e ought to be safe."

"They are not going to cross the gulch," I said, in a relieved tone,
"perhaps they will miss our trail after all."

"It looks to me though as if they were going to strike that place where
we killed the antelope," said Jim.

He gave another look at the advancing braves, then he backed down into
the gulch.

"Come, Jo," he said, decisively, "we will have to run for it, in a few
minutes they will cut our trail. We will only lose by waiting."

Here is where Jim showed his qualities as a leader. I would have waited,
hoping to escape detection, and leaving the enemy to make the first move
and thus losing seconds that were more valuable than hours under
ordinary circumstances.

Our ponies were very restless, with ears pricked forward and shifting
their front feet, first one and then the other. They knew even though
they could not see. We swung silently into the saddles. Our ready rifles
lay just in front of us.

"We are going to start now, Jo," said Jim, in a low, confident voice,
"the south side of the gully is low, a hundred feet below us. That's
where we show up; it will be a surprise for those beggars. When they see
us, pick your Indian and fire. Remember to throw yourself to the side of
your pony when they fire and run for it."

I was trembling so that I could scarcely keep my teeth from chattering.
Jim was naturally brave, but I was just the average as far as courage
went. Still I was a boy of high spirit, and I struggled hard to throw
off my fear as Jim was giving me his instructions.

Then I thought of what the captain had told us of the bravery of the
American soldiers in the Mexican war. Of Grant who was so quiet and
fearless. At least I was an American. I pulled myself together and was
ready.

"All ready, Jo?" asked Jim.

"Yes," I replied.

I shall never forget the thrill of excitement that went through all my
nerves as we started down the gully, Jim in the lead and my horse close
on his hindquarters. The north bank was higher and still screened us,
though we bent down to avoid any possibility of being seen.

Just as we turned out of the gully we heard a great powwow. The Apaches
had found the place where the antelope had been killed. We were now on
the plain in full sight. It seemed to me that we loomed up twice as big
as life. We were absolutely stripped naked now of the protection of the
gully.

Our very daring helped us, and we rode directly up the bank of the
gully. The A