don't believe
any Indian could find his way along here."

"I was laughing because I could find the place."

"How?" asked Griggs sharply.

"By coming first. My pony knows his way here."

"Come in front," said Griggs shortly, and Chris moved forward, gave the
pony his head once more, and the clever little animal paced steadily on
for about a hundred yards, and then turned off to its left and began to
ascend.

"Hah! Who wouldn't be a pony!" said Griggs, as Chris drew rein. "Then
all we have to do now is to wait till they come up."

It did not seem long before the doctor joined them, and then the whole
train filed up the side gully. Steadily ascending the way ran up
towards the tableland, where the grassy patch in a hollow had been
selected off the track, and here the halt was made, the beasts beginning
to graze at once after they had been hobbled, both ponies and mules, and
seeming quite at home as soon as they were left to themselves.

"It's a risk indeed," said the doctor. "If the Indians should happen to
ride in this direction, where should we be?"

"Shooting at them would be the best thing," said Wilton.

"It's a thousand to one against their finding the beasts here," said
Griggs, "even if they did happen to come. But we've got to chance it,
sir. Everything's gone right so far, and let's hope we shall keep on
the same track."

"I hope so," replied the doctor. "Then now we have nothing to do but
get back to the narrow gateway."

"The sooner the better, sir, for the night's wearing away fast."

"But ought we, after all, to leave one of us in charge of the beasts
here?"

"No, sir," said Griggs sharply. "You'll want all your strength after
I've passed, to tumble down the rocks. The more the better. It mustn't
be half done."

"No," said the doctor gravely. "The entrance must be well blocked. All
ready?"

"Yes," came in a whisper.

"Back, then, at once. Griggs will lead, and all keep in touch, and
observe perfect silence."

The distance seemed to have doubled before they got to the descent, and
this slope to be three times as long, as they tramped slowly down into
the gulch, where the doctor called a halt once more.

But all was still, and blacker than ever, as Griggs with Chris at his
side turned off to the right, to lead the party slowly onward towards
the narrows, where all stood at last, hot and weary.

"Everything seems to have stretched out," said Griggs, in a whisper. "I
thoug