ules and ponies are tame."

"How, when they are nearly half-a-mile away? There is neither bridle
nor saddle to be seen."

"Oh no, of course not," said Chris, brightening up. "Then, after having
a good look at them, the band will ride right away."

"That is doubtful," said the doctor gravely.

"Why, they can't get down there."

"No, but they can make a long _detour_ and get down to the gulch, and
then make their way into the depression and capture us all, men and
boys, ponies and mules."

"Oh!" ejaculated Chris. Then quickly, "How long will it take them to
get round?"

"I wish I knew, my boy," said the doctor sadly. "We ought to have
explored the gulch and seen how it was connected with the tableland
yonder. But there, it is of no use to regret the past; we must think
about the present."

"Yes," grunted Griggs, and his voice roused the doctor into action.

"What do you say, Griggs?" he cried. "My idea is to wait till the
enemy--I suppose we must look upon them as the enemy--have gone out of
sight, and that we then load up and retreat as fast as we can."

"Too late," said Griggs gruffly; "we may come right upon them."

"Yes, if they make their way to the mouth of the gulch. They may be
content with seeing that there is a herd of strange animals here, and
then ride away."

"Some folk might," said Griggs quietly, "but not Indians."

"Then what do you think will be best?"

"Drive the animals up to the other end of the place, and then take
possession of a couple of the rooms here in the face of the rocks, stop
up the shaft, and keep the enemy at bay with our rifles."

The doctor frowned.

"It may be a false alarm," he said.

"Yes, may be," said Griggs; "but I don't believe it is, sir. Don't you
go and think that I want to fight. Nothing of the kind, but I'm afraid
we shall have to. Why, we could keep all that lot at bay for any length
of time."

"But it would be desperate work."

"Yes, sir, they'd make us desperate; but it would be their own doing.
We could bring up our provisions into the chamber nearest the water, and
command it with our rifles so that they couldn't get to it. They've
only got to leave us alone and there'd be no desperate work."

"But they may be friendly Indians."

"I never heard of any out in these wilds, sir," said Griggs grimly.

"But they might be friendly," said Bourne eagerly.

"So much the better, sir. Then there'd be no harm done. I'd trust the
Indians up