do I," said Ned, quietly now, for he was evidently greatly
interested.

"I looked at it intently, so that I got to know the place thoroughly. I
can recollect all the loose stones piled-up along the sides and
overhanging so that very little would make them block up the rift."

"To be sure," said Griggs, going on with his cleaning again. "I know
the spot. You might make a strong fort there in no time so as to defend
the valley."

"Yes, yes, of course," said Ned impatiently; "but go on."

"I think I'd better leave off now," said Chris apologetically; "it seems
so stupid."

"Never mind; let's have it," cried Griggs.

"Well, this is what I thought," continued Chris, "that if we could go up
there some day and hide along the heights with our ponies and mules, and
wait till the enemy came by to get into the valley, and then tumble all
the rocks and stones down--"

"One minute," said Griggs. "You mean that very, very narrow bit where
there's hardly room for two mules to pass?"

"Yes, that's it; where the rocks high up nearly meet."

"Yes, I know," cried Ned excitedly.

"Well, since I've been thinking about all this," said Chris, speaking
more freely, "it seemed--"

"One moment again," cried Griggs, "it's this side of the gully down
which the enemy came."

"Oh yes, some hundreds of yards."

"To be sure!"

"I say, Griggs, don't keep interrupting so," cried Ned impatiently.

"Right! Go on, lad."

"I fancied," cried Chris, "if we could hide and wait till the enemy had
all ridden into the bottom of the valley, we might tumble down stones
and rocks from up above till the spaces beside that middle stone were
all blocked up, and we might keep on till it was made so bad that no
horse could be got over."

"To be sure, nor mule neither. That's for certain if we worked hard
enough, and of course we would. Oh, yes; I could make such a bank there
with a bar or a wooden lever as no pony could climb, or man either, if
you come to that. Why, Chris, my lad, that'll do."

"You don't think it wild and foolish?" said the boy, flushing.

"I think it's grand."

"You do?"

"I do, really, my lad. There's only one thing that I can see against
it."

"Ah, here it comes," cried Ned excitedly; "I knew he'd be sure and sit
upon it."

"Of course," said Griggs, laughing, "or step upon it to see if it'll
bear our weight."

"What's wrong, then?"

"Only this," said Griggs slowly. "How are you going to get your birds
in