ouble ahead, jes' hustle him back ter make me wise.
Savee?"

Kiddie rode well in advance of the leading wagon, with Rube at his
side. He was now more than ever silent and watchful. Between Horse
Shoe Bend and Hot Springs, where they were among the foothills and
narrow valleys, his gaze was fixed steadily forward over his pony's
restlessly twitching ears. He moved his rifle crosswise in front of
him. Without averting his gaze, he said to the boy--

"Just drop back, Rube, and tell Nick ter close up the ranks."

Still riding forward at an easy pace, he gave no sign that he had seen
anything unusual. The row of dark objects showing along the upper edge
of a projecting rock might well have been mistaken for so many birds
preening themselves in the sunlight, only that his keen eight had
caught the movement of a pony's tail and the half-hidden plumes of an
Indian's head-dress. He dropped the loop of his bridle reins over the
pommel and slowly gripped his gun with a finger on the trigger.

Instantly, the Redskin's head was raised. Kiddie fired at it. There
was a wild, barbaric yell, and from both sides of the ravine Indians
dashed forth from their ambush, riding downward to the attack.

CHAPTER IV

BROKEN FEATHER'S WAY

When he had fired that first shot, and while the Redskins were still
riding out from their ambush to rally on the level trail and charge down
in a compact body upon his outfit, Kiddie turned his pony and galloped
back under a hail of arrows. Most of them fell short; very few flew past
him, and only one touched him, doing no harm.

"That's right, Nick," he called, as he drew rein beside the leading mule
wagon.

"There's a whole crowd of em' comin' out from behind the rock," cried
Rube Carter, going up to him. "I'm goin' ter git 'neath this yer wagon
an' fire at 'em through one o' th' wheels."

"You ain't goin' ter handle any gun," frowned Kiddie. "You're goin' ter
hang back in the rear an' keep an eye on the hosses. Quit!"

Nick Undrell, following his instructions, had promptly brought the three
wagons into position, extending them obliquely across the level trail,
one to the rear of the other, so that each should have its broadside
presented like a redoubt towards the oncoming enemy, the mule teams being
swung round into cover on the sheltered side.

Kiddie's horses in the background were similarly protected from the line
of fire, unless, indeed, the Indians should succeed in gett