way."

As soon as they could get clear of the ruins there was a rush made for
the camp, the grazing animals being driven before them to where the
stores were heaped, and going quietly enough, associating the sacks and
barrels with feeding-time, though fated to be neglected!

The stores once reached, hot and nervous work began, in which Chris had
no share, his duty being to mount his mustang and act the part of scout.

His instructions were very few; he knew what to do. That was to ride
back to the gulch, and select a good spot, one which combined two
advantages, commanding a far-reaching view down the wild approach, while
affording good cover and concealment for him.

He started at once, riding off and giving two good long earnest looks at
the busy party placing their loads on the mules' backs.

Then a turn amongst the rocks hid him from sight, and the boy felt his
heart sink, in spite of the way in which he braced himself up for his
task, for the gulch looked more and more dark and forbidding as he rode
on, the sides closed in closer, it seemed, than they had been when he
came, and as he strained his eyes forward along the trackless way, bush
after bush and rock after rock in the distance sent his heart, as it
were, with a bound to his throat, so nearly did his imagination make
these objects approach the aspect of savage Indians riding slowly
towards him.

But a second glance generally resolved them into what they were, fancy
paintings, and he bit his lips fiercely with annoyance as he called
himself coward and one quite unfit for such a task.

He had ridden onward for some time before he found a post that seemed in
any way suitable, for the gulch turned and doubled and zigzagged here
and there in a way that gave him sadly shortened views, and he was at
last about to turn back to the best place he had passed, bad as it was,
when he recognised a corner in front as being formed by a rock that he
remembered seeing for long enough on their approach, one that never
seemed to get any nearer, and to his joy when he now reached it he found
everything he desired--command of the gulch for quite a mile, plenty of
cover to hide him and his pony from the view of those who came along,
and, what was very acceptable then, a tiny basin of pure cold water in
which his mustang gladly plunged its muzzle for a long, deep drink.

Then with a sigh of relief the scout took up his position to watch for
the coming danger, knowing as he