gh, but nothing to get it out of the rock with, and nowhere to
carry it to.

It was a sad problem for men who cared for nothing in the wide world
but just such ledges and just such gold. What was the use of it?

Steve Harrison never knew it, but his mine was of a good deal of use to
him and Murray just then. It kept Captain Skinner and his men looking
at it long enough for them to get nearly back to the camp of the Lipans.

"It won't do, boys," said Captain Skinner, at last; "we're wasting
time. Come on."

They followed him, every man turning his head as he did so to take
another look at the yellow spots that shone here and there in the
quartz.

Their way down the ravine was made with care and circumspection, for
they did not know at what moment they might come in sight of "those two
fellers and their deer."

It was well for them, probably, that they were cautious, for after a
good deal of steep climbing, just as they were about to clamber down
one of the rocky "stairs," the man called Bill exclaimed,

"Captain, thar it is--"

"The deer? They've left it. I see it."

"More'n that farther down."

"A big-horn! And if that ain't a painter lying beside it!"

"More'n that, Cap. They didn't give up that thar game for nothin'."

"Lay low, boys! Git to cover right away! Red-skins!"

There was no difficulty in hiding among so many rocks and bowlders, and
the miners were out of sight in a moment.

They could see, though, even if they were not seen, and they were soon
able to count a dozen Indian warriors leading three pack-ponies as far
up the ravine as four-footed beasts could be led.

"Wonder if they've wiped out the two fellers?" said Bill.

"Looks like it. Or they may have captured 'em. Lost their game, if
they haven't lost their scalps. Wonder what tribe of redskins they
are, anyhow?"

There was a better reason than that why No Tongue and Yellow Head did
not come back with their friends, but it was just as well that Captain
Skinner and his miners did not understand it.

"Captain," whispered one of the men near him, "shall we let drive at
'em? We could pick off half of 'em first fire."

"Not a shot. All we want just now is to be let alone. I don't mind
killing a few redskins."

"Mebbe they killed the two fellers."

"Likely as not. I'm kind o' glad they did. That there ledge is ours
now. Let 'em carry off their game, and then we'll climb back. I
reckon I know now how we'd best work