ht we were never going to get here." Then to the doctor, "We'd
better wait till day begins to break before you climb up the sides, eh?"

"No," said the doctor; "that might mean failure. Every one must be in
his place before the darkness fails us."

"Yes, I suppose you're right, sir; but make sure as soon as there's
light enough that every one is well hidden. Birds will not enter a trap
if they see anything strange."

"Nor Indians neither," said the doctor quietly. "We shall see to that."

"And you'll let them get well out of hearing before you begin to stop
the gap?"

"Of course," said the doctor.

"That's all right, then," said Griggs. "So now, as you are going to
divide into two parties, each to take a side, I'll say good-bye and stop
below."

"One word more, then," said the doctor, grasping the American's hand.
"Let's repeat our plans so that there may be no misunderstanding."

"That's right, sir. I'll say my lesson. As soon as it's daybreak I
shall move down the gully right on in the direction where I believe the
Indians are encamped, and as soon as I think I'm near enough I'm going
to begin shooting wherever I see a chance and picking up my birds, till
the Indians hear me and come out to see what's the matter. Then we
suppose they'll mount, the whole herd of them, and come after me."

"Mounted men against one on foot," said the doctor, with a sigh.

"I don't suppose they'll catch me," said Griggs coolly. "Well,
naturally enough when I see the enemy after me I begin to run."

"But suppose they don't all come, Griggs?" said Chris.

"Shan't suppose anything of the kind, and don't you talk so loudly,"
growled the American. "They've all got to be there, according to my
notions, and come crowding after me. I run as I never ran before,
straight for the narrow way here, dash through, making for the old camp,
and they tear away to cut me off before I can get under cover of our
marksmen. But all at once I dodge in among the stones and begin to
climb up to the terraces, get up to the top step-way in the square pit,
and loosen out the stones there, after blocking the place below. One of
these two bits of work is bound to keep those who have dismounted to
climb after me from climbing any farther, and when I begin to fire at
them pretty sharply they'll turn back at once, get to their horses, and
join their mates, to have a palaver and come to the conclusion that it
isn't safe to stop in the valley, beca