and then they would search for
and find the occupants of the camp.

This being so, the Doctor suddenly grew calm.

"I've made my plans," he said, quietly.

"Yes?" exclaimed Maude and Bart, in a breath.

"We must go straight back to our starting-place, and then on to Lerisco,
and there I must get the proper authorisations from the government, and
afterwards organise a large expedition of people, and bring them here at
once."

He had hardly made this announcement when the Beaver came slowly up to
stand with his follower the interpreter behind, and looking as if he
wished to say something in particular.

The Doctor rose, and pointed to a place where his visitor could sit
down, but the chief declined.

"Enemy," he said sharply. "Indian dogs."

Then he turned round quickly to the interpreter.

"The Beaver-with-Sharp-Teeth says the Apaches will be back to-night to
see why the earth opened and killed their friends."

"Indeed! So soon?" said the Doctor.

"The chief says we must go from here till the Indian dogs have been.
Then we can come back."

"That settles it, Bart," exclaimed the Doctor. "We'll start at once."

The preparations needed were few, and an hour later they were retreating
quickly across the plain, the coming darkness being close at hand to
veil their movements, so that when they halted to rest in the morning
they were a long distance on their way, and sheltered by a patch of
forest trees that looked like the remains of some tract of woodland that
had once spread over the plain.

It was deemed wise to wait till evening, and taking it in turns, they
watched and slept till nearly sundown.

The Beaver had had the last watch, and he announced that he had seen a
large body of Apaches going in the direction of the canyon, but at so
great a distance off across the plain that there was no need for alarm.

They started soon afterwards, and after a very uneventful but tedious
journey, they reached the spot where they had first encountered the
Beaver and his followers. Here the Indians came to a halt: they did not
care to go farther towards the home of the white man, but readily
entered into a compact to keep watch near the Silver Canyon, and return
two moons hence to meet the Doctor and his expeditionary party, when
they were once more on their way across the plains.

The journey seemed strange without the company of the chief and his men,
and during many of their halts but little rest was had on a