.

"It's a toss up atween 'em," he said; "but let's take the one to the
right. It looks a little the likest."

Of course his fellow-fugitive did not dissent, and they struck into the
right-hand ravine; but not until Walt Wilder had plucked the red
kerchief from his head, and flung it as far as he could up the left one,
where it was left lying in a conspicuous position among the rocks.

He did not say why he had thus strangely abandoned the remnant of his
head-gear; but his companion, sufficiently experienced in the ways and
wiles of prairie life, stood in no need of an explanation.

The track they had now taken was of comparatively easy ascent; and it
was this, perhaps, that had tempted Wilder to take it. But like most
things within the moral and physical world, its easiness proved a
delusion. They had not gone twenty paces further up when the sloping
chasm terminated. It debouched on a little platform, covered with large
loose stones, and there rested after having fallen from the cliff above.
But at a single glance they saw that this cliff could not be scaled.

They had entered into a trap, out of which there was no chance of escape
or retreat without throwing themselves back upon the breasts of their
pursuers.

The Indians were already ascending the main ravine. By their voices it
could be told that they had reached the point where it divided; for
there was a momentary suspension of their cries, as with the baying of
hounds thrown suddenly off the scent.

It would not be for long. They would likely first follow up the chasm
where the kerchief had been cast, but, should that also prove a
_cul-de-sac_, they would return and try the other.

The fugitives saw that it was too late to retrace their steps. They
sprang together upon the platform, and commenced searching among the
loose rocks, with a faint hope of finding some place of concealment.

It was but a despairing sort of search, again like two drowning men who
clutch at a straw.

All at once an exclamation from the guide called his companion to his
side. It was accompanied by a gesture, and followed by words low
muttered.

"Look hyar, Frank! Look at this hole! Let's git into it!"

As Hamersley came close he perceived a dark cavity among the stones, to
which Wilder was pointing. It opened vertically downward, and was of an
irregular, roundish shape, somewhat resembling the mouth of a well,
half-coped with slabs.

Dare they enter it? Could t