ath the band of stars
overhead. These stood out strongly marked against the edge of the black
cliffs on either side towering up and seeming to the excited imagination
of the two lads double their real height, and overhanging more and more
as the valley sides gradually closed in towards the mouth of the gulch.

Chris suffered from a peculiar sense of excitement and dread of attack,
as he and Griggs rode cautiously on through the darkness, each with his
rifle cocked and resting upon his knee, straining his eyes the while for
the first sign of danger. And it was during this ride that the boy
began to wonder whether the eyesight of the Indians was much better than
their own, for he soon found that once more he was obliged to leave out
any attempt at guidance and trust entirely to his pony.

"Think the enemy can see better than we do?" he ventured to say, during
a temporary halt to make out if possible what had caused a sudden
rushing sound through the bushes in front.

"They're made differently to what we are if they can," whispered the
American dryly. "I'm leaving everything to my nag, and you'd better do
the same."

"That's what I've been doing," said Chris. "You don't think that was an
Indian, then?"

"No; only some little animal that we started. It sounded loud because
everything's so still, and we expect that everything means danger. Keep
close behind me now."

Chris had no occasion to trouble himself, for his mustang kept its nose
very near to its companion's tail, and they went on and on through the
darkness, till Griggs suddenly drew rein.

"Here we are," he whispered. "It's narrow enough, and it oughtn't to
take many minutes to stop this gap so that no horse could get through,
while in an hour it might be made so that it would take a week to make
it passable. Come along, and mind we don't miss the gully."

He led on again slowly, pausing at intervals to listen and make sure,
for it seemed to be darker than ever, in spite of their growing
accustomed to the gloom.

Once more Griggs stopped short, and Chris's heart began to beat more
heavily than ever during the few minutes' silence that ensued.

"I'm done," whispered Griggs at last.

"What do you mean? What's the matter?" asked Chris.

"The gully ought to be somewhere about here, but for the life of me I
can't make out where it is, and we must wait till morning."

Chris laughed softly.

"I don't see anything to grin at," grumbled Griggs. "I