im and the pony at once, standing up
plainly against the brightening sky.

"I don't know what to do," he said to himself, as he sprang upon the
pony's back, and felt better directly. For as the sturdy little animal
began to move springily along, fresh vigour seemed to run through the
boy's nerves, and he looked sharply round again.

"There must be some way for us to escape," he cried aloud, "and they
shall have a long gallop before they catch us."

He paused for a few moments to look down into the valley and across at
the towering up rows of broken openings on the other side of the
depression, feeling the while that to stay anywhere near the edge of the
precipice was only to hasten his surrender, for the distance from the
edge to the level bottom of the valley seemed terrible, so giddy and
full of horror for him who fell, that Chris literally wrenched his eyes
away, to sweep the horizon till he had made up his mind which was the
most open and level part of the tableland to select for the wild gallop
to come.

"I did hope to have seen some one over yonder," he muttered bitterly,
"but I suppose they are asleep and don't know what danger I am in.
There, off with you, old lad," he cried aloud, shaking the rein. "No,
no--steady; it's going to be a long ride, and you mustn't be pumped out
for hours to come. That's better; a nice gentle canter. Well done!
How light and easy you do go."

It was as if the beautiful little animal understood its rider's words.
It certainly did his caresses, for it snorted loudly, tossed up its
head, and then bending it down with neck finely arched, it progressed in
bound after bound as if it were a joy to be cantering along that high
level ground in the pure elastic air.

Chris gave his mount another pat or two upon the neck, and then settling
himself in his saddle he turned his head to watch the Indians.

In an instant he had learned that not only could they see him but they
had grasped his intention as to the way in which he sought to escape.
For directly after, three of them had darted out of the line and gone
off at full speed, opening out the while, with the evident intention of
cutting off their victim.

Chris was ready, and after riding a little way so as to give the enemy
time, he suddenly bore upon his rein and changed his course.

But as soon as this was seen, three more of the Indians started off to
turn him away from the open country in that direction.

Again Chris chan