g his way in and out amongst the masses of rock, and
forcing him to make a considerable _detour_ before he passed the ridge
of stones.

His first act was to drop down on hands and knees; his next to lie flat,
and drag himself slowly forward a couple of hundred yards, and then
stop.

It was quite time that he had, for on either hand, as well as in front,
lay groups of Indians, while just beyond he could distinguish the horses
calmly cropping the grass and other herbage near. So still was it, and
so closely had he approached, that every mouthful seized by the horses
sounded quite plainly upon his ear, while more than once came the
mutterings of some heavy sleeper, with an occasional hasty movement on
the part of some one who was restless.

Joses had found out all he wanted, and the next thing was to get back
and give the alarm. But as is often the case in such matters, it was
easier to come than to return. It had to be done though, for the
position of those in the little camp was one full of peril, and turning
softly, he had begun his retrograde movement, when a figure he had not
seen suddenly uttered an impatient "ugh!" and started to his feet.

Joses' hand went to his belt and grasped his knife, but that was all.
It was not the time for taking to headlong flight, an act which would
have brought the whole band whooping and yelling at his heels.

Fortunately for the spy in the Indian camp, the night was darker now, a
thin veil of cloud having swept over the stars, otherwise the fate of
Dr Lascelles' expedition would have been sealed. As it was, the Indian
kicked the form beside him heavily with his moccasined foot, and then
walked slowly away in the direction of the horses.

Some men would have continued their retreat at once, perhaps hurriedly,
but Joses was too old a campaigner for such an act. As he lay there,
with his face buried deeply in the short herbage, he thought to himself
that most probably the waking up of the Indian who had just gone, the
kick, and the striding away, would have aroused some of the others, and
in this belief he lay perfectly still for quite ten minutes.

Then feeling satisfied that he might continue his retreat, he was
drawing himself together for a fresh start, when a man on his right
leaped to his feet; another did the same, and after talking together for
a few moments they too went off in the direction of the horses.

This decided Joses upon a fresh wait, which he kept up, til