ans will leave us alone."

"We must give them the slip, sir," said Bart, laughing.

"Perhaps we may, my boy; but we have another difficulty to contend
with."

"What's that, sir; the distance?"

"No, Bart; I'm uneasy about the men. I'm afraid they will strike sooner
or later, and insist upon going back."

"I'm not, sir," replied Bart. "I will answer for Joses, and he has only
to say he means to go forward, and the others then will keep by his
side. Mind that snake, sir."

The Doctor raised his rifle to fire, but refrained, lest the report
should be heard, and drawing back, the rattlesnake did the same; then
they continued their journey, the Doctor examining the rocks attentively
as he went on, but seeing nothing worthy of notice.

"We must be well on our guard against these reptiles, Bart; that is the
first I have seen, and they may prove numerous."

"They are numerous," said Bart; and he told of the number he had seen
upon the slope above them.

"That settles me upon going forward this evening," said the Doctor, "for
water seems to be very scarce. We must try and strike the river higher
up, and follow its course. We shall then have plenty of water always
within reach, and find wood and trees and hiding-places."

"But I thought you wanted to get into a mountainous part, sir, where
precious minerals would be found," said Bart.

"Exactly, my dear boy, and that is just the place we shall reach if we
persevere, for it is up in these rocky fastnesses, where the rivers have
their sources, and sometimes their beds are sprinkled with the specks
and also with pieces of gold that have been washed out of the sides of
the mighty hills."

They went on thoughtfully for a time, the Doctor giving a chip here and
a chip there as he passed masses of rock, but nothing rewarded him, and
their walk was so uneventful that they saw nothing more than another
rattlesnake, the valley being so solitary and deserted that, with the
exception of a large hawk, they did not even see a bird.

They, however, found a tiny spring of water which trickled down among
the rocks, and finally formed a little pool, ample for supplying their
horses with water, and this discovery made the Doctor propose a return.

"I don't like leaving Maude for long," he said.

"Joses will watch over her, sir, as safely as you would yourself. You
saved his life once he told me."

"He told you that!" exclaimed the Doctor.

"Yes, sir, when the rattlesnake