a
thin man, like Hopkins or Baldy, could draw his body through and climb
a luxuriant cottonwood, whose top have a wide view of the surrounding
plain.

The day passed away without any signs of Indians, Baldy occasionally
ascending the side of the ravine, and scanning the plains in every
direction, on the constant lookout for the insidious approach of their
enemies.

Just before nightfall, while all three were at work, a rifle was
discharged, and the bullet was imbedded in the tough oaken handle of
the spade with which the trapper was digging.

'Whar in thunder did that come from?' he demanded, dropping the
implement, catching up the rifle, and glaring savagely about him.

But neither of the others could answer him, and climbing up the bank,
he looked fiercely around for some evidence of the whereabouts of his
treacherous foe.

The latter remained invisible, but several hundred yards down the
ravine, he caught a glimpse of enough Indians dodging hither and
thither to satisfy him that there was quite a formidable force in the
valley.

Giving the alarm to his companions, all three withdrew within the
cave, not the less willingly, as it was very near their usual quitting
time.

'Begorrah! and what'll becoom of the shtame mian and the boy?'
inquired Mickey, as he hastily obeyed orders.

'Jerusalem!' exclaimed the Yankee, in great trepidation, 'if he isn't
warned, they'll catch him sure, and then what'll become of us? We'll
have to walk all the way hum.'

As the best means of communicating with him, the trapper climbed
through the narrow opening, and to the top of the tree, where he
ensconced himself, just as the steam man uttered its interrogative
whistle.

The trapper, as we have shown in another place, replied by pantomime,
not wishing to discover his whereabouts to the enemy, as he had a dim
idea that this means of egress might possibly prove of some use to
him, in the danger that was closing around them.

When Johnny Brainerd recognized his signal, and beat a retreat, Baldy
began a cautious descent to his cave again. At this time it was
already growing dark, and he had to feel his way down again.

And so it came about, that not until he had reached the lowest limb,
did his trained ear detest a slight rustling on the ground beneath.
Supposing it to be either Mickey or Ethan, he continued his descent,
merely glancing below. But at that moment something suspicious caught
his eye, and peering down more caref