soon as it was sufficiently light, rifle in
hand, to try and make out their whereabouts, for they were now beyond
the region familiar to both in their long rides from ranche to ranche in
quest of cattle.

They paused, though, for a minute or two to gain a sort of idea as to
the best course to pursue, and then satisfied that there was no
immediate danger, unless the Indians should have happened to strike upon
their trail, they began to climb the steep rocky hill before them.

"Which way do you think the Indians were going, Joses?" said Bart, as
they toiled on, with the east beginning to blush of a vivid red.

"Way they could find people to rob and plunder and carry off," said
Joses gruffly, for he was weary and wanted his breakfast.

"Do you think they will strike our trail?"

"If they come across it, my lad--if they come across it."

"And if they do?"

"If they do, they'll follow it right to the end, and then that'll be the
end of us."

"If we don't beat them off," said Bart merrily.

"Beat them off! Hark at him!" said Joses. "Why, what a boy it is. He
talks of beating off a whole tribe of Indians as if they were so many
Jack rabbits."

"Well, we are Englishmen," said Bart proudly.

"Yes, we are _Englishmen_," said Joses, winking to himself and laying
just a little emphasis upon the men; "but we can't do impossibilities if
we bes English."

"Joses, you're a regular old croaker, and always make the worst of
things instead of the best."

"So would you if you was hungry as I am, my lad. I felt just now as if
I could set to and eat one o' them alligators that paddles about in the
lagoons, whacking the fishes in the shallows with their tails till
they're silly, and then shovelling of them up with their great jaws."

"Well, for my part, Joses, I'd rather do as the alligators do to the
fish."

"What, whack 'em with their tails? Why, you ain't got no tail, Master
Bart."

"No, no! Eat the fish."

"Oh, ah! yes. I could eat a mess o' fish myself, nicely grilled on some
bits o' wood, and yah! mind! look out!"

Joses uttered these words with quite a yell as, dropping his rifle, he
stooped, picked up a lump of rock from among the many that lay about on
the loose stony hill slope they were climbing, and hurled it with such
unerring aim, and with so much force, that the hideous grey reptile they
had disturbed, seeking to warm itself in the first sunbeams, and which
had raised its ugly head threateningly,