The Silver Canyon Part 41

"And so made only one trail!" cried Bart, excitedly.

"And that one coming from the trees if the Apaches should find it," said Joses, grinning. "Well, you are a clever one, Beaver, and no mistake."

To put the chiefs words in plain English:

"We had only just got into cover when we heard the firing begin very sharply, and knowing that there was not a moment to lose, we backed slowly in among the trees till it grew stony, and our moccasins made no sign, and then my young man stepped down, and we crept from cover to cover, stopping to listen to the yelling and howling of the dogs, when they found only our feathers; and then we seemed to see them as they rushed off over the plain, meaning to catch us before we were in safety.

But the dogs are like blind puppies. They have no sense. They could not find our trail. They never knew that we were behind them in the forest; and there we hid, making ourselves a strong place on the edge of the canyon, where we could wait until they had gone; and when at last they had gone, and all was safe, we came on, and we are here."

"They wouldn't have escaped you like that, would they, Beaver?" said Bart, after shaking hands once more warmly, and telling him how glad he was to see him back.

"Escaped me?" said the Beaver, scornfully; "there is not one of my young men who would have been trifled with like that."

This he said in the Indian tongue, and there was a chorus of a.s.senting e.j.a.c.u.l.a.t.i.o.ns.

"But the Apaches are blind dogs, and children," he went on, speaking with bitter contempt. "They fight because they are so many that one encourages the other, but they are not brave, and they are not warriors.

The young men of the Beaver-with-Sharp-Teeth are all warriors, and laugh at the Apaches, for it takes fifty of them to fight one of my braves."

He held up his hand to command silence after this, and then pointed out into the plain.

"Can you see anything, Joses?" whispered Bart.

"Not a sign of anything but dry buffler gra.s.s and sage-brush. No; it's of no use, Master Bart, I've only got four-mile eyes, and these Injun have got ten-mile eyes. Natur's made 'em so, and it's of no use to fight again it. 'Tis their natur to, and it arn't our natur to, so all we can do is to use good medicine."

"Why, you don't think that physic would do our eyes any good, do you, Joses?" whispered Bart.

"Physic, no! I said medicine," chuckled Joses.

"Well, what's the difference?" replied Bart.

"Difference enough. I meant Injun's medicine, as they call it. Didn't the Beaver say that the master's gla.s.s was all good medicine? He thought it was a sort of conjuring trick like their medicine-men do when they are making rain come, or are driving out spirits, as they call it.

No; we can't help our eyes being queer, my lad, but we can use medicine spy-gla.s.ses, and see farther than the Injun. Hold your tongue; he's making signs."

For the Beaver had held up his hand again to command silence. Then he drew Bart towards him, and pointed outwards.

"Apache dogs," he whispered. "Young chief Bart, see?"

"No," replied the lad, after gazing intently for some time; and then, without a word, he glided off along the narrow, rocky, well-sheltered path, and made his way to the Doctor, who, with his men, was upon the _qui vive_.

"Well, Bart, what is it?" he said, eagerly.

"The Beaver can see Apaches on the plain."

"A night attack, eh?" said the Doctor. "Well, we shall be ready for them. Why have you come--to give us warning?"

"I came first for the gla.s.s," replied Bart. "I'll send you notice if they appear likely to attack, sir."

"Then I hope you will not have to send the notice, my lad," said the Doctor, "for I don't like fighting in the dark."

As he spoke he handed the gla.s.s, and Bart returned to the gallery.

"Are they still there?" he whispered.

"Yes; Apache dogs," was the reply. "Good medicine."

"They won't find it so," growled Joses, "if they come close up here, for my rifle has got to be hungry again. I'm 'bout tired of not being left peaceable and alone, and my rifle's like me--it means to bite."

As he crouched there muttering and thinking of the narrow escapes they had had, Bart carefully focussed the gla.s.s, no easy task in the deep gloom that surrounded them; and after several tries he saw something which made him utter an e.j.a.c.u.l.a.t.i.o.n full of wonder.

"What is it, my lad?" whispered Joses.

"The young chief sees the Apache dogs?" said the interpreter.

"Yes," exclaimed Bart; "the plain swarms with them."

"Then they're gathering for a big attack in the morning," said Joses.

"Are they mounted?"

"Yes, all of them. I can just make them out crossing the plain."

"Well, their horses are only good to run away on," growled Joses; "they can't ride up this mountain. Let me have a look, my lad."

Bart handed the gla.s.s, and Joses took a long, eager look through, at the gathering of Apache warriors.

"I tell you what," he said, "we shall have to look out or they'll drive off every head of cattle and every leg of horse. They're as cunning as cunning, I don't care what any one says, and some of these days we shall open our eyes and find ourselves in a pretty mess."

"The Apache dogs shall not have the horses," said the Beaver fiercely.

"That's right; don't let 'em have them," cried Joses. "I don't want 'em to go; but here's one thing I should like answered--How are we going to find 'em in pasture with all these wild beasts hanging about, ready to swoop down and make a stampede of it, and drive them off?"

"The Beaver's young men will drive the horses and cattle out," said the Beaver, in tones of quiet confidence, "and bring them back again quite safe."

"If you can do that," said Joses, "perhaps we can hold out; but it don't seem likely that we shall get much salmon from down in the canyon yonder, which is a pity, for I've took to quite longing for a bit of that; and if the Apache don't take care, I shall have some yet."

CHAPTER THIRTY FOUR.

HARD PRESSED.

Day broke, and the sun rose, displaying a sight that disheartened many of the occupants of the rock; for far out on the plain, and well beyond the reach of rifle-bullets, there was troop after troop of Indian warriors riding gently here and there, as if to exercise their horses, but doubtless in pursuance of some settled plan.

The Doctor inspected them carefully through his gla.s.s, to try and estimate their numbers, and he quite came to the conclusion that they intended to invest the rock fortress, and if they could make no impression in one way, to try and starve out its occupants.

"We must make sure, once for all, Bart, that we have no weak points--no spot by which these Indian wretches can ascend and take us in the rear.

Suppose you take the Beaver and two of his men with you, ascend the mountain, and make a careful inspection."

"But that would hardly be so satisfactory, sir, as if we went all round the base first to make sure that there is no way up from the plain."