ur
wur bushes? Whur's yur eyes? d'yur see a _bank_?"

"A bank!" echoed Garey and I simultaneously.

"Ye-es," drawled Rube--"a bank. I guess thur's bank, right afore yur
noses, ef both o' yur ain't as blind as the kittlins o' a 'possum. Now,
do 'ee see it?"

Neither of us made reply to the final interrogatory. For the first
time, we began to comprehend Rube's meaning; and our eyes as well as
thoughts were suddenly directed upon the object indicated by his words--
the bank of the stream--for to that he referred.

I have stated that the little river ran close to the Indian lines, and
on one side formed the boundary of the camp. We could tell that the
current was towards us; for the stream, on reaching the hill upon which
we were, turned sharply off, and swept round its base. The Indian camp
was on the left bank--though upon its right when viewed up-stream, as we
were regarding it. Any one proceeding up the left bank must therefore
necessarily pass within the lines, and through among the horses that
were staked nearest to the water.

It need not be supposed that under our keen scrutiny the stream had
hitherto escaped observation; I myself had long ago thought of it--as a
means of covering my approach--and time after time had my eyes dwelt
upon it, but without result: in its channel I could perceive no shelter
from observation. Its banks were low, and without either rush or bush
upon them. The green turf of the prairie stretched up to the very
brink, and scarcely twelve inches below its level was the surface of the
current water. This was especially the case along the front of the
encampment, and for some distance above and below.

Any one endeavouring to enter the camp by stealing up the channel, must
have gone completely under the water, for a swimmer could have been
observed upon its surface; even if a man could have approached in this
way, there was no hope that a horse could be taken with him; and without
the horse, what prospect of ultimate escape?

It had seemed to me impossible. More than once had I taken into
consideration, and as often rejected, the idea.

Not so Rube. It was the very scheme he had conceived, and he now
proceeded to point out his practicability.

"Now, theen--ees see a bank, do 'ee?"

"'Tain't much o' a bank," replied Garey, rather discouragingly.

"No: 'tain't as high as Massoora bluffs, nor the kenyons o' Snake
River--thet nob'dy durnies; but ef 'tain't as high as it mout