as
the last had gone the chief uttered a deep "Ugh!"

There was danger though yet, and he would not let a man stir till quite
half an hour later, when his two scouts came in quickly, and said a few
words in a low guttural tone.

"I should be for learning the language of these men if we were to stay
with them, Bart," said the Doctor; "but they may leave us at any time,
and the next party we meet may talk a different dialect."

The chief's acts were sufficient now to satisfy them that the present
danger had passed, and soon after he and his men mounted and rode off
without a word.

CHAPTER EIGHT.

ROUGH CUSTOMERS.

There was nothing to tempt a stay where they were, so taking advantage
of their being once more alone, a fresh start was made along the most
open course that presented itself, and some miles were placed between
them and the last camp before a halt was made for the night.

"We shan't do no good, Master Bart," said Joses, as they two kept watch
for the first part of the night. "The master thinks we shall, but I
don't, and Juan don't, and Sam and Harry don't."

"But why not?"

"Why not, Master Bart? How can you 'spect it, when you've got a young
woman and a waggon and a tent along with you. Them's all three things
as stop you from getting over the ground. I don't call this an
exploring party; I call it just a-going out a-pleasuring when it's all
pain."

"You always would grumble, Joses; no matter where we were, or what we
were doing, you would have your grumble. I suppose it does you good."

"Why, of course it does," said Joses, with a low chuckling laugh. "If I
wasn't to grumble, that would all be in my mind making me sour, so I
gets rid of it as soon as I can."

That night passed without adventure, and, starting at daybreak the next
morning, they found a fine open stretch of plain before them, beyond
which, blue and purple in the distance, rose the mountains, and these
were looked upon as their temporary destination, for Dr Lascelles was
of opinion that here he might discover something to reward his toils.

The day was so hot and the journey so arduous, that upon getting to the
farther side of the plain, with the ground growing terribly broken and
rugged as they approached the mountain slopes, a suitable spot was
selected, and the country being apparently quite free from danger, the
tent was set up, and the quarters made snug for two or three days' rest,
so that the Doctor might make