman, but as Black Boy bounded forward +they stopped short. A score of bullets came whizzing about Bart's ears, +and as the reports of the pieces echoed from the face of the mountain, +the cob reared right up and fell over backwards, Bart saving himself by +a nimble spring on one side, and fortunately retaining his hold of the +bridle as the cob scrambled up. + +Just then, as the Indians came yelling on, and Bart in his confusion +felt that he must either use rifle or knife, he could not tell which, +there was a rush of hoofs, a quick check, and a hand gripped him by the +collar. + +For a moment he turned to defend himself, but as he did so he saw that +it was a friend, and his hand closed upon the Indian pony's mane, for it +was the Beaver come to his help; and spurring hard, he cantered off with +Bart, half running, half lifted at every plunge as the pony made towards +where their first friend was waiting rifle in hand. + +"Let me try--draw him in," panted Bart, gripping his own pony's mane +hard as it raced on close beside the Beaver's; and with a hand upon +each, he gave a bound and a swing and landed in his saddle, just as the +Apaches halted to fire another volley. + +Black Boy did not rear up this time, and Bart now saw the reason of the +last evolution, feeling thankful that the poor beast had not been more +badly hit. His hurt was painful enough, no doubt, the rifle-ball having +cut one of his ears right through, making it bleed profusely. + +But there was no time to think of the pony's hurts while bullets were +whistling about them from behind; and now Bart could see the cause of +the Beaver's alarm signal, and bitterly regretted that he had not +responded and turned at once, the few minutes he had spent in continuing +his inspection having been a waste of time sufficient to place all of +them in deadly peril. + +For there far out on the plain was a very large body of the Apaches +coming on at full gallop, having evidently espied them at last, and they +were riding now so as to cut them off from their friends, and drive them +back into the corner formed by the mountain and the canyon, a spot where +escape would have been impossible even without the presence of a second +hostile party of Indians to make assurance doubly sure. + +"Ride! ride!" the Beaver said hoarsely; and in his excitement his +English was wonderfully clear and good. "Don't mind the dogs behind; +they cannot hit us as we go." + +All the same, though, as Bart listened to their yells and the reports of +their rifles, he shuddered, and thought of the consequences of one +bullet taking effect on horse or man. + +Every moment, though, as they rode on, the cries of the Apaches behind +sounded more faint, but the danger in front grew more deadly. + +They picked up first one Indian of their party, and then another, the +brave fellows sitting motionless in their saddles like groups cut in +bronze, waiting for their chief to join them, even though the great body +of enemies was tearing down towards them over the plain. Then as the +Beaver reached them, a guttural cry of satisfaction left their lips, and +they galloped on behind their leader without so much as giving a look at +the dismounted Indians who still came running on. + +A tremendous race! Well it was that the little horses had been well fed +and also well-rested for some time past, or they would never have been +able to keep on at such a headlong speed, tearing up the earth at every +bound, and spurning it behind them as they snorted and shook their great +straggling manes, determined apparently to win in this race for life or +death, and save their riders from the peril in which they were placed. + +Another Indian of their scouts reached, and their party increased to +five, while two more were ahead waiting patiently for them to come. + +The wind whistled by their ears; the ponies seemed to have become part +of them, and every nerve was now strained to the utmost; but Bart began +to despair, the Apaches were getting to be so near. They were +well-mounted, too, and it was such a distance yet before the gateway +could be reached, where the first prospect of a few friendly shots could +be expected to help them to escape from a horrible death. Mercy, Bart +knew, there would certainly be none, and in spite of all their efforts, +it seemed as if they must lose the race. + +How far away the next sentry seemed! Try how they would, he seemed to +be no nearer, and in very few minutes more Bart knew that the Indians +would be right upon them. + +Involuntarily he cocked his rifle and threw it to the left as if getting +ready to fire, but the Beaver uttered an angry cry. + +"No, no; ride, ride," he said; and Bart felt that he was right, for to +fire at that vast body would have been madness. What good would it do +him to bring down one or even a dozen among the hundreds coming on, all +thirsting for their blood? + +In response Bart gripped his pony more tightly, rising slightly in the +stirrups, and the next moment they were passing their scout like a +flash, and he had wheeled his pony and was after them. + +One more scout to reach, and then a race of a few hundred yards, and +rifles would begin to play upon their pursuers; but would they ever +reach that next scout? + +It seemed impossible; but the ponies tore on, and Bart began in his +excitement to wonder what would be done if one should stumble and fall. +Would the others stop and defend him, or would they gallop away to save +their own lives? Then he asked himself what he would do if the Beaver +were to go down, and he hoped that he would be brave enough to try and +save so good a man. + +Just then a rifle-shot rang out in their front. It was fired by the +scout they were racing to join. + +It was a long shot, but effective, for an Apache pony fell headlong +down, and a couple more went over it, causing a slight diversion in +their favour--so much, trifling as it was, that the Beaver and his party +gained a few yards, and instead of galloping right down upon them, the +Apaches began to edge off a little in the same direction as that in +which the fugitives were rushing. + +And still they tore on, while at last the Apaches edged off more and +more, till they were racing on about a hundred yards to their left, +afraid to close in lest their prey should get too far ahead; and they +were all tearing on in this fashion when the last scout was reached, +already in motion to retreat now and lose no time, setting spurs to his +pony as the Beaver passed, and then came the final gallop to the gateway +for life or death. + +For now came the question--would the firing of their friends check the +Apaches, or would they press on in deadly strife to the bitter end? + +"Ride close up to the rock below Joses," shouted the Beaver; "then jump +off on the right side of your horse, turn and fire;" and with these +words, spoken in broken English, ringing in his ears, Bart felt his +spirits rise, and uttering a cheer full of excitement, he rose in his +stirrups and galloped on. + +The endurance of the little horses was wonderful, but all the same the +peril was of a terrible nature; for the ground which they were forced to +take close in under the perpendicular mountain walls was strewn with +blocks of stone, some of a large size, that had to be skirted, while +those of a smaller size were leaped by the hardy little animals, and +Bart felt that the slightest swerve or a fall meant death of the most +horrible kind. + +Twice over his cob hesitated at a monstrous piece of rock. And each +time Bart nearly lost his seat; but he recovered it and raced on. + +Faster and faster they swept along, the Indian followers of the Beaver +urging their horses on by voice and action, while the yells of the +Apaches acted like so many goads to the frightened beasts. + +Would they hear them on the rocks? Would Joses be ready? Would the +Doctor give their enemies a salutation? Would they never reach the +gateway? + +These and a dozen other such questions passed like lightning through +Bart's brain in those moments of excitement; for the rocky gateway, that +had seemed so near to the first scout when they set out that morning and +cantered off, now appeared at an interminable distance, and as if it +would never be reached; while the Apaches, as if dreading that their +prey might escape, were now redoubling their efforts, as Bart could see +when he glanced over his left shoulder. + +But on the little band of fugitives swept, so close together that their +horses almost touched; and, unless some unforeseen accident occurred--a +slip, a stumble, or a fatal shot--they would soon be in comparative +safety. + +The Beaver saw this, and, forgetting his ordinary calm, he rose in his +stirrups, half turned and shook his rifle at the great body of Apaches, +yelling defiantly the while, and drawing a storm of vengeful cries from +the pursuers that rose loud above the thunder of the horses' hoofs. + +Another two hundred yards, and the gateway would be reached, but it +seemed as if that short distance would never be passed; while now the +Apaches, taking advantage of the fact that their prey was compelled to +swerve to the left, began to close in, bringing themselves in such close +proximity that Bart could see the fierce, vindictive faces, the flashing +eyes, and eager clutching hands, ready to torture them should they not +escape. + +Another fierce race for the last hundred yards, with the Apaches closing +in more and more, and the fate of the fugitives seemed sealed, when, +just as the enemy gave a fierce yell of triumph, rising in their +stirrups to lash their panting little steeds into an accelerated pace, +the rock suddenly seemed to flash, and a sharp sputtering fire to dart +from the zigzag path. Some of the pursuing horses and their riders +fell, others leaped or stumbled over them; and as Bart and his +companions drew rein close in beneath the gallery, forming a breastwork +of their blown horses, and began firing with such steadiness as their +excitement would allow, a regular volley flashed from above their heads, +and Joses and his companions followed it up with a triumphant shout. + +The effect was marvellous,--the great body of Apaches turning as upon a +pivot, and sweeping off at full gallop over the plain, leaving their +dead and wounded behind, and pursued by many a deadly shot. + +This was the result of their surprise, however; for before they had gone +far, they turned and charged down again, yelling furiously. + +"Don't fire till they're close in, Master Bart," Joses shouted from +above; "they've come back for their wounded. Give 'em some more to +take." + +Joses was right, for the charge was not pushed home, the savages +galloping only sufficiently near to come to the help of their friends; +and doubtless they would have carried off their dead, but they +encountered so fierce a fire from the rock that they were glad to +retreat, leaving several of their number motionless upon the plain. + +Then they rode on right away, and Bart threw himself down, completely +overcome, to lie there panting and exhausted, till the Doctor and Joses +came and led him up, the Beaver and his followers staying behind to +safely enclose the cavern stable with stones, after they had placed +their own ponies and Black Boy within. + + + +CHAPTER THIRTY FIVE. + +HOW JOSES FED THE CATTLE. + +The Apaches seemed to have had so severe a lesson that they kept right +away in the plain for the rest of the day; and as it appeared to be +safe, the Indians went out with the Beaver to hide the ghastly relics of +the attack, returning afterwards to the Doctor to sit in council upon a +very important point, and that was what they were to do about the cattle +and horses. + +This was a terrible question; for while the occupants of the rock +fortress could very well manage to hold out for a considerable time if +they were beleaguered, having an ample store of meal and dried meat, +with an abundant supply of water, the horses and cattle must have food, +and to have driven them out to the lake grazing-grounds meant to a +certainty that either there must be a severe battle to save them or the +Apaches would sweep them off. + +"The Beaver and his men will watch and fight for the cattle," said the +chief, quietly. + +"I know that, my brave fellow; but if they were yours, would you let +them go out to graze?" said the Doctor. + +"No," replied the chief, smiling; "because the Apache dogs would carry +all away." + +"Well," said the Doctor, "we must not risk it. Let us go out and cut as +much grass as we can to-day, for the poor brutes are in great distress." + +The chief nodded, and said that it was good; and while strict watch was +kept from the rock, three parts of the men were hurried down to the +nearest point where there was an abundance of buffalo-grass really in a +state of naturally-made hay, and bundles of this were cut and carried to +the starving cattle. + +It was a terribly arduous job in the hot sun; and it made the Doctor +think that if matters went on in this way, the silver procured from the +mine would be very dearly bought. + +Even with all their efforts there was but a very scanty supply obtained, +and of that Joses declared the mules got by far the best share, biting +and kicking at the horses whenever they approached, and driving the more +timid quite away. + +Strict watch was kept that night, but no Apaches came, and as soon as it +was light the next morning the horizon was swept in the hope of finding +that they were gone; but no such good fortune attended the +silver-miners, and instead, to the Doctor's chagrin, of their being able +to continue their toil of obtaining the precious metal, it was thought +advisable to go out and cut more fodder for the starving beasts. + +The next day came, and no Apaches were visible. + +"We can drive the cattle out to-day, Beaver," said the Doctor; "the +enemy are gone." + +"The Apache dogs are only hiding," replied the chief, "and will ride +down as soon as the cattle are feeding by the lake." + +The Doctor uttered an impatient ejaculation and turned to Joses. + +"What do you say?" he asked. + +"Beaver's right, master." + +"Well, perhaps he is; but we can't go on like this," cried the Doctor, +impatiently. "No silver can be dug if the men are to be always cutting +grass. Here! you and Harry and a dozen greasers, drive out half the +cattle to feed. Bart, you take the glass, and keep watch from high up +the path. The signal of danger directly you see the Indians is the +firing of your piece. If you hear that fired, Joses, you are to drive +in the cattle directly, and we will cover your return." + +"Good!" said Joses; and without a word he summoned Harry and a dozen +men, going off directly after through the gateway to the corral, saying +to Bart, as he went, "Of course, I do as master tells me, but you keep a +sharp look-out, Master Bart, or we shan't get them bullocks and cows +back." + +Bart promised, and took his station, rifle across his knee and glass in +hand, to look out for danger, while before he had been there long the +Beaver came and sat beside him, making Bart hurriedly apologise for the +risk he had caused on the day of their adventure, he never having been +alone since with the chief. + +"Master Bart, brave young chief," was all the Indian said; and then he +sat silently gazing out over the plain, while no sooner were the cattle +released than they set off lowing towards the pastures at a long +lumbering gallop, Joses and his followers having hard work to keep up +with them, for they needed no driving. + +In less than half an hour they were all munching away contentedly +enough, with Joses and his men on the far side to keep the drove from +going too far out towards the plain, and then all at once the Beaver +started up, pointing right away. + +"Apache dogs!" he shouted. + +Bart brought the glass to bear, and saw that the chief was right. + +In an instant he had cocked and fired his piece, giving the alarm, when +the garrison ran to their places ready to cover the coming in of the +cattle-drivers and their herd, Bart, seeing that Joses had taken the +alarm, and with his men was trying to drive the feeding animals back. + +But the Doctor had not calculated upon hunger and bovine obstinacy. The +poor brutes after much fasting were where they could eat their fill, and +though Joses and his men drove them from one place, they blundered back +to another, lowing, bellowing, and getting more and more excited, but +never a step nearer to their corral. + +And all this while the Apaches were coming on at full speed, sweeping +over the level plain like a cloud. + +The Doctor grew frantic. + +"Quick!" he cried; "we must go out to help Joses and his men. No, it +would be madness. Good heavens! what a mistake!" + +"Let me go with the Beaver and his men to his help," cried Bart +excitedly. + +"My dear Bart, the Indians will be upon them before you could reach the +horses, let alone saddle and bridle and mount." + +"It is true," said the Beaver, sternly. "Chief Joses must fight the +Apache dogs himself." + +Bart knew they could do nothing, and just then he saw that the Mexican +greasers had left the cattle, and were coming at full speed as hard as +they could run towards the shelter of the rock. + +"The cattle must go," cried the Doctor, bitterly. "It is my fault. Why +does not Joses leave them? Harry is running with the others." + +"Because poor Joses is too brave a fellow," cried Bart in despair. "I +must go to his help; I must indeed," he cried piteously. + +"Young chief Bart must stay," said the Beaver, sternly, as he seized the +lad's arm. "He would be killed. Let chief Joses be. He is wise, and +can laugh at the Apache dogs." + +It was an exciting scene, the Mexican labourers fleeing over the plain, +the cattle calmly resuming their grazing, and the cloud of Indian +horsemen tearing along like a whirlwind. + +The occupants of the rock were helpless, and the loss of the cattle was +forgotten in the peril of Joses, though murmurs long and deep were +uttered by the Englishmen against him who had sent them out to graze. + +In spite, too, of the terrible loss, there was something interesting and +wonderfully exciting in the way in which the Apaches charged down with +lowered lances, the cattle calmly grazing till they were near; then +lifting up their heads in wonder, and as the Indians swooped round, they +wheeled about, and went off at a gallop, but only to be cleverly headed +and driven back; and then with the Apaches behind, and forming a +crescent which partly enclosed the lumbering beasts, they were driven +off at full speed fight away towards the plain, gradually disappearing +from their owners' eyes. + +"Only half as many to feed," said the Doctor, bitterly. + +"Poor Joses!" groaned Bart with a piteous sigh. + +"Chief Joses coming," said the Beaver pointing; and to the delight of +all they could see Joses in the distance, his rifle shouldered, marching +quietly towards them, and evidently making himself a cigarette as he +came. + +Half an hour later he was in their midst. + +"Couldn't save the obstinate beasts, master," he said quietly; "they +were worse than buffler." + +"But how did you manage to escape?" cried the Doctor and Bart in a +breath. + +"Oh! when I see it was all over, I just crept under a bush, and waited +till the Indian dogs had gone." + +"Chief Joses too wise for Apache dog," said the Beaver, with a calm +smile. "Beaver-with-Sharp-Teeth told young chief Bart so." + +"Yes," said Bart; "and I can't tell you how glad I am." + +"Just about as glad as I am, Master Bart," said Joses, gruffly. "I did +my best, master, and I couldn't do no more." + +"I know, Joses," replied the Doctor. "It was my fault; and the greasers +ran away?" + +"Lord, master, if we'd had five hundred thousand greasers there it would +have been all the same. Nothing but a troop of horse would have brought +the obstinate cattle back to their corral. You won't send out no more?" + +"No, Joses, not a hoof," said the Doctor, gloomily; and he went to his +tent on the top of the mountain to ponder upon the gloomy state of their +affairs. + + + +CHAPTER THIRTY SIX. + +ANOTHER FRIEND COMES BACK. + +Watch was set that night as usual, but it came on so pitchy dark that +nothing could be made out distinctly a yard away. Bart was with the +Beaver and Joses in their old place in the gallery, fortunately +well-sheltered by the rock overhead, for the rain came down in torrents, +and gurgled loudly as it rushed in and out of the crevices of the rock, +finding its way to the plains. + +"How uneasy the cattle seem!" said Bart once, as they could be heard +lowing down below in the darkness. + +"'Nough to make 'em," said Joses, with a chuckle; "they'll have got wet +through to-night, and I daresay there'll be water enough in the stable +for the horses to nearly swim." + +"What a night for the Apaches!" said Bart after a pause, as they +crouched there listening to the hiss and roar of the falling waters. +"Suppose they were to come; we would never see them." + +"But they wouldn't in a night like this," replied Joses. "Would they, +Beaver?" + +"Beaver don't know. Beaver think much," replied the chief. "He and his +men would come if they wanted their enemies' horses; but perhaps the +Apaches are dogs and cowards, and would fear the rain." + +Towards morning the rain ceased, and with the rising sun the clouds +cleared away, the sun shining out brilliantly; and as the Beaver +strained over the stones to get a good look into the corral, he uttered +a hoarse cry. + +"What's wrong?" cried Bart and Joses, starting up from their wearying +cramped position. + +"Cattle gone!" cried the Beaver; and a moment later, "Horses are gone!" + +It was too true; for, taking advantage of the darkness and the heavy +rain, the Apaches had sent in a party of their cleverest warriors, who +had quietly removed the barriers of rock, and the cattle had followed +their natural instinct, and gone quietly out to the last hoof, the +horses the same, making their way down to the pastures, where, at the +first breaking of day, there was a strong band of mounted men ready to +drive them right away into the plain, where the Beaver pointed them out +miles away, moving slowly in the bright sunshiny morning. + +The alarm was given, but nothing could be done, and the Doctor looked +with dismay at the lowering faces of the men who had agreed to follow +his fortunes out there into the wilderness. + +"You never said that we should meet with enemies like this," said one +man, threateningly. "You said you'd bring us where silver was in +plenty, that was all." + +"And have I not?" cried the Doctor, sharply. "There, now, get to your +work; we have plenty of food and water, and we are relieved of the care +of our horses and cattle. The Apaches will not interfere with us +perhaps now, and when they have gone, we must communicate with Lerisco, +and get more cattle. Have we not silver enough to buy all the cattle in +the province?" + +This quieted the complainers, and they went quietly to their tasks, +getting out the ore in large quantities, though it was, of course, +impossible to touch the vein in the canyon. That had to be reserved for +more peaceful times. + +It almost seemed as if the Doctor was right, and that the Apaches would +go away contented now; but when Bart asked the Beaver for his opinion, +he only laughed grimly. + +"As long as we are here they will come," he said. "They will never stay +away." + +"That's pleasant, Joses," said Bart; and then he began to bemoan the +loss of his little favourite, Black Boy. + +"Ah! it's a bad job, my lad," said Joses, philosophically; "but when you +go out into the wilderness, you never know what's coming. For my part, +I don't think I should ever take to silver-getting as a trade." + +It was a serious matter this loss of the horses and cattle, but somehow +the Indians seemed to bear it better than the whites. Whatever they +felt they kept to themselves, stolidly bearing their trouble, while the +Englishmen and Mexicans never ceased to murmur and complain. + +"How is it, Joses?" asked Bart one day, as they two were keeping guard +by the gate. "One would think that the Indians would feel it more than +any one else." + +"Well, yes, my lad, one would think so; but don't you see how it is? An +Indian takes these things coolly, for this reason; his horse is stolen +to-day, to-morrow his turn will come, and he'll carry off perhaps a +dozen horses belonging to some one else." + +Their task was easy, for the Apaches seemed to have forsaken them in +spite of the Beaver's prophecy, and several days went by in peace, not a +sign being discovered of the enemy. The little colony worked hard at +getting silver, and this proved to be so remunerative, that there was no +more murmuring about the loss of the cattle and horses; but all the +same, Bart saw that the Doctor went about in a very moody spirit, for he +knew that matters could not go on as they were. Before long they must +have fresh stores, and it was absolutely necessary for communications to +be opened up with Lerisco if they were to exist at the mountain. + +"I don't know what is to be done, Bart," the Doctor said one day. "I +cannot ask the Indians to go without horses, and if a message is not +conveyed to the governor asking him for help, the time will come, and is +not far distant, when we shall be in a state of open revolution, because +the men will be starving." + +"Not so bad as that, sir," cried Bart. + +"Yes, my dear boy, it is as bad as that I begin to repent of coming upon +this silver expedition, for I am very helpless here with these wretched +savages to mar all my plans." + +It was the very next morning that, after being on guard at the gate all +night, Bart was thinking of the times when, for the sake of protecting +the cattle, they had kept guard in the gallery over the corral and by +the cavern stable, when, out in the bright sunshine at the foot of the +mountain, he saw a sight which made him rub his eyes and ask himself +whether he was dreaming. + +For there, calmly cropping what herbage he could find, was his old +favourite who had carried him so often and so well--Black Boy. + +"He must have escaped," cried Bart excitedly, "or else it is a trap to +get us to go out, and the Indians are waiting for us." + +With this idea in his mind he called Joses and the Beaver, showing them +the little horse, and they both agreeing that it was no trap or plan on +the Indians' part, Bart eagerly ran out and called the docile little +steed, which came trotting up and laid its soft muzzle in his hand. + +"If he could only have coaxed the others into coming with him," said +Bart, "we should have been all right;" and leading his favourite up to +the gateway, he coaxed it to enter and climb carefully up over the +rugged stones till it was well in a state of safety, for he felt that he +dared not risk leaving it outside. + +It was almost absurd to see the curious way in which the little horse +placed one foot before another, pawing at the road to make sure of its +being safe before he trusted it and planted it firmly down, and so on +with the others; but Bart's word seemed to give him confidence, and step +by step he climbed up till he was in the spot where his master intended +him to stay, when he gave a loud snort as if of relief, and stood +perfectly still while he was haltered to a peg. + + + +CHAPTER THIRTY SEVEN. + +A WILD NIGHT-RIDE. + +"Yes, Bart," said the Doctor, "we have a horse now for a messenger, but +I dare not send you; and if you lent Black Boy to the Beaver and sent +him, I am sure the governor would never respond to my appeal for help. +I should be doubtful even if I sent Joses." + +"Black Boy would not let Joses mount him, sir," replied Bart; "he never +would." + +"I dare not send you," said the Doctor again. + +"Why not, sir? I could find my way," replied Bart excitedly. "Trust +me, and I will go and tell the governor such a tale that you will see he +will send us a squadron or two of lancers, and horses and cattle for our +help." + +"I do not like sending you, Bart," said the Doctor again, shaking his +head. "No, we will wait and see how matters turn out." + +The silver-mining went on merrily, and universal satisfaction was felt +by the people, who were too busy to think of the rate at which +provisions were failing; but the Doctor thought of it deeply, and he +knew that help must be sent for if they were to exist. + +They had made two or three excursions into the canyon and brought up +large quantities of salmon, and what was dearer to the hearts of all, +large pieces of virgin silver; and after the last excursion it had been +determined to risk the coming of the Indians, and work the rich deposits +of silver below, when, the very next morning at daybreak, the Beaver +announced the coming of the Apaches. + +"And now," he said quietly to Bart and Joses, "the Beaver's young men +will get back many horses." + +"Yes, I thought that," said Joses, "and I'm willing; but take care of +yourselves, my lads; there is danger in the task." + +The Beaver nodded and smiled and went his way, while Bart joined the +Doctor, who was eagerly watching the coming savages as they rode slowly +across the distant plains. + +"Bart," he said at last, shutting up his glass, "you are very young." + +Bart nodded. + +"But I find myself compelled to send you on a very dangerous errand." + +"To ride on to Lerisco, sir?" said Bart promptly. "I'm ready, sir; when +shall I go?" + +"Not so fast," said the Doctor, smiling at the lad's bravery and +eagerness. "You must make some preparations first." + +"Oh, that will soon be done, sir; a few pieces of dried bison-meat and a +bag of meal, and I shall be ready." + +"I was thinking," said the Doctor, "that I ought to have sent you off +before the Indians came, but I have since thought that it is better as +it is, for we know now where our enemies are. If I had sent you +yesterday, you might have ridden right into their midst." + +"That's true, sir. But when shall I go?" + +"If I send you, Bart, it must be to-night, with a letter for the +governor, one which, I am sure, he will respond to, when he hears from +you of the enormous wealth of the canyon and the mine. Now go and +consult with the Beaver as to the track you had better follow so as to +avoid the Indians. I must take a few precautions against attack, for +they seem to be coming straight on, and I sadly fear that they mean to +invest us now." + +Bart found the Beaver, who was watching his natural foes, the Apaches, +along with Joses, as they talked together in a low tone. + +"I am going to ride back to Lerisco for help," said Bart suddenly. + +"You are, my lad?" cried Joses. "I shall go too." + +"But you have no horse, Joses," said Bart smiling, and the rough fellow +smote himself heavily on the chest. + +"It is good," said the Beaver in his calm way. "My young men would like +to ride with you, but it cannot be." + +"Tell me, Beaver, how I had better go so as to escape the Apaches." + +"The young chief must ride out as soon as it is dark, and go straight +for the lake, and round its end, then straight away. The Apache dogs +will not see him; if they do, they will not catch him in the dark. +Ugh!" he ejaculated with a look of contempt, "the Apache dogs are no +match for the young chief." + +Bart could not help feeling very strangely excited as the evening +approached, the more especially that the Apaches had come close on +several hundred strong, and they could see them from the rock lead their +horses down into the lake for water, and then remount them again, while +a couple of small parties remained on foot, and it seemed possible that +they intended to make an attack upon the fortress, for they were all +well-armed. + +"I shouldn't wonder if we have a bad storm to-night, Master Bart," said +Joses, as the sun set in a band of curious coppery-coloured clouds, +while others began to form rapidly all over the face of the heavens, +with a strangely weird effect. "You won't go if the weather's bad, I +s'pose, my lad?" + +"Indeed but I shall," said Bart excitedly. "If I am to go, I shall go." + +The Doctor came up then and seemed torn by two opinions, speaking out +frankly to the lad upon the point. + +"I don't want to send you, Bart, and yet I do," he said, rather +excitedly. "It seems an act of cruelty to send you forth on such a +mission, but it is my only hope." + +"I'll go, sir," cried Bart, earnestly. "I'll go for your sake and +Maude's." + +"Thank you, my brave lad," cried the Doctor with emotion, "but it is +going to be a terrible night." + +"The safer for our purpose, sir," replied Bart. "There, sir, I won't +tell a lie, and say I do not feel timid, because I do; but I mean to +mount and ride off boldly, and you'll see I'll bring back plenty of +help, and as quickly as I can." + +"But wait another night, my lad; it will be finer perhaps. There is no +moon, and if it clouds over, you will never find your way to the lake." + +"Black Boy will, sir, I know," said Bart laughing. "I am keeping him +without water on purpose." + +"A clever idea, Bart," said the Doctor. + +"Yes, sir," said Bart, "but it is not mine. It was the Beaver's notion. +Those dismounted Indians are coming right in, sir, I think," he said. + +"Yes, without doubt, Bart," exclaimed the Doctor, watching them. "Yes, +they mean to get somewhere close up. There will be an attack to-night." + +"Then I shall gallop away from it," said Bart laughing, "for I am afraid +of fighting." + +Two hours later, Black Boy, already saddled and bridled, a good blanket +rolled up on his saddle-bow, and a bag of meal and some dried +bison-flesh attached to his pad behind, was led down the rugged way to +the gate, which had been opened out ready. Joses and the Indians were +on either side ready with their rifles as the lad mounted in the outer +darkness and silence; a few farewell words were uttered, and he made his +plans as to the direction in which he meant to ride, which was pretty +close in to the side of the mountain for about a quarter of a mile, and +then away at right angles for the end of the lake. + +"Good-bye, my boy, and God be with you," whispered the Doctor, pressing +one hand. + +"Take care of yourself, dear lad," whispered Joses, pressing the other, +and then giving way to the chief, who bent forward, saying, in his low, +grave voice-- + +"The Beaver-with-Sharp-Teeth would like to ride beside the brave young +chief, but the Great Spirit says it must not be. Go; you can laugh at +the Apache dogs." + +Bart could not answer, but pressed his steed's sides, and the brave +little animal would have gone off through the intense darkness at a +gallop; but this was not what Bart wished, and checking him, Black Boy +ambled over the soft ground, avoiding the rocks and tall prickly cacti +with wonderful skill, while Bart sat there, his ears attent and nostrils +distended, listening for the slightest sound of danger, as the Indians +might be swarming round him for aught he knew; and as he thought it +possible that one of the dismounted bodies might be creeping up towards +the gateway close beneath the rocks, he found himself hoping that the +party had gone in and were blocking up the entrance well with stones. + +The darkness was terrible, and still there was a strange lurid aspect +above him, showing dimly the edge of the top of the mountain. That +there was going to be a storm he felt sure--everything was so still, the +heat was so great, and the strange oppression of the air foretold its +coming; but he hoped to be far on his way and beyond the Indians ere it +came, for the flashes of lightning might betray him to the watchful eyes +of the enemy, and then he knew it meant a ride for life, as it would not +take the Apaches long to mount. + +All at once, as he was riding cautiously along, his rifle slung behind +him, and his head bent forward to peer into the darkness, there was a +sharp flash, and what seemed to be a great star of fire struck the rock, +shedding a brilliant light which revealed all around for a short +distance, as if a light had suddenly appeared from an opening in the +mountain; and then, close in beneath where the electric bolt had struck, +he could see a knot of about a dozen Indians, who uttered a tremendous +yell as they caught sight of him, making Black Boy tear off at full +speed, while the next moment there was a deafening crash, and it seemed +to Bart that a huge mass of the mountain-side had fallen crumbling down. + +That one flash which struck the mountain seemed as if it had been the +signal for the elements to commence their strife, for directly after the +heavens were in a blaze. Forked lightning darted here and there; the +dense clouds opened and shut, as if to reveal the wondrously vivid +glories beyond, and the thunder kept up a series of deafening peals that +nearly drove the little steed frantic. + +As to his direction, Bart was ignorant. All he knew was that he ought +to have ridden some distance farther before turning off, but that awful +flash had made the cob turn and bound away at once; and as far as the +rider could make out, they were going straight for the lake with the +dismounted Indians running and yelling madly behind. + +At least that was what he fancied, for, as he listened, all he could +hear was the deafening roar of the thunder, and the sharp crackling +sound of the lightning as it descended in rugged streaks, or ran along +the ground, one flash showing him the lake right ahead, and enabling him +to turn a little off to the left, so as to pass its end. + +He knew now that the pealing thunder would effectually prevent the +Indians from hearing him, but the lightning was a terrible danger when +it lit up the plains; and as he peered ahead, he fully expected to see a +body of horsemen riding to cut him off. But no; he went on through the +storm at a good swinging gallop, having his steed well now in hand, a +few pats on its arching neck and some encouraging words chasing away its +dread of the lightning, which grew more vivid and the thunder more awful +as he rode on. + +After a time he heard a low rushing, murmuring sound in the intervals +when the thunder was not bellowing, so that it seemed to rock the very +foundations of the earth. It was a strange low murmur, that sounded +like the galloping of horsemen at a great distance; and hearing this, +Bart went off at a stretching gallop, crashing through bushes and tall +fleshy plants, some of which pierced the stout leggings that he wore, +giving him painful thrusts from their thorns, till, all at once, the +rushing sound as of horsemen ceased, and he realised the fact that it +was the noise of a storm of rain sweeping across the plain, borne upon +the wind to fall almost in sheets of water, though he passed quite upon +its outskirts, and felt only a few heavy pattering drops. + +He had passed the end of the lake in safety, and was beginning to be +hopeful that he would escape the Indians altogether, but still he could +not understand how it was that the little dismounted body of men had not +spread the alarm, for he knew that they must have seen him, the ball of +light that struck the rock having lit up everything, and he knew that he +seemed to be standing out in the middle of a regular glare of light; but +after the deafening crash that followed he had heard no more--no distant +shouts--no war-whoop. They would be sure to communicate with their +nearest scouts, and their bodies of mounted men would have begun to +scour the plain in spite of the storm; for he could not think that the +Apaches, who were constantly exposed to the warfare of the elements, +would be too much alarmed to attempt the pursuit. + +"They would not be more cowardly than I am," he said with a half laugh, +as he galloped on, with Black Boy going easily, and with a long swinging +stride that carried him well over the plain, but whether into safety or +danger he could not tell. + +All he knew was that chance must to a great extent direct his steps, and +so he galloped on with the rain left behind and a soft sweet breeze +playing upon his face, the oppression of the storm seeming to pass away, +while it was plain enough that the thunder and lightning were +momentarily growing more distant, as if he were riding right out of it +towards where the air and sky were clearer. Before long, he felt sure, +the stars would be out, and he could see his way, instead of galloping +on in this reckless chance manner, leaving everything to his horse. + +"I can't quite understand it," said Bart; "there must have been some +mistake. Of course, I see now. I was riding straight along under the +mountain-side when Black Boy swerved almost right round and went off in +another direction: that and the darkness threw them off the track, but +they will be sure to strike my trail in the morning. Black Boy's +hoof-prints will be plain enough in the soft earth where the rain has +not washed them away, and they'll come on after me like a pack of hungry +wolves. How I wish I knew whether I was going right! It would be so +valuable now to get right away before morning." + +Bart was getting well ahead, but not in the best direction. He had, +however, no occasion to fear present pursuit, for the knot of dismounted +Indians whom he had seen close under the rock when the lightning fell +lay crushed and mangled amongst a pile of shattered rocks which the +electric discharge had sent thundering down, while as Bart was cantering +on, full of surmises, where not a drop of rain was falling, the storm +seemed to have chosen the mountain as its gathering point, around which +the lightning was playing, the thunder crashing, and the water streaming +down, so that in places regular cascades swept over the sides of the +rock, and tore away like little rivers over the plain. + +For the time being, then, Bart had nothing to fear from these +unfortunate Apaches; but, as the storm lulled, and another little body +of dismounted Indians crept cautiously up to the fallen rocks, their +object being to surprise the guards at the gateway, they learned from +one of their dying friends of the appearance of the young chief upon his +little black horse, and that he had gone right off over the plain. + +The sequel to this was that the dead and dying soon were borne away, and +a party was formed at daybreak to take steps that would have made Bart +had he known, feel terribly uncomfortable, instead of growing hour by +hour more confident and at his ease. + + + +CHAPTER THIRTY EIGHT. + +HUNTED BY INDIANS. + +There's something wonderfully inspiriting in sunshine--something that +makes the heart leap and the blood course through the veins, raising the +spirits, and sending trouble along with darkness far away into the +background. + +As the sun rose, flooding the wild plains with heat, and Bart drew rein +and looked about after his long night-ride to see that there was hardly +a cloud in sight, and, better still, no sign of Indians, he uttered a +cry of joy, and bent down and smoothed and patted his brave little +steed, which had carried him so far and so well. + +Then he had a good look round, to see if he could make out his position, +and, after a while, came to the conclusion that he was not so very far +out of his way, and that by turning off a little more to the west he +would soon be in the direct route. + +In patting and making much of Black Boy, Bart found that the little +horse was dripping with perspiration, many, many miles running having +been got over in the night; and if the journey was to be satisfactorily +performed, he knew that there must be some time for rest. + +With this idea, then, Bart turned a little to the east, and rode +straight for a clump of trees about a couple of miles away, a spot that +promised ample herbage and shade, perhaps water, while, unseen, he could +keep a good look-out over the open plain. + +The patch Bart reached was only of a few acres in extent, and it offered +more than he had bargained for, there being a pleasantly clear pool of +water in an open spot, while the grass was so tempting that he had +hardly time to remove Black Boy's bit, so eager was he to begin. He was +soon tethered to a stout sapling, however, feeding away to his heart's +content, while, pretty well wearied out by his long night-ride, Bart sat +down beneath a tree where he could have a good view of the plain over +which he had ridden, and began to refresh himself, after a good draught +of pure cool water, with one of the long dry strips of bison-meat that +formed his store. + +Nature will have her own way. Take away from her the night's rest that +she has ordained for man's use and refreshment, and she is sure to try +and get it back. And so it was here; for as Bart sat munching there in +the delicious restfulness of his position, with the soft warm breeze +just playing through the leaves, the golden sunshine raining down +amongst the leaves and branches in dazzling streams, while the pleasant +whirr and hum of insects was mingled with the gentle _crop, crop, crop_ +of Black Boy's teeth as he feasted on the succulent growth around, all +tended to produce drowsiness, and in a short time he found himself +nodding. + +Then he roused himself very angrily, telling himself that he must watch; +and he swept the plain with his eyes. But, directly after, as he +thought that he must hurry on, as it was a case of life and death, he +was obliged to own that the more haste he exercised the less speed there +would be, for his horse could not do the journey without food and rest. + +That word rest seemed to have a strange effect upon him, and he repeated +it two or three times over, his hand dropping wearily at his side as he +did so, and his eyes half closing while he listened to the pleasant hum +of the insects all around. + +Then he started into wakefulness again, determined to watch and wait +until a better time for sleep; but as he came to this determination, the +sound of the insects, the soft cropping and munching noise made by Black +Boy, and the pleasant breath of the morning as it came through the +trees, were too sweet to be resisted, and before poor Bart could realise +the fact that he was ready to doze, he was fast asleep with his head +upon his breast. + +The sun grew higher and hotter, and Black Boy, who did not seem to +require sleep, cropped away at the grass till he had finished all that +was good within his reach, after which he made a dessert of green leaves +and twigs, and then, having eaten as much as he possibly could, he stood +at the end of his tether, with his head hanging down as if thinking +about the past night's storm or some other object of interest, ending by +propping his legs out a little farther, and, imitating his master, going +off fast asleep. + +Then the sun grew higher still, and reached the highest point before +beginning to descend, and then down, down, down, all through the hot +afternoon, till its light began to grow softer and more mellow, and the +shadows cast by the tree-trunks went out in a different direction to +that which they had taken when Bart dropped asleep. + +All at once he awoke in a fright, for something hard was thumping and +pawing at his chest, and on looking up, there was Black Boy right over +him, scraping and pawing at him as if impatient to go on. + +"Why, I must have been asleep," cried Bart, catching at the horse's +head-stall and thrusting him away. "Gently, old boy; your hoofs are not +very soft. You hurt." + +He raised himself up, stretching the while. + +"How tiresome to sleep like that!" he muttered. "Why, I had not +finished my breakfast, and--" + +Bart said no more, but stood there motionless staring straight before +him, where the plain was now ruddy and glowing with the rays of the +evening sun. + +For there, about a mile away, he could see a body of some twenty or +thirty Indians coming over the plain at an easy rate, guided evidently +by one on foot who ran before them with bended head, and Bart knew as +well as if he had heard the words shouted in his ear that they were +following him by his trail. + +There was not a moment to lose, and with trembling hands he secured the +buckles of his saddle-girths, and strapped on the various little +articles that formed his luggage, slung his rifle, and then leading the +cob to the other side of the patch of woodland, where he would be out of +sight of the Indians, he mounted, marked a spot on the horizon which +would keep him in a direct line and the woodland clump as long as +possible between him and his enemies, and rode swiftly off. + +The inclination was upon him to gaze back, but he knew in doing so he +might swerve from the bee-line he had marked out, and he resisted the +temptation, riding on as swiftly as his cob could go, and wondering all +the while why it was that he had not been seen. + +If he had been with the Apaches he would have ceased to wonder, for +while Bart was galloping off on the other side, his well-rested and +refreshed horse going faster and faster each minute as he got into +swing, the Indians began to slacken their pace. There was no doubt +about the trail, they knew: it led straight into the patch of woodland; +and as this afforded ample cover, they might at any moment find +themselves the objects of some able rifle-firing; and as they had +suffered a good deal lately in their ranks, they were extra cautious. + +The trail showed that only one fugitive was on the way, him of whom +their dying comrade had spoken; but then the fugitive had made straight +for this clump of trees, and how were they to know but that he expected +to meet friends there, whose first volley would empty half the saddles +of the little troop? + +Indians can be brave at times, but for the most part they are cowardly +and extremely cautious. Naturally enough an Indian, no matter to what +tribe he belongs, has a great objection to being shot at, and a greater +objection to being hit. So instead of riding boldly up, and finding out +that Bart had just galloped away, the Apaches approached by means of +three or four dismounted men, who crept slowly from clump of brush to +patch of long grass, and so on and on, till first one and then another +reached the edge of the woody place, where they rested for a time, +eagerly scanning each leaf and tree-trunk for an enemy at whom to fire, +or who would fire at them. + +Then they crept on a little farther, and found Bart's halting-place and +the feeding-ground of the horse. Then they came by degrees upon his +trail through the wood, all very fresh, and still they went on +cautiously, and like men to whom a false step meant a fatal +bullet-wound, while all the time their companions sat there upon the +plain, keen and watchful, ready for action at a moment's notice, and +waiting the signal to come on. + +At last this came, for the advanced dismounted scouts had traced the +trail to the farther edge of the wood, and seen even the deep impression +made by Bart's foot as he sprang upon his steed. + +Then the mounted Apaches came on at a great rate, dashed through the +wood and came up to their friends, who triumphantly pointed to the +emerging trail, and on they all went once more, one man only remaining +dismounted to lead the party, while the rest followed close behind. + +This little piece of caution had given poor Bart two hours' start, and +when the Indians came out of the wood, he had been a long time out of +sight; but there was his plainly marked trail, and that they could +follow, and meant to follow to the end. + + + +CHAPTER THIRTY NINE. + +THE END OF THE RACE. + +Bart had the advantage of his enemies in this, that as long as he could +keep well out of sight across the plains, he could go on as fast as his +horse could gallop, while they had to cautiously track his every step. +Then, too, when he came to dry, rocky, or stony portions, he took +advantage thereof, for he knew that his horse's hoof-prints would be +indistinct, and sometimes disappear altogether. These portions of the +trail gave the Apaches endless difficulty, but they kept on tracking him +step by step, and one slip on the lad's part would have been fatal. + +Fortune favoured him, though, and he pressed on, hitting the backward +route pretty accurately, and recognising the various mountains and hills +they had passed under the Beaver's guidance; and every stride taken by +the untiring little horse had its effect upon the lad, for it was one +nearer to safety. + +Still it was a terrible ride, for it was only after traversing some +stony plain or patch of rock that he dared draw rein and take a few +hours' rest, while his steed fed and recruited its energies as well. + +He would lie down merely meaning to rest, and then drop off fast asleep, +to awake in an agony of dread, tighten his saddle-girths, and go on +again at speed, gazing fearfully behind him, expecting to see the +Apaches ready to spring upon him and end his career. + +But they were still, though he knew it not, far behind. All the same, +though, they kept up their untiring tracking of the trail day after day +till it was too dark to see, and the moment it was light enough to +distinguish a footprint they were after him again. + +Such a pertinacious quest could apparently have but one result--that of +the quarry of these wolves being hunted down at last. + +The days glided by, and Bart's store of provisions held out, for he +could hardly eat, only drink with avidity whenever he reached water. +The terrible strain had made his face thin and haggard, his eyes +bloodshot, and his hands trembled as he grasped the rein--not from fear, +but from nervous excitement consequent upon the little sleep he +obtained, his want of regular food, and the feeling of certainty that he +was being dogged by his untiring foes. + +Sometimes to rest himself--a strange kind of rest, it may be said, and +yet it did give him great relief--he would spring from Black Boy's back, +and walk by his side as he toiled up some rough slope, talking to him +and encouraging him with pats of the hand, when the willing little +creature strove again with all its might on being mounted; in fact, +instead of having to whip and spur, Bart found more occasion to hold in +his patient little steed. + +And so the time went on, till it was as in a dream that Bart recognised +the various halting-places they had stayed at in the journey out, while +the distance seemed to have become indefinitely prolonged. All the +while, too, there was that terrible nightmare-like dread haunting him +that the enemy were close behind, and scores of times some deer or other +animal was magnified into a mounted Indian in full war-paint ready to +bound upon his prey. + +It was a terrible journey--terrible in its loneliness as well as in its +real and imaginary dangers; for there was a good deal of fancied dread +towards the latter part of the time, when Bart had reached a point where +the Apaches gave up their chase, civilisation being too near at hand for +them to venture farther. + +On two occasions, though, the lad was in deadly peril; once when, +growing impatient, the Apaches, in hunting fashion, had made a cast or +two to recover the trail they had lost, galloping on some miles, and +taking it up again pretty close to where Bart had been resting again +somewhat too long for safety, though far from being long enough to +recoup the losses he had sustained. + +The next time was under similar circumstances, the Apaches picking up +the sign of his having passed over the plain close beside a patch of +rising ground, where he had been tempted into shooting a prong-horn +antelope, lighting a fire, and making a hearty meal, of which he stood +sadly in need. + +The meal ended, a feeling of drowsiness came over the feaster, and this +time Bart did not yield to it, for he felt that he must place many more +miles behind him before it grew dark; so, rolling up the horse-hair +lariat by which Black Boy had been tethered, once again he tightened the +girths, and was just giving his final look round before mounting, +congratulating himself with the thought that he had enough good roasted +venison to last him for a couple more days, when his horse pricked his +ears and uttered an impatient snort. + +Just at the same moment there was the heavy thud, thud, thud, of horses' +hoofs, and, without stopping to look, Bart swung himself up on his +horse's back and urged him forward with hand, heel, and voice. + +The plain before him was as level as a meadow, not a stone being in +sight for miles, so that unless the cob should put his foot in some +burrow, there was nothing to hinder his racing off and escaping by sheer +speed. + +There was this advantage too: Black Boy had been having a good rest and +feed, while the pursuers had doubtless been making a long effort to +overtake him. + +The Apaches set up a furious yell as they caught sight of their prey, +and urged on their horses, drawing so near before Bart could get +anything like a good speed on, that they were not more than fifty yards +behind, and thundering along as fast as they could urge their ponies. + +This went on for half a mile, Bart feeling as if his heart was in his +mouth, and that the chances of escape were all over; but somehow, in +spite of the terrible peril he was in, he thought more about the Doctor +and the fate of his expedition than he did of his own. For it seemed so +terrible that his old friend and guardian--one who had behaved to him +almost as a father should be waiting there day after day expecting help +in vain, and perhaps thinking that his messenger had failed to do his +duty. + +"No, he won't, nor Joses neither, think that of me," muttered Bart. "I +wish the Beaver were here to cheer one up a bit, as he did that other +time when these bloodthirsty demons were after us." + +"How their ponies can go!" he panted, as he turned his head to gaze back +at the fierce savages, who tore along with feathers and long hair +streaming behind them, as wild and rugged as the manes and tails of +their ponies. + +As they saw him look round, the Apaches uttered a tremendous yell, +intended to intimidate him. It was just as he had begun to fancy that +Black Boy was flagging, and that, though no faster, the Indians' ponies +were harder and more enduring; but, at the sound of that yell and the +following shouts of the insatiate demons who tore on in his wake, the +little black cob gathered itself together, gave three or four tremendous +bounds, stretched out racing fashion, and went away at a speed that +astonished his rider as much as it did the savages, who began to fire at +them now, bullet after bullet whizzing by as they continued their +headlong flight. + +The sound of the firing, too, had its effect on Black Boy, whose ear was +still sore from the effect of the bullet that had passed through it, and +he tore away more furiously than ever, till, finding that the Indians +were losing ground, Bart eased up a little, but only to let the cob go +again, for he was fretting at being held in, and two or three times a +bullet came in pretty close proximity to their heads. + +When night fell, the Apaches were on the other side of a long low ridge, +down whose near slope the cob had come at a tremendous rate; and now +that the Indians would not be able to follow him for some hours to come +either by sight or trail, Bart altered his course, feeling sure that he +could save ground by going to the right instead of to the left of the +mountain-clump before him; and for the next few hours he breathed more +freely, though he dared not stop to rest. + +The next day he saw nothing of his pursuers, and the next they were +pursuers no longer, but Bart knew it not, flying still for his life, +though he was now in the region that would be swept by the lancers of +the Government. + +He did not draw rein till the light-coloured houses of the town were +well within sight, and then he was too much excited to do more than ease +up into a canter, for his nerves were all on the strain, his cheeks +sunken, and his eyes starting and dull from exhaustion. + +But there was the town at last, looking indistinct, though, and misty. +All seemed to be like a dream now, and the crowd of swarthy, ragged +Mexicans in their blankets, sombreros, and rugs were all part of his +dream, too, as with his last effort he thrust his hand into his breast, +and took out the letter of which he was the bearer. Then it seemed to +him that, as he cantered through the crowd, with his cob throwing up the +dust of the plaza, it was some one else who waved a letter over his +head, shouting, "The governor! the governor!" to the swarthy staring +mob; and, lastly, that it was somebody else who, worn out with +exhaustion now that the task was done, felt as if everything had gone +from him, every nerve and fibre had become relaxed, and fell heavily +from the cob he rode into the dust. + + + +CHAPTER FORTY. + +BART TRIES CIVILISATION FOR A CHANGE. + +For some hours all was blank to the brave young fellow, and then he +seemed to struggle back into half-consciousness sufficient to enable him +to drink from a glass held to his lips, and then once more all was blank +for many hours. + +When Bart awoke from the long sleep, it was to find Maude seated by his +bedside looking very anxious and pale; and as soon as she saw his eyes +open, she rose and glided from the room, when in a few minutes the +governor and a tall quiet-looking fair-haired man, whom Bart had never +before seen, entered the apartment. + +"Ah! my young friend," exclaimed the governor, "how are you now?" + +"Did you get the letter?" cried Bart excitedly. + +"Yes; and I have given orders for a strong relief party to be mustered +ready for going to our friend's help," replied the governor, "but we +must get you strong first." + +"I am strong enough, sir," cried Bart, sitting up. "I will guide them +to the place. We must start at once." + +"Really, my young friend," said the governor, "I don't think you could +manage to sit a horse just yet." + +"Indeed I can, sir," cried Bart. "I was only tired out, and hungry and +sleepy. The Apaches have been hard upon my trail ever since I started a +week--ten days--I'm afraid I don't know how many days ago." + +"Here! you must not get excited," said the tall pale man, taking Bart's +hand and feeling his pulse, and then laying his hand upon his forehead. + +"Are you a doctor?" said Bart eagerly. + +"Yes," said the governor, "this is Doctor Maclane." + +"Yes, I am Doctor Maclane," said the tall fair man; "and Miss Maude, +yonder, said I was to be sure and cure you." + +"But I'm not ill," cried Bart, flushing. + +"No," said Doctor Maclane, "you are not ill. No fever, my lad, nothing +but exhaustion." + +"I'll tell you what to prescribe for that," cried Bart excitedly. + +"Well, tell me," said the Doctor, smiling. + +"The same as Doctor Lascelles does, and used to when Joses and he and I +had been hunting up cattle and were overdone." + +"Well, what did he prescribe?" said Doctor Maclane. + +"Plenty of the strongest soup that could be made," said Bart. "And now, +please sir, when may we start--to-night?" + +"No, no--impossible." + +"But the Doctor is surrounded by enemies, sir, and hard pushed; every +hour will be like so much suffering to him till he is relieved." + +"To-morrow night, my lad, is the very earliest time we can be ready. +The men could set out at once, but we must have store waggons prepared, +and a sufficiency of things to enable the Doctor to hold his own when +these savage beasts have been tamed down. They do not deserve to be +called men." + +"But you will lose no time, sir?" cried Bart. + +"Not a minute, my lad; and so you had better eat and sleep all you can +till we are quite ready to start." + +"But you will not let them go without me, sir?" cried Bart imploringly. + +"Not likely, my lad, that I should send my men out into the desert +without a guide. There! I think he may get up, Doctor, eh?" + +"Get up! yes," said the Doctor, laughing. "He has a constitution like a +horse. Feed well and sleep well, my lad, and lie down a good deal in +one of the waggons on your way back." + +"Oh, no, sir, I must ride." + +"No, my lad, you must do as the Doctor advises you," said the governor, +sternly. "Besides, your horse will want all the rest it can have after +so terrible a ride as you seem to have had." + +"Yes, sir," said Bart, who saw how much reason there was in the advice, +"I will do what you wish." + +"That's right, my lad," said the governor. "Now then we will leave you, +and you may dress and join us in the next room, where Donna Maude is, +like me, very anxious to learn all about the Doctor's adventures and +your own. You can tell us and rest as well." + +Bart was not long in dressing, and as he did so, he began to realise how +terribly worn and travel-stained his rough hunting costume had become. +It was a subject that he had never thought of out in the plains, for +what did dress matter so long as it was a stout covering that would +protect his body from the thorns? But now that he was to appear before +the governor's lady and Maude, he felt a curious kind of shame that made +him at last sit down in a chair, asking himself whether he had not +better go off and hide somewhere--anywhere, so as to be out of his +present quandary. + +Sitting down in a chair too! How strange it seemed! He had not seated +himself in a chair now for a very, very long time, and it seemed almost +tiresome and awkward; but all the same it did nothing to help him out of +his dilemma. + +"Whatever shall I do?" thought Bart. "And how wretched it is for me to +be waiting here when the Doctor is perhaps in a terrible state, +expecting help!" + +"He is in safety, though," he mused the next minute, "for nothing but +neglect would make the place unsafe. How glad I am that I ran that +risk, and went all round to make sure that there was no other way up to +the mountain-top!" + +Just then there was a soft tapping at the door, and a voice said-- + +"Are you ready to come, Bart? The governor is waiting." + +"Yes--no, yes--no," cried Bart, in confusion, as he ran and opened the +door. "I cannot come, Maude. Tell them I cannot come." + +"You cannot come!" she cried, wonderingly. "And why not, pray?" + +"Why not! Just look at my miserable clothes. I'm only fit to go and +have dinner with the greasers." + +Maude laughed and took hold of his hand. + +"You don't know what our friends are like," she said, merrily. "They +know how bravely you rode over the plains with dear father's message, +and they don't expect you to be dressed in velvet and silver like a +Mexican Don. Come along, sir, at once." + +"Must I?" said Bart, shrinkingly. + +"Must you! Why, of course, you foolish fellow! What does it matter +about your clothes?" + +Bart thought that it mattered a great deal, but he said no more, only +ruefully followed Maude into the next room, where he met with so +pleasantly cordial a reception that he forgot all his troubles about +garments, and thoroughly enjoyed the meal spread before him whenever he +could drag his mind away from thoughts of the Doctor in the desert +waiting for help. + +Then he had to relate all his adventures to the governor's lady, who, +being childless, seemed to have made Maude fill the vacancy in her +affections. + +And so the time faded away, there being so much in Bart's modest +narrative of his adventures that evening arrived before he could believe +the fact, and this was succeeded by so long and deep a sleep, that it +was several hours after sunrise before the lad awoke, feeling grieved +and ashamed that he should have slept so calmly there while his friends +were in such distress. + +Springing from his couch, and having a good bath, he found to his great +delight that all the weary stiffness had passed away, that he was bright +and vigorous as ever, and ready to spring upon his horse at any time. + +This made him think of Black Boy, to whose stable he hurried, the brave +little animal greeting him with a snort that sounded full of welcome, +while he rattled and tugged at his halter, and seemed eager to get out +once more into the open. + +The cob had been well groomed and fed, and to his master's great joy +seemed to be no worse than when he started for his long journey to +Lerisco. In fact, when Bart began to examine him attentively, so far +from being exhausted or strained, the cob was full of play, pawing +gently at his master and playfully pretending to bite, neighing loudly +his disgust afterwards when he turned to leave the stables. + +"There! be patient, old lad," he said, turning back to pat the little +nag's glossy arched neck once more; "I'll soon be back. Eat away and +rest, for you've got another long journey before you." + +Whither Black Boy understood his master's words or not, it is impossible +to say. + +What! Is it ridiculous to suppose such a thing? + +Perhaps so, most worthy disputant; but you cannot prove that the nag did +not understand. + +At all events, he thrust his velvety nose into the Indian-corn that had +been placed for his meal, and went on contentedly crunching up the +flinty grain, while Bart hurried away now to see how the preparations +for starting were going on; for he felt, he could not explain why, +neglectful of his friend's interests. + +To his great delight, he found that great progress had been made: a +dozen waggons had been filled with stores, thirty horses had been +provided with drivers and caretakers, and a troop of fifty lancers, with +their baggage-waggons and an ample supply of ammunition, were being +prepared for their march, their captain carefully inspecting his men's +accoutrements the while. + +A finer body of bronzed and active men it would have been impossible to +select. Every one was armed with a short heavy bore rifle, a keen +sabre, and a long sharply pointed lance; while their horses were the +very perfection of chargers, swift, full of bone and sinew, and looking +as if, could their riders but get a chance, four times the number of +Indians would go down before them like dry reeds in a furious gale. + +"Are you only going to take fifty?" said Bart to the captain. + +"That's all, my lad," was the reply. "Is it not enough?" + +"There must have been five hundred Indians before the camp," replied +Bart. + +"Well, that's only ten times as many," said the captain laughingly, +"Fifty are more than enough for such an attack, for we have discipline +on our side, while they are only a mob. Don't you be afraid, my boy. I +daresay we shall prove too many for them." + +"I am not afraid," said Bart, stoutly; "but I don't want to see your +party overwhelmed." + +"And you shall not see it overwhelmed, my boy," replied the captain. +"Do you see this sabre?" + +"Yes," said Bart, gazing with interest at the keen weapon the officer +held out for his inspection. "It looks very sharp." + +"Well," said the captain, smiling, "experience has taught that this is a +more dangerous weapon than the great heavy two-handed swords men used to +wield. Do you know why?" + +"Oh! yes," cried Bart; "while a man was swinging round a great +two-handed sword, you could jump in and cut him down, or run him through +with that." + +"Exactly," said the captain, "and that's why I only take fifty men with +me into the desert instead of two hundred. My troop of fifty represent +this keen sharp sword, with which blade I can strike and thrust at the +Indians again and again, when a larger one would be awkward and slow. +Do you see?" + +"Ye-e-es!" said Bart, hesitating. + +"You forget, my boy, how difficult it is to carry stores over the plain. +All these waggons have to go as it is, and my experience teaches me +that the lighter an attacking party is the better, especially when it +has to deal with Indians." + +"And have these men ever fought with Indians?" + +"A dozen--a score of times," replied the captain. "Ah! here is our +friend the governor. Why, he is dressed up as if he meant to ride part +of the way with us." + +"Ah! captain! Well, my young Indian runner," said the governor, +laughing, "are you ready for another skirmish?" + +"Yes, sir, I'm ready now," said Bart promptly. "I can saddle up in five +minutes." + +"I shall be ready at sunset," said the captain. "My men are ready now." + +"I've made up my mind to go with you," said the governor. + +"You, sir?" cried Bart. + +"Yes, my lad. I want to see the silver canyon and your mountain +fortress. And besides, it seems to me that a brush with the Indians +will do me good. I want them to have a severe lesson, for they are +getting more daring in their encroachments every day. Can you make room +for me?" + +The captain expressed his delight, and Bart's eyes flashed as he felt +that it was one more well-armed, active, fighting man; and when evening +came, after an affectionate farewell, and amidst plenty of cheers from +the swarthy mob of idlers, the well-mounted little party rode out along +the road leading to the plains, with the lancers' accoutrements +jingling, their lance-points gilded by the setting sun, and their +black-and-yellow pennons fluttering in the pleasant evening breeze. + +"At last," said Bart to himself, as he reined up and drew aside to see +the gallant little array pass. "Oh! if we can only get one good chance +at the cowardly demons! They won't hunt me now." + +And in imagination he saw himself riding in the line of horsemen, going +at full speed for a body of bloodthirsty Indians, and driving them +helter-skelter like chaff before a storm. + + + +CHAPTER FORTY ONE. + +THE LANCERS' LESSONS. + +With Bart for a guide, the relief party made good progress, but they +were, of course, kept back a great deal by the waggons, well horsed as +they were. Alone the lancer troop could have gone rapidly over the +ground, but the sight of hovering knots of Apaches appearing to right +and left and in their rear, told that they were well watched, and that +if the baggage was left for a few hours, a descent would be certain to +follow. + +In fact, several attempts were made as they got farther out into the +plains to lure the lancers away from their stores, but Captain Miguel +was too well versed in plain-fighting to be led astray. + +"No," he said, "I have been bitten once. They'd get us miles away +feigning attacks and leading us on, and at last, when we made ready for +a charge, they'd break up and gallop in all directions, while, when we +came back, tired out and savage, the waggons would have been rifled and +their guards all slain. I think we'll get our stores safe at the silver +canyon fort, and then, if the Apaches will show fight, why, we shall be +there." + +The days glided on, with plenty of alarms, for, from being harassed by +the presence of about a dozen Indians, these increased and grew till +there would be nearly a hundred hovering around and constantly on the +watch to cut off any stragglers from the little camp. + +They never succeeded, however, for the captain was too watchful. He +never attempted any charges; but when the savages grew too daring, he +gave a few short sharp orders, and half a dozen of the best marksmen +dismounted and made such practice with their short rifles, that pony +after pony went galloping riderless over the plain. + +This checked the enemy, but after a few hours they would come on again, +and it seemed as if messengers were sent far and wide, for the Indians +grew in numbers, till at the time when half the distance was covered, it +seemed as if at least four hundred were always hovering around in bands +of twenty or forty, making dashes down as if they meant to ride through +the camp or cut the body of lancers in two. For they would come on +yelling and uttering derisive cries till pretty close, and then wheel +round like a flock of birds and gallop off again into the plain. + +"I'm saving it all up for them," said Captain Miguel, laughingly, as a +low murmur of impatience under so much insult ran through his men. +"Wait a bit, and they will not find us such cowards as they think." + +"I should like your lancers to make one dash at them though, captain," +said Bart one evening when, evidently growing more confident as their +numbers increased, the Apaches had been more daring than usual, swooping +down, riding round and round as if a ring of riderless horses were +circling about the camp, for the savages hung along their horses so that +only a leg and arm would be visible, while they kept up a desultory fire +from beneath their horses' necks. + +"Bah! let the miserable mosquitoes be," said the captain, +contemptuously. "We have not much farther to go, I suppose." + +"I hope to show you the mountain to-morrow," replied Bart. + +"Then they can wait for their chastisement for another day or two. Come +now, my excitable young friend, you think I have been rather quiet and +tame with these wretches, don't you?" + +Bart's face grew scarlet. + +"Well, sir, yes, I do," he said, frankly. + +"Well spoken," said the governor, clapping him on the shoulder. + +"Yes," said Captain Miguel, "well spoken; but you are wrong, my boy. I +have longed for days past to lead my men in a good dashing charge, and +drive these savage animals back to their dens; but I am a soldier in +command, and I have to think of my men as well as my own feelings. +These fifty men are to me worth all the Indian nations, and I cannot +spare one life, no, not one drop of blood, unless it is to give these +creatures such a blow as will cow them and teach them to respect a +civilised people, who ask nothing of them but to be left alone. Wait a +little longer, my lad; the time has not yet come." + +That night strong outposts were formed, for the Indians were about in +great force; but no attack was made, and at daybreak, on a lovely +morning, they were once more in motion, while, to Bart's great surprise, +though he swept the plain in every direction, not an Indian was to be +seen. + +"What does that mean, think you?" said the governor, smiling. + +"An ambush," replied Bart. "They are waiting for us somewhere." + +"Right," exclaimed the Captain, carefully inspecting the plain; "but +there is little chance of ambush here, the ground is too open, unless +they await us on the other side of that rolling range of hills. You are +right though, my lad; it is to take effect later on. This is to lull us +into security; they have not gone far." + +A couple of hours brought them to the foot of the low ridge, when scouts +were sent forward; but they signalled with their lances that the coast +was clear, and the party rode on till the top was reached, and spurring +a little in advance of the troop in company with the captain and the +governor, Bart reined up and pointed right away over the gleaming lake +to where the mountain stood up like some huge keep built in the middle +of the plain. + +"There is the rock fortress," he cried. + +"And where is the silver canyon?" said the governor, looking eagerly +over the plain. + +"Running east and west, sir, quite out of sight till you are at its +edge, and passing close behind the mountain yonder." + +"Forward, then," cried the captain; "we must be there to-night. Keep up +well with the waggons, and--halt! Yes, I expected so; there are our +friends away there in the distance. They will be down upon us before +long, like so many swarms of bees." + +The greatest caution was now observed, and they rode steadily on for a +few miles farther, when Bart joyfully pointed out that the occupants of +the rock fortress were still safe. + +"How can you tell that?" said the governor, eagerly. + +"By the flag, sir," said Bart. "There it is out upon the extreme right +of the mountain. If the Indians had got the better of the Doctor's +party, they would have torn it down." + +"Or perhaps kept it up as a lure to entrap us," said the captain, +smiling; "but I think you are right about that." + +"What a splendid position for a city!" exclaimed the Governor, as they +rode on towards where the waters of the lake gleamed brightly in the +sun. + +"Yes; a great town might be placed there," said the captain, +thoughtfully; "but you would want some large barracks and a little +army," he added with a smile, "to keep our friends there at a distance." + +For, as they neared the mountain, it seemed ominously like a certainty +that the savages now meant to make a tremendous onslaught upon the band, +for they were steadily coming on in large numbers, as if to meet the +new-comers before they could form a junction with the holders of the +rock. + +"I don't want to fight them if I can help it," said Captain Miguel, +scanning the approaching Indians carefully as they advanced--"not until +the waggons are in safety. If we do have to charge them, you drivers +are all to make for the rock, so as to get under the cover of our +friends' fire. That is, if it comes to a serious attack, but I do not +think it will." + +The watchfulness and care now exercised by their leader showed how well +worthy he was of being placed in such a position, and the men, even to +the governor, obeyed him without a word, though at times his orders +seemed to run in opposition to their own ideas. For he seemed to be +almost skirmishing from the Indians, instead of making a bold stand, and +the result was that when, after a couple of hours, they came on in +strength, their insolence increased with the seeming timidity of the +relieving force. + +"You underrated the numbers, young gentleman," said Captain Miguel at +last, when the Apaches were in full force. "You said five hundred. I +should say there are quite six, and as fine a body of well-mounted +warriors as I have seen upon the plains." + +"Well, Miguel," said the governor, "it seems to me that, unless you +attack them, we shall all be swept into the lake." + +"I don't think you will, sir," replied the captain, calmly; "they are +only bragging now, many as they are; they do not mean to attack us yet." + +Captain Miguel was right, for though the Apaches came yelling on, +threatening first one flank and then the other, their object was only to +goad the lancers into a charge before which they would have scattered, +and then gone on leading the troops away. But the captain was not to be +tricked in that manner; and calmly ignoring the badly aimed +rifle-bullets, he made Bart lead, and getting the waggon-horses into a +sharp trot, they made straight now for the fortress-gate. + +"Steady, steady!" shouted the captain; "no stampeding. Every man in his +place, and ready to turn when I cry Halt!--to fire, if needs be. Steady +there!" + +His words were needed, for once set in motion like this, and seeing +safety so near, the waggon-drivers were eager to push on faster, and +made gaps in the waggon-train; but they were checked by the lancers, who +rode on either side, till at last faces began to appear on the various +ledges and the zigzag path up the mountain, and a loud cheer was heard, +telling that all was right. + +Then came the fierce yelling of the Indians, who suddenly awoke to the +fact that they had put off their attack too long, and that the +waggon-train would escape them if they delayed much more. + +Captain Miguel read the signs of their movements as if they were part of +an open book, and with a cry of satisfaction he shouted out, "At last!" + +Then to the waggon-drivers, "Forward there, forward, and wheel to your +right under the rock. Then behind your waggons and horses for an +earth-work, and fire when it is necessary. You, my lad, see to that, +and get your friends to help." + +This was shouted amidst the tramp of horses and the rattle and bumping +of the waggons, while the Indians were coming on in force not half a +mile away. + +"Steady, steady!" shouted the captain, and then, almost imperceptibly, +he drew his men away from the sides of the waggon-train, which passed +thundering on towards the rock, while the lancers, as if by magic, +formed into a compact body, and cantered off by fours towards the +canyon. + +"They've run; they've left us," yelled some of the drivers, in their +Spanish patois. "Forward, or we shall be killed." + +But they were wrong; for all at once the little body of lancers swung +round and formed into a line, which came back over the same ground like +a wall, that kept on increasing in speed till the horses literally raced +over the level plain. + +The Indians were at full gallop now, coming on like a cloud of horse, +yelling furiously as they stood up in their stirrups and waved their +lances, their course being such that the lancers would strike them, if +they charged home, at an angle. + +All at once there was a fluttering of pennons, and the lances of the +little Mexican force dropped from the perpendicular to the level, the +spear-points glistening like lightning in the evening sun. + +This evolution startled the Apaches, some of whom began to draw rein, +others rode over them, and the great cloud of horsemen began to exhibit +signs of confusion. Some, however, charged on towards the waggons, and +thus escaped the impact, as, with a hearty cheer and their horses at +racing pace, the lancers dashed at, into, and over the swarm of Indians, +driving their way right through, and seeming to take flight on the other +side as if meaning to go right away. + +Their course was strewed with Apaches and their ponies, but not a +Mexican was left behind; and then, before the savages could recover from +their astonishment, the gallant little band had wheeled round, and were +coming back, trot--canter--gallop, once more at racing speed. + +There was another tremendous impact, for there were so many of the +savages that they could not avoid the charge, and once more the lancers +rode right through them, leaving the ground strewn with dead and wounded +men and ponies. Their riderless steeds added to the confusion, while no +sooner were the lancers clear, and forming up once more a couple of +hundred yards away, than a tremendous fire was opened from the rock +fortress and the waggon-train, making men fall fast. + +The lancers were soon in motion once more for their third charge, but +this was only a feint, for the firing would have been fatal to friend as +well as foe, there being no one to signal a stay. Still the Apaches did +not know this, and having had two experiences--their first--of the +charge of a body of heavily mounted, well-disciplined men, they were +satisfied, and as the lancers began to canter, were in full flight over +the plain, men and ponies dropping beneath the fire and from previously +received lance-wounds, while the ground for a broad space was literally +spotted with the injured and the dead. + +"Oh, if I could have been with you!" cried Bart, riding up to the +captain rifle in hand. + +"Let soldiers do soldiers' work, my young friend," said the captain, +bluntly. "You are excited now; perhaps you will think differently +another time." + + + +CHAPTER FORTY TWO. + +THE SILVER CITY IN THE PLAINS. + +Bart did think differently when he cooled down, and, after a warm +greeting from the Doctor, who praised his bravery and thanked him for +bringing help, saw the dreary business of burying the fallen in those +fierce charges; for he shuddered and thought of the horrors of such an +occupation, even when the fights were in thorough self-defence. + +Joses was full of excitement, and kept on shaking hands with the Beaver +instead of with Bart. + +"I knew he'd do it. I knew he'd do it," he kept on saying. "There +arn't a braver lad nowhere, that I will say." + +There was but little time for talking and congratulations, however, for +the waggons had to be unloaded and camp formed for the lancers and +Mexicans, the former being out in the plains driving in the Indian +ponies that had not gone off with the Apaches, the result being that +thirty were enclosed in the corral before dark, being some little +compensation for the former loss. + +Bart learned that night, when the captain and the governor were the +guests of the Doctor, that beyond occasional alarms but little had gone +on during his absence. The Indians had been there all the time, and his +friends had always been in full expectation of an attack, night or day, +but none had come. + +The most serious threatening had been on the night when Bart set off, +but the terrible storm had evidently stopped it, and the Doctor related +how the rock had been struck by lightning, a large portion shattered, +and the bodies of several Indians found there the next morning. + +There was good watch set that night, not that there was much likelihood +of the Indians returning, but to make sure; and then many hours were +spent in rejoicing, for several of the adventurers had been giving way +to despair, feeling that they had done wrong in coming, and were asking +in dismay what was to become of them when the stores were exhausted. + +"We can't eat silver," they had reproachfully said to the Doctor; and +when he had reminded them how he had sent for help, they laughed him to +scorn. + +All murmurers were now silenced, and, light-hearted and joyous, the +future of the silver canyon became the principal topic of conversation +with all. + +The next morning, as it was found that the Indians were still hovering +about, Captain Miguel showed himself ready for any emergency. The +Beaver and his men were at once mounted on the pick of the Indian +ponies, and a start was made to meet the enemy. + +So well was this expedition carried out, that, after a good deal of +feinting and manoeuvring, the captain was enabled to charge home once +more, scattering the Indians like chaff, and this time pursuing them to +their temporary camp, with the result that the Apaches, thoroughly cowed +by the attacks of these horsemen, who fought altogether like one man, +continued their flight, and the whole of the horses and cattle, with +many Indian ponies as well, were taken and driven back in triumph to the +corral by the rocks. + +This encounter with the Indians proved most effectual, for the portion +of the nation to which they belonged had never before encountered +disciplined troops; and so stern was the lesson they received, that, +though predatory parties were seen from time to time, it was quite a +year before any other serious encounter took place. + +In the meantime, the governor had been so impressed with the value of +the Doctor's discovery, that, without interfering in the slightest +degree with his prospects, communications were at once opened up with +Lerisco; more people were invited to come out, smelting furnaces were +erected, the silver purified, and in less than six months a regular +traffic had been established across the plains, over which mules laden +with the precious metal, escorted by troops, were constantly going, and +returning with stores for use in the mining town. + +A town began to spring up rapidly, with warehouses and stores; for the +mountain was no longer standing in solitary silence in the middle of the +great plain. The hum of industry was ever to be heard; the picks of the +miners were constantly at work; the great stamps that had been erected +loudly pounded up the ore; and the nights that had been dark and lonely +out there in the plains were now illumined, and watched with wonder by +the roving Apaches, when the great silver furnaces glowed and roared as +the precious metal was heated in the crucibles before being poured into +the ingot-making moulds. + +The growth of the place was marvellous, the canyon proving to be so rich +in the finest kinds of silver, that the ore had but to be roughly torn +out of the great rift that was first shown by the chief, and the profits +were so enormous that Doctor Lascelles became as great a man in his way +as the governor, while Bart, as his head officer and superintendent of +the mine, had rule over quite a host. + +Houses rose rapidly, many of them being of a most substantial kind, and +in addition a large barrack was built for the accommodation of fifty +men, who worked as miners, but had certain privileges besides for +forming the troop of well-mounted lancers, whose duty it was to protect +the mining town and the silver canyon from predatory bands of Apaches. + +These lancers were raised and drilled by Captain Miguel, Bart being +appointed their leader when he had grown to years of discretion--that is +to say, of greater discretion than of old, and that was soon after +Doctor Lascelles had said to him one day: + +"Well, yes, Bart; you always have seemed to be like my son. I think it +will be as well;" and, as a matter of course, that conversation related +to Bart's marriage with Maude. + +But, in spite of his prosperity and the constant demand for his services +in connection with the mines and the increase of the town, Bart never +forgot his delight in a ramble in the wilds; and whenever time allowed, +and the Beaver and some of his followers had come in from some hunting +expedition, there was just a hint to Joses, when before daybreak next +morning a start was made either to hunt bison and prong-horn, the +black-tailed deer in the woods at the foot of the mountain, or to fish +in some part of the canyon. Unfortunately, though, the sparkling river +became spoiled by degrees, owing to the enormous quantities of +mine-refuse that ran in, poisoning the fish, and preventing them from +coming anywhere near the mountain. + +Still there were plenty to be had by those daring enough to risk an +encounter with the Indians, and many were the excursions Bart enjoyed +with Joses and the Beaver, both remaining his attached followers, though +the latter used to look sadly at the change that had come over the land. + +And truly it was a wondrous change; for, as years passed on, the town +grew enormously--works sprang up with towering chimneys and furnaces, +the former ever belching out their smoke; while of such importance did +Silver Canyon City grow, and so great was the traffic, that mules and +waggons could no longer do the work. + +The result is easy to guess. There was a vast range of rolling plain to +cross, a few deviations enabling the engineer, who surveyed the country +with Apaches watching him, to avoid the mountains; and this being done, +and capital abundant, a railway soon crept, like a sinuous serpent, from +Lerisco to the mountain foot, along which panted and raced the heavily +laden trains. + +The Apaches scouted, and there was some little trouble with them at +first, but they were punished pretty severely, though they took no +lesson so deeply to heart as the one read their chief upon seeing the +first train run along the rails. + +Poor wretch! he had not much more sense than a bison; for he galloped +his little pony right on to the line, and pressed forward to meet the +engine after firing his rifle--he rode no more! + +"Well, I dare say it's all right, Master Bart," said Joses one day; +"everybody's getting rich and happy, and all the rest of it; but somehow +I liked the good old times." + +"Why, Joses?" said Bart. + +"Because, you see, Master Bart, we seem to be so horrid safe now." + +"Safe, Joses?" + +"Yes, Master Bart," grumbled the old fellow; "there arn't no risks, no +keeping watch o' nights, no feeling as it arn't likely that you'll ever +see another morning, and it isn't exciting enough for me." + +But then the Beaver came up with some news that made Joses' eyes +sparkle. + +"There's buffalo out on the far plain, captain," he said; "and I've seen +sign of mountain sheep three days' journey up the canyon. Will the +young chief Bart go?" + +"That I will, Beaver," cried Bart. "To-morrow at daybreak." + +"No; to-night," said the Beaver. + +"That's the way," growled Joses. "Say yes, Master Bart." + +Bart did say yes, as he generally would upon hearing such news as this-- +these excursions carrying him back to the old adventurous days, when, +quite a lad, he joined in a hunt to find provision for the little camp. + +Then Black Boy would be saddled, for the sturdy little cob never seemed +to grow old, except that there were a few grey hairs in his black coat; +provisions were prepared, ammunition packed, good-byes said, and for a +few days Bart and his friends would be off into the wilderness, away +from the bustle and toil always in progress now at the silver canyon. + +THE END. + + + + + + +End of Project Gutenberg's The Silver Canyon, by George Manville Fenn + +*** END OF THIS PROJECT GUTENBERG EBOOK THE SILVER CANYON *** + +***** This file should be named 21368.txt or 21368.zip ***** +This and all associated files of various formats will be found in: + http://www.gutenberg.org/2/1/3/6/21368/ + +Produced by Nick Hodson of London, England + +Updated editions will replace the previous one--the old editions +will be renamed. + +Creating the works from public domain print editions means that no +one owns a United States copyright in these works, so the Foundation +(and you!) can copy and distribute it in the United States without +permission and without paying copyright royalties. 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