The Silver Canyon | Page 7

feeling satisfied that he might continue his retreat, he was
drawing himself together for a fresh start, when a man on his right
leaped to his feet; another did the same, and after talking together for a
few moments they too went off in the direction of the horses.
This decided Joses upon a fresh wait, which he kept up, till feeling that,
safe or unsafe, he must make the venture, he once more started,
crawling slowly along without making a sound, till he felt it safe to rise
to his hands and knees, when he got over the ground far more swiftly,
ending by springing to his feet, and listening intently for a few moments,
when there was the faint neigh of a horse from the Indian camp.
"If one of ours hears that," muttered Joses, "he'll answer, and the
Indians will be down upon us before we know where we are."
CHAPTER FOUR.
THE NIGHT ALARM.
Bart Woodlaw had not been keeping his renewed watch long before he
heard a step behind him, and, turning sharply, found himself face to
face with Dr Lascelles.
"Well, my boy," he said, "is all right?"

"I think so, sir. Did you hear anything?"
"No, my boy, I woke up and just came to see how matters were going.
Any alarm?"
"Yes, sir, and no, sir," replied Bart.
"What do you mean?" exclaimed the Doctor sharply.
"Only that Joses woke up, sir, and I found him watching that mass of
rock which you can see out yonder. That one sir--or--no!--I can't see it
now."
"Why?" said the Doctor, in a quick low decisive tone; "is it darker
now?"
"Very little, sir; but perhaps Joses was right: he said he thought there
must be a fire out there to make it stand out so clearly, and--"
"Well? speak, my boy! Be quick!"
"Perhaps he was right, sir, for I cannot see the rock there at all."
"Where is Joses? Why did he not go and see?" exclaimed the Doctor
sharply.
"He has been gone nearly an hour, sir, and I was expecting him back
when you came."
"That's right! But which way? Joses must feel that there is danger, or he
would not have left the camp like this."
Bart pointed in the direction taken by their follower, and the Doctor
took a few hasty strides forward, as if to follow, but he came back
directly.
"No. It would be folly," he said; "I should not find him out in this wild.
Depend upon it, Bart, that was an Indian fire and camp out beyond the
ridge yonder, and he suspected it. These old plainsmen read every sign

of earth and sky, and we must learn to do the same, boy, for it may
mean the saving of our lives."
"I'll try," said Bart earnestly. "I can follow trail a little now."
"Yes, and your eyes are wonderfully keen," replied the Doctor. "You
have all the acute sense of one of these hunters, but you want the power
of applying what you see, and learning its meaning."
Bart was about to reply, but the Doctor began walking up and down
impatiently, for being more used than his ward in the ways of the plains,
he could not help feeling sure that there was danger, and this idea grew
upon him to such an extent that at last he roused the men from their
sleep, bidding them silently get the horses ready for an immediate start,
should it be necessary; and while this was going on, he went into the
tent.
"Maude--my child--quick!" he said quietly. "Don't be alarmed, but
wake up, and be ready for a long ride before dawn."
Maude was well accustomed to obey promptly all her father's orders,
and so used to the emergencies and perils of frontier life that she said
nothing, but rapidly prepared for their start, and in a few minutes she
was ready, with all her little travelling possessions in the saddle-bags
and valise that were strapped to her horse.
Just as the Doctor had seen that all was nearly ready, and that scarcely
anything more remained to be done than to strike the little tent, Joses
came running up.
"Well! what news?" said the Doctor, hurriedly.
"Injun--hundreds--mile away," said the plainsman in quick, sharp tones.
"Hah! good!" he added, as he saw the preparations that had been made.
"Bart, see to Maude's horse. Down with the tent, Joses; Harry, help him.
You, Juan and Sam, see to the horses."

Every order was obeyed with the promptitude displayed in men
accustomed to a life on the plains, and in a very few minutes the tent
was down, rolled up, and on the side of the waggon, the steeds were
ready, and all mounting save Juan, who took his place