nod. "I'm
not going to play with a job like this. Have you got anything like an
idea, my lad?"

"I've been trying to think out something," said the boy, turning a
little red in the face.

"Let's have it, then," cried Ned.

"To be sure, let's have it," said Griggs, looking proudly at his
well-cleaned rifle, before opening the breech and slipping in a couple
of cartridges. "There, that's ready. Now, squire, I'll have yours,
please."

Ned passed his rifle, after extracting the ball-cartridge, and the
American began taking it to pieces at once.

"What's your notion, my lad?" he said, turning to Chris.

"I'm afraid to say anything about it," said Chris modestly.

"Why?" cried Ned.

"Because it seems now that I have thought it out quite extravagant and
strange."

"It can't be worse than mine," cried Ned bitterly. "Come, out with it.
Play fair. I don't see why I should be laughed at, and you get off scot
free."

"Don't you make yourself uncomfortable about that, squire," said Griggs
dryly. "I'll mind and rub him wrong way if there's nothing in it. Now
then, my lad, let's have it."

Chris was silent a minute, and then said--

"One word first. My poor pony came down into the valley where I fell,
but you don't think the Indians could bring their beasts down that way,
do you?"

"I'm sure they couldn't," said Griggs, working the cleaning-rod up and
down one of the barrels.

"I feel sure too," said Chris. "But do you think they could get them
out again that way--I mean, out through the head of the valley?"

"And I'm sure of that," said Griggs. "They couldn't unless they taught
'em how to fly."

"Why, of course not," said Ned scornfully. "You know it too. Why do
you ask?"

"Only because I wanted to make sure," replied Chris, "and because it has
something to do with my plan."

Griggs left off pumping and squirting water, laid the barrel across his
knees with his hands resting upon the former, and gazed thoughtfully in
the boy's face, while Ned seemed influenced by his companion's manner
and sat perfectly silent.

"You know I went to watch for the coming of the Indians?"

"Yes," said Griggs.

"And I passed by that rough jagged pillar of rock which was of a great
height, in the middle of that very narrow part of the gulch. I mean
where the rocks close in on both sides and overhang so that it seems
dangerous to walk under them for fear they should fall."

"Oh yes, I remember it well."

"So