ich, under the circumstances,
every other number of the party was willing to forego for a time.

CHAPTER XXVII.

AT BAY.

When the Indian had scraped the sand away to the solid rock, thereby
deepening the enclosure at least twelve inches, he ceased work, and,
seating himself by Cummings' side, prepared to do his share of the
watching.

By this time the assailants had become convinced that it was useless to
expose themselves to the murderous fire which could not be returned with
any possibility of injuring the white men, and they remained under
cover.

"I believe we might sneak away from them," Neal said, after looking
fifteen or twenty minutes at the ledge beneath which the enemy had taken
refuge, without seeing so much as a man's head. "They think we will
shoot them down, and might keep under cover while we were escaping."

"Then you believe they do not know what we are about?" Cummings asked
grimly.

"How can it be possible if no one comes out to reconnoiter?"

"Look down the valley."

Following with their eyes the direction of Cummings' outstretched finger
the boys saw a party of Indians far down the mountain side out of range,
traveling rapidly in the opposite direction.

"They are running away!" Teddy cried gleefully. "Our guns were too much
for them."

"Do you believe there are as many in that crowd as we saw coming up the
mountain?"

Teddy gazed again, and this time the look of joy and relief faded from
his face.

"No," he replied slowly, "only about half as many."

"And the remainder are under the ledge ready to come out at the first
good opportunity."

"But what are those fellows doing?"

"Going out of range where every movement we make can be seen without
risk of being shot at, and when the night comes they will circle around
us."

That this supposition was correct could be seen a few moments later when
the party halted in full view, and disposed of themselves in such places
as the bushes afforded any shade from the sun's hot rays.

"They are taking things mighty easy," Neal said after a long pause,
during which he watched the enemy intently.

"What is to prevent?" Cummings replied. "Time is of no especial object
to them providing we can be captured finally, and just now we are
situated very much like rats in a trap."

"I wonder what would be the result if one of us should show himself?"
Teddy said musingly.

"You shall soon see. Poyor, walk a short distance up the mountai