The Silver Canyon | Page 5

blanket or buffalo robe over his naked shoulders, filled and lit his long
pipe, and began silently and thoughtfully to smoke.
Meanwhile, in utter unconsciousness of the nearness of danger, Dr
Lascelles continued his watch thus far into the night. From time to time
he examined the tethering of the horses, and glanced inside the tent to
stand and listen to the regular low breathing of his child, and then walk

to where, rolled in his blanket, Bart Woodlaw lay sleeping in full
confidence that a good watch was being kept over the camp as he slept.
Then the Doctor tried to pierce the gloom around.
Away towards the open plains it was clear and transparent, but towards
the rocks that stretched there on one side all seemed black. Not a sound
fell upon his ear, and so great was the stillness that the dull crackle of a
piece of smouldering wood sounded painfully loud and strange.
At last the time had come for arousing some one to take his place, and
walking, after a few moments' thought, to where Bart lay, he bent down
and touched him lightly on the arm.
In an instant, rifle in hand, the lad was upon his feet.
"Is there danger?" he said in a low, quiet whisper.
"I hope not, Bart," said the Doctor quietly, "everything is perfectly still.
I shall lie down in front of the tent; wake me if you hear a sound."
The lad nodded, and then stood trying to shake off the drowsiness that
still remained after his deep sleep while he watched the Doctor's figure
grow indistinct as he walked towards the dimly seen tent. He could just
make out that the Doctor bent down, and then he seemed to disappear.
Bart Woodlaw remained motionless for a few moments, and then, as he
more fully realised his duties, he walked slowly to where the horses
were tethered, patted each in turn, the gentle animals responding with a
low sigh as they pressed their heads closely to the caressing hand.
Satisfied that the tethering ropes were safe, and dreading no hostile
visit that might result in a stampede, the guardian of the little camp
walked slowly to where the fire emitted a faint glow; and, feeling chilly,
he was about to throw on more wood, when it occurred to him that if he
did so, the fire would show out plainly for a distance of many miles,
and that it would serve as a sign to invite enemies if any were within
eyeshot, so he preferred to suffer from the cold, and, drawing his
blanket round him, he left the fire to go out.

Bart had been watching the stars for about an hour, staring at the distant
plain, and trying to make out what was the real shape of a pile of rock
that sheltered them on the north, and which seemed to stand out
peculiarly clear against the dark sky, when, turning sharply, he brought
his rifle to the ready, and stood, with beating heart, staring at a tall dark
figure that remained motionless about a dozen yards away.
It was so dark that he could make out nothing more, only that it was a
man, and that he did not move.
The position was so new, and it was so startling to be out there in the
wilds alone as it were--for the others were asleep--and then to turn
round suddenly and become aware of the fact that a tall dark figure was
standing where there was nothing only a few minutes before, that in
spite of a strong effort to master himself, Bart Woodlaw felt alarmed in
no slight degree.
His first idea was that this must be an enemy, and that he ought to fire.
If an enemy, it must be an Indian; but then it did not look like an Indian;
and Bart knew that it was his duty to walk boldly up to the figure, and
see what the danger was; and in this spirit he took one step forward,
and then stopped,--for it was not an easy thing to do.
The night seemed to have grown blacker, but there was the dark figure
all the same, and it seemed to stand out more plainly than before, but it
did not move, and this gave it an uncanny aspect that sent something of
a chill through the watcher's frame.
At last he mastered himself, and, with rifle held ready, walked boldly
towards the figure, believing that it was some specimen of the fleshy
growth of the region to which the darkness had added a weirdness all
its own.
No. It was a man undoubtedly, and as, nerving himself more and more,
Bart walked close up, the figure turned, and said slowly:--
"I can't quite