serably within the gloom confines of that ghastly,
haunted hell.
CHAPTER XX
BACKS TO THE WALL
"This is Indian treachery," I said decisively, my eyes searching the
cliffs, "nor will they remain long inactive now they have fairly caught
us in their trap. Let us get back out of this narrow way; there may be
other loosened rocks where this one came from."
"Back where?"
"To some spot where we can defend ourselves in case of attack. These
will prove different from any savages I have ever known if we fail to
hear from them as soon as we are ready."
"But," protested De Noyan, as we scrambled retreating up the slope, "if
there is no way leading from this pit of death, how are those devils
going to get in? Will it not be more likely they will be content to
starve us?"
"'Tis not Indian nature to hide in patience after having trapped their
victims. Although there is no apparent way out to our eyes, nor time
to search for one, yet we may put confidence in this: they never
bottled us here without knowing some means whereby they might complete
their work."
"It is likely to be a fight, then?"
"Either that or a massacre; God knoweth."
"If, friend Benteen," boomed Cairnes, now well in our front, and
prodigal of voice as ever, "you expect a stand-up battle with the
devils, 'tis my judgment you will find few spots better adapted for
defence than yonder--there where the rock juts out so far; 'tis like a
sloping roof to protect us from above."
It was as he described, a place fitted by nature for such a contest,
the upper stratum of rock projecting so far forward as almost to form a
cave beneath, while, partially blocking the centre of this darkened
opening, uprose a great square slab of stone, forming of itself no
small protection to a party crouching in its shadow. Moreover the
ground fell away sharply, the higher point being twenty feet above the
water level; and this at the widest part of the gorge, the entire slope
thickly strewn with bowlders of varying size.
"You have made soldierly choice," I acknowledged heartily, after a
hasty survey. "It would be difficult to discover a more proper spot
for purposes of defence. St. Andrew! but three of us ought to hold
that mound against quite a party."
De Noyan broke in, perfectly at his ease with actual fighting in
prospect. "Somewhat open as yet, but that can be remedied by use of
those scattered stones. Upbuild the circle here, leaving in front of
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