command of the avenues to the rock, the next object of their
guide was to ascertain where the outlaw was at that moment secreted. It
was highly important to know _where_ to enter--where to look--and not
waste time in fruitless search of places in which a single man might
have a dozen blind seekers at his mercy. The cunning of the idiot
conceived this necessity himself.

His policy made each of the party hide himself out of sight, though in a
position whence each might see.

All arranged as he desired, the urchin armed himself with a rock, not
quite as large as his own head, but making a most respectable approach
to it. This, with the aid of coat and kerchief he secured upon his back,
between his shoulders; and thus laden, he yet, with the agility of the
opossum, her young ones in her pouch, climbed up a tree which stood a
little above that inner chamber which Guy Rivers had appropriated for
himself, and where, on more occasions than one, our idiot had peeped in
upon him. Perched in his tree securely, and shrouded from sight among
its boughs, the urchin disengaged the rock from his shoulders, took it
in both his hands, and carefully selecting its route, he pitched it,
with all his might, out from the tree, and in such a direction, that,
after it had fairly struck the earth, it continued a rolling course down
the declivity of the rocks, making a heavy clatter all the way it went.

The _ruse_ answered its purpose. The keen senses of the outlaw caught
the sound. His vigilance, now doubly keen, awakened to its watch. We
have seen, in previous pages, the effect that the rolling stone had upon
the musing and vexed spirit of Guy Rivers, after the departure of
Dillon. He came forth, as we have seen, to look about for the cause of
alarm; and, as if satisfied that the disturbance was purely accidental,
had retired once more to the recesses of his den.

Here, throwing himself upon his couch, he seemed disposed to sleep.
Sleep, indeed! He himself denied that he ever slept. His followers were
all agreed that when he did sleep, it was only with half his faculties
shut up. One eye, they contended, was always open!

Chub Williams, and one of the hunters had seen the figure of the outlaw
as he emerged from the cavern. The former instantly identified him. The
other was too remote to distinguish anything but a slight human outline,
which he could only determine to be such, as he beheld its movements. He
was too far to assault, the ligh