of the time, on the ground above, where the approach of enemies could
be detected.

The absence of anything like a sentinel increased the boy's
apprehensions, and when he had waited some fifteen minutes without
seeing anything of his friends he became painfully uneasy.

'What if they had been killed? What if they were prisoners? What if a
hundred Indians were at that moment in the possession of Wolf Ravine?

Such and similar were the questions which the affrighted boy asked
himself, and which, with all his shrewdness, he was unable to answer.

In the hope of attracting attention he set up a shrieking with the
whistle, which sounded so loud on the still evening air that it must
have gone miles away over the level prairie.

There being no response to this he kept it up for some time, but it
still failed, and all this confirmed him in the belief that 'something
was up.'

What that particular something was it was impossible to say, so long
as he sat in the wagon, and for five minutes he endeavored to decide
whether it was best to get out and make a reconnoissance on his own
hook or remain where, in case of danger, he could seek safety in
flight.

As the day wore rapidly away, and he still failed to see or hear
anything of his friends, he finally concluded to get out and make an
examination of the ravine.

Accordingly he sprung lightly to the ground, but had scarcely alighted
when a peculiar signal, something resembling a tremulous whistle, reached
his ear, and he instantly clambered back again, fully satisfied that
the whistle was intended as a signal, and that it concerned him,
although whether from friend or foe he could only conjecture.

However, his alarm was such that he moved a hundred yards or so
further away from the ravine, where there was less likelihood of being
surprised by any sudden rush upon the part of the thieving red-skins.

From this standpoint he carefully scanned what could be seen of the
ravine. It descended quite gradually from the edge of the bank, so
that he gained a partial view of the rocks and bowlders upon the
opposite side. Some of the trees growing in the narrow valley rose to
such a height that one-half or two-thirds of them were exposed to
view.

It was while the boy was gazing at these that he detected a peculiar
movement in one of the limbs, which instantly arrested his attention.

A moment showed him that the peculiar waving motion was made by human
agency, and he strained