t start," he said, "but go on just as usual."

"Something wrong?" said Chris, doing exactly what he had been told not
to do.

"Call it something wrong if you like," said Griggs, laughing; "but it's
only what I expected. I've been up at the lookout with your father, and
we made out two Indians crawling to the top of the cliff over there,
just like a couple of big red slugs on a wet night."

"Then they're watching us?" panted Chris.

"Just as they always have been, my lad, and looking out to try and turn
us into pin-cushions for their arrows, if we'd only go out far enough,
which we wouldn't do on any consideration."

"But this will quite upset our plans for to-night," said Chris.

"Oh no. We shall go on; for this looks promising, my lad. They've
always been watching us more or less."

"Then they've seen us hunting for a hiding-place for the ponies and
mules?"

"Yes, of course."

"And climbing about among the rocks at the narrows?"

"To be sure they have."

"Then what's the good of our going on?"

"Everything is the good. They've seen everything we've done, but they
couldn't think with our brains, could they, my lad?"

"But what could they think of our hunting about as we did?"

"Well, seeing that I made a point of shooting a bird or two each time we
were planning out our places and all we meant to do, I should say that
they thought we were providing for the pot. Now then, come and have a
turn at your pony, and spend a good deal of time looking at his hurts.
You'd better ask me some questions about them, and lift up his hoofs and
point at them."

"Yes, I see," said Chris.

"P'r'aps I shall act a bit too for our friends' benefit, so don't be
surprised. Then we shall end up by driving all the beasts in for the
night close up under the shelter of our fire."

"Shall we be saluted with any arrows, do you think?"

"No," said Griggs; "I don't think so. We've rather sickened them of
that. They know there are rifles, and good shots, up at the top yonder,
and I dare say some of them have been hit. Now, come along."

The pair strolled out towards where the animals were grazing, and went
through the bit of performance arranged, Chris marvelling the while at
the perfect coolness displayed by his companion, who was on the brink of
a most daring adventure, the very thought of which sent the blood
dancing through the boy's veins and made the palms of his hands turn
wet.

The shades of night were approac