no apprehension; but, after entering the pass,
our foaming horses began to show signs of fatigue. Those of Sure-shot
and Wingrove, that were weaker than the rest, manifested symptoms of
giving out. Both were evidently broken, and without rest could go no
further. This produced a new uneasiness. We presumed that the horses
of our pursuers would be comparatively fresh--after their long rest at
their encampment--while ours had not only made a considerable journey
the day before, but on that same day had passed over fifty miles of
ground--twenty of it in a gallop! No wonder they were manifesting signs
of distress.

Shortly after entering the pass, we drew up to deliberate. By
continuing onward, we should be almost certain to be overtaken. This
was the more probable, from the keen pursuit we had reason to
anticipate. To remain where we were, would be to await the coming up of
the enemy--no doubt in such numbers as to render our capture secure; and
any attempt to defend ourselves would be idle as fatal. It was no
longer with Indians we should have to deal--no longer with lances and
arrows--but with strong bold men, armed like ourselves, and far
outnumbering us. To conceal ourselves within the gorge, and permit our
pursuers to pass, might have served our purpose for the time--had there
been sufficient cover. But neither the rocks nor trees offered an
advantageous hiding-place for our horses. The risk of their being
discovered appeared too great. We dared not trust to such a slight
chance of security. Within the pass, it was not possible to part from
the trail; and on discovering the condition of our horses, we regretted
not having left it before entering. We even entertained the question of
returning some distance: since we might leave the trail by ascending a
spur of the mountains in our rear. But this course appeared too
perilous. Perhaps at that moment our pursuers might be entering the
pass? Perhaps at that moment "adown the glen rode armed men"--though as
yet our ears were not assailed by the sound of their trampling.

Fortunately, in this moment of hesitancy, a thought occurred to our
Mexican comrade, that promised to release us from the dilemma. It was a
_memory_ that had suddenly flashed upon him. He remembered, on one of
his trapping expeditions, having discovered a ravine that led out of
Robideau's Pass on the northern side. It was a mere cleft cliff--just
wide enough to admit the body of a man