after I had
knocked you down, I would be a mile from here. Did Pierre ever tell you
how nicely I fooled him?" he continued, noticing that the chief was
turned half around in his saddle, listening to what he had to say. "Well
I am not surprised that he never mentioned it, for he ought to feel
ashamed of himself."

"Ay; but I have got you fast this time," said Pierre, with a laugh. "Let
us see how nicely you will fool me now. One at a time here, men," he
added, in a louder tone, "and keep close watch of those prisoners."

As Pierre spoke, the cavalcade emerged from the woods, and Frank found
himself on the brink of a rocky chasm, which stretched away to the
right as far as his eye could reach, and seemed to extend down into the
very bowels of the earth. It was so deep that his head grew dizzy, as he
looked into it. On his left, and directly in front of him, was a
precipitous mountain, the top of which hung threateningly over the gorge
below. It seemed to Frank that they could go no farther in this
direction, until Pierre urged his horse upon a narrow ledge that ran
around the base of the cliff. Antoine followed after the pack-horse, and
Frank came next. Roderick pricked up his ears, looked over into the
gorge, and snorted loudly. He moved very slowly and carefully, and well
he might: for a single misstep on his part would have sent both him and
his rider to destruction. The path was so narrow that, although Roderick
walked on the extreme outer edge, Frank's feet now and then brushed
against the rock on the opposite side. Our hero felt his sombrero rise
on his head, whenever he looked into the chasm, or allowed himself to
reflect how slight an accident might launch him into eternity. But there
was no backing out. Once on that ledge, a person must go forward; for
there was no room to turn around.

After Frank came another of the band, and Johnny followed at his heels.
Archie and his keeper came next, and Arthur and _his_ keeper brought up
the rear. They all rode fearlessly upon the ledge, until it came
Arthur's turn, and then was heard a cry of remonstrance. The young
gentleman, who had been brave enough to fill the perilous office of
scout among the Indians of the plains, did not possess the courage
necessary to carry him through this ordeal. He turned as pale as death,
and stopped his horse.

"Go on," sternly commanded his keeper.

"Oh, it's dangerous," returned Arthur, in pitiful tones. "What if my
horse should sl