its bottom, among the weeds and cacti, a huge dog was engaged in
tearing something that screamed and struggled. It was a man, an Indian.
All was explained at a glance. The dog was Alp; the man was my late
antagonist!

As I came upon the edge, the dog was on the top of his adversary, and
kept himself uppermost by desperate bounds from side to side, still
dashing the other back as he attempted to rise to his feet. The savage
was crying in despair. I thought I saw the teeth of the animal fast in
his throat, but I watched the struggle no longer. Voices from behind
caused me to turn round. My pursuers had reached the canon, and were
urging their animals along the ledge.

I staggered to my horse, and, springing upon his back, once more
directed him to the terrace--that part which led outward. In a few
minutes I had cleared the cliff and was hurrying down the mountain. As
I approached its foot I heard a rustling in the bushes that on both
sides lined the path. Then an object sprang out a short distance behind
me. It was the Saint Bernard.

As he came alongside he uttered a low whimper and once or twice wagged
his tail. I knew not how he could have escaped, for he must have waited
until the Indians reached the platform; but the fresh blood that stained
his jaws, and clotted the shaggy hair upon his breast, showed that he
had left one with but little power to detain him.

On reaching the plain I looked back. I saw my pursuers coming down the
face of the sierra; but I had still nearly half a mile of start, and,
taking the snowy mountain for my guide, I struck out into the open
prairie.

CHAPTER FIFTY FOUR.

AN UNEXPECTED RENCONTRE.

As I rode off from the mountain foot, the white peak glistened at a
distance of thirty miles. There was not a hillock between: not a brake
or bush, excepting the low shrubs of the artemisia.

It was not yet noon. Could I reach the snowy mountain before sunset?
If so, I trusted in being able to follow our old trail to the mine.
Thence, I might keep on to the Del Norte, by striking a branch of the
Paloma or some other lateral stream. Such were my plans, undefined as I
rode forth.

I knew that I should be pursued almost to the gates of El Paso; and,
when I had ridden forward about a mile, a glance to the rear showed me
that the Indians had just reached the plain, and were striking out after
me.

It was no longer a question of speed. I knew that I had the heels of
their w