Splendid grazing land," he said, "well-watered. We must have a stay
here." Then lowering his glass, so as to take the landscape closer in,
he uttered an ejaculation of astonishment.

"Why, Bart," he said, "I'm afraid here are the Indians Joses saw that
night."

"Let me look, sir," cried Bart, stretching out his hand for the glass,
but only to exclaim, "I can see them plainly enough without. Why, they
cannot be much more than a mile away."

"And they seem to be journeying in our direction," replied the Doctor.
"Let's get back quickly, and try if we cannot find another hiding-place
for the waggon."

Hurrying back, Bart started the idea that these might be the main body
of their friendly Indians.

"So much the better for us, Master Bart, but I'm afraid that we shall
not be so lucky again."

"I half fancied I saw our chief amongst them," said Bart, giving vent to
his sanguine feelings.

"More than half fancy, Bart," replied the Doctor, "for there he sits
upon his horse."

He pointed with his glass, and, to Bart's astonishment, there in the
little wilderness of rocks that they had made their halting-place for
the night, was the chief with his eleven followers who were already
tethering their horses, and making arrangements to take up their
quarters close by them as of old.

"Do you think they mean to continue friendly?" asked Bart uneasily, for
he could not help thinking how thoroughly they were at the mercy of the
Indians if they proved hostile.

"I cannot say," replied the Doctor. "But look here, Bart, take the
chief with you up to the gap, and show him the party beyond. His men
may not have seen them, and we shall learn perhaps whether they are
friends or foes."

On reaching the waggon, as no attempt was made by the Indians to join
them or resume intercourse, Bart went straight up to the chief, and made
signs to him to follow, which he proceeded to do upon his horse, but
upon Bart, pointing upwards to the rocky ascent, he leaped off lightly,
and the youth noticed that he was beginning to make use of his injured
arm.

In a very short time they had climbed to the opening between the rocks,
where, upon seeing that there was open country beyond, the Indian at
once crouched and approached cautiously, dropping flat upon the earth
next moment, and crawling over the ground with a rapidity that
astonished his companion, who was watching his face directly after, to
try and read therefrom whether he belonged to