"What for?" was the uncompromising response.

"What for? Why, because he must be starving."

"Poor fellow! He must have an appetite then," said Griggs, laughing.
"Did you see what I took up to him?"

"Oh," cried Chris remorsefully. "What a shame! Here was I thinking
that every one had been selfish to the poor fellow, while all the
time--"

"We had all played quite fair--you most of all. Here, how are all the
aches and pains now?"

"Getting better. I have no right to make so much fuss about them and
play at being in hospital."

"You're not, lad. You're only doing what the doctor ordered. A fellow
can't fall nearly a mile perpendicular and slantingdicular without being
a good deal shaken."

"How far?" said Chris, laughing.

"Well, say half-a-mile."

"What nonsense!"

"Say quarter of a mile then," cried Griggs sharply.

"Divided by what?"

"You are hard to please. I didn't measure the distance; but I will as
soon as we've got rid of these precious redskins."

"Don't," said Chris. "I didn't fall far, and it was most of it sliding
down."

"Turn round," cried the American, "and set your eyes at the very bottom
of the cliff, and then run them up to the sharp edge where we saw you
having that battle with your poor mustang before you went over, and then
tell me again that you didn't fall far."

"Don't want to," said Chris, who looked all the same, and felt a little
shiver as of something cold running down his back. "There, I'm off."

"Where are you going? The doctor said you were to rest."

"That's what I'm going to do," said Chris, "but I must go and see how my
pony is."

"Ah, well, I suppose that won't hurt you. I'll go up and have a chat
with Ned, and see if I can mark down any of the enemy."

They parted, and Chris walked over the rugged stones and down the slopes
till he was at the bottom of the valley, with his feet brushing aside
the long rich grass in which the mules were standing knee-deep, and
which they neglected for the fresh green branches of the shrubs which
grew thickly here and there.

"I forgot all about the snakes," said the boy to himself; "but there
can't be any here, or the jacks wouldn't be so quiet."

Quiet they were, for though he walked right through the browsing herd
they hardly turned their heads in his direction.

It was different when he reached the half-dozen ponies, which still kept
themselves aloof as if preferring their own more aristocratic company.