were almost ready to proceed to violence. From where our
friends stood it looked as if it were nothing more than a coat or some
cast-off garment that had been thrown aside by so me of the survivors
when they were taken away by the Relief.

"No, they have not seen us yet," said Howard, who was watching them
intently, while his two companions where looking upon the readiest means
of escape.

"Then why did they start after us, be the same token?" demanded Tim,
with a great sigh of relief.

"They are quarreling over something that lies upon the beach."

"If they'd only have the onspakable kindness to go to fighting each
other like a lot of Kilkenny cats, and not sthop till there's not one of
'em left--I say if they'd have the kindness to do that, it would be
fortinit for us."

"Hardly probable, Tim; the fact, is they appear to have settled the
matter already, and have gone down to the edge of the sea again."

"I don't see the use of our remaining here," said Howard. "We daren't go
any nearer them than we now are, while if we put back into the country
we stand a chance of getting something to eat. As near as I can
calculate, the Salinas River isn't very far away, and California is said
to be very fertile along its streams, if it is barren in such places as
this."

"And we may come upon a party of miners further inland."

"I don't know about that," rejoined Howard. "The diggings are on the
other side of the Coast Range, between that and the Sierra Nevada, in
the Sacramento Valley, and I think they are further north, too."

"Let's lave," said Tim; "if we only start tramping perhaps I may git my
mind off the subjact and forgit that I'm hungry enough to eat a toad,
which I'd starve to death afore I'd do the same."

While they were thus debating with themselves, Terror, unobserved by any
of them, whisked to the top of a high rock and announced his discovery
of the Indians by several loud, gruff barks. At so great a distance it
was impossible that the dog should be heard, but the danger was that the
lynx-eyed savages would see him, and thus discover the presence of his
friends. The peril was imminent, and a hasty word from Howard brought
the Newfoundland to their feet.

But it was too late. He had scarcely ascended his perch when an Indian
caught sight of him, and giving out a strange half-whoop and stream, he
started on a full run toward him, closely followed by half of the entire
party.

"There's no mistake this