Their cries had hardly reached
us when they were lifted upon the crest of the whirling current, like so
many feathers, and carried off with the velocity of projectiles!

"Thar's three good fellows gone under! Wagh!"

"Who are they?" asked Seguin, and the men turned round with inquiring
looks.

"Thar's one Delaware, and big Jim Harris, and--"

"Who is the third man that's missing? Can anyone tell?"

"I think, captain, it's Kirker."

"It is Kirker, by the 'tarnal! I seed him down. Wagh! They'll lift
his har to a sartinty."

"Ay, they'll fish him out below. That's a sure case."

"They'll fish out a good haul o' thur own, I reckin. It'll be a tight
race, anyhow. I've heern o' a horse runnin' agin a thunder shower; but
them niggurs 'll make good time, if thur tails ain't wet afore they git
t'other eend--they will."

As the trapper spoke, the floating and still struggling bodies of his
comrades were carried to a bend in the canon, and whirled out of sight.
The channel was now filled with the foaming yellow flood that frothed
against the rocks as it forged onward.

Our danger was over for the time. The canon had become impassable; and,
after gazing for a while upon the torrent, most of us with feelings of
awe, we turned away, and walked toward the spot where we had left our
horses.

CHAPTER FORTY ONE.

THE BARRANCA.

We staked our horses upon the open plain, and, returning to the thicket,
cut down wood and kindled fires. We felt secure. Our pursuers, even
had they escaped back to the valley, could not now reach us, except by
turning the mountains or waiting for the falling of the flood.

We knew that that would be as sudden as its rise, should the rain cease;
but the storm still raged with unabated fury.

We could soon overtake the atajo; but we determined to remain for some
time at the canon, until men and horses had refreshed themselves by
eating. Both were in need of food, as the hurried events of the
preceding days had given no opportunity for a regular bivouac.

The fires were soon blazing under shelter of the overhanging rocks; and
the dried meat was broiled for our suppers, and eaten with sufficient
relish. Supper ended, we sat, with smoking garments, around the red
embers. Several of the men had received wounds. These were rudely
dressed by their comrades, the doctor having gone forward with the
atajo.

We remained for several hours by the canon. The tempest still played
aro