until
Christmas. But without joking, we ought to be able to get along for a
month. It was mighty lucky that we got those antelope."

"I suppose we will have to stand guard to-night," I said.

"Yes," replied Jim, "we don't dare to take a chance, even though
Indians do not often make night attacks."

"I daresay that there is no danger of them crawling up the rocks. They
are too steep, but we will have to watch the trail between the rocks," I
remarked.

"How shall we divide the time?" Jim asked.

"It does not make much difference," I replied.

"Very well, then, you can take it up to midnight, and I will look after
the balance."

So it was decided. It had now grown dark and we thought it best to look
around together. As we came out of our rock shelter we saw our ponies
standing with their backs to the storm and heads bent down, looking much
dejected.

"They look like four-legged ghosts," I said.

"If it hadn't been for them we would have been ghosts by this time,"
remarked Jim pleasantly.

"What's the use of talking that way?" I said. "Perhaps we will be ghosts
before we are through with this business."

"Don't you believe it," said Jim cheerily. "I don't know how we are
going to get out of this scrape, but perhaps we will have some unusual
luck."

"Here's wishing it," I replied.

It looked kind of cheery as we looked back and saw the warm glow from
our fire in the rock room that was our temporary camp.

We made the rounds of our fort, but could see or hear nothing in the
darkness below. No sound but the steady fall of the rain. The rock must
have been seventy-five feet or more of sheer descent on all sides except
by the narrow trail by which we had come up.

"It's time for you to go on guard now," said Jim.

"All right," I replied, "I'm ready."

"Be sure to keep awake," he cautioned.

We went back to the campfire and I made a careful examination of my
rifle. It was all right, and with my faithful friend close at hand in my
belt I was ready for what might come.

I crawled out in the darkness leaving Jim curled up cosily by the fire.
I envied him because I did not have much heart to stand out there in the
dark and in the rain alone, but there was nothing to do but to make the
best of it.

I crawled down between the rocks at the upper end of the narrow trail
with the rain beating down on me. I could see the horses back of me and
their presence was a whole lot of company for me.

It is strange how