four hoofs
ploughed the sand. He wheeled on a pivot and rode back for a few yards,
scanning the ground, letting the wolf go. The stillness that had settled
while we gazed and the file of warriors, reining, gazed, gripped and
fairly hurt. I cursed the youth. Would to God he had stayed at home--God
grant that mangy wolf died by trap or poison. Our one chance made the
sport of an accidental view-halloo, when all the wide desert was open.

The youth had halted again, leaning from his saddle pad. He raised, he
flung up glad hand and commenced to ride in circles, around and around and
around. The band galloped to him.

"Yes, he has found it," she said. "Now they will come."

"What shall we do?" I asked her.

And she answered, releasing my hand.

"I don't know. But we must wait. We can stand them off for a while, I
suppose----"

"I'll do my best, with the revolver," I promised.

"Yes," she murmured. "But after that----?"

I had no reply. This contingency--we two facing Indians--was outside my
calculations.

The Indians had grouped; several had dismounted, peering closely at our
trail, reading it, timing it, accurately estimating it. They had no
difficulty, for the hoof prints were hardly dried of the fog moisture. The
others sat idly, searching the horizons with their eyes, but at confident
ease. In the wide expanse this rock fortress of ours seemed to me to
summon imperatively, challenging them. They surely must know. Yet there
they delayed, torturing us, playing blind, emulating cat and mouse; but of
course they were reasoning and making certain.

Now the dismounted warriors vaulted ahorse; at a gesture from the chief
two men rode aside, farther to the east, seeking other sign. They found
none, and to his shrill hail they returned.

There was another command. The company had strung bows, stripped their
rifles of the buckskin sheaths, had dropped robe and blanket about their
loins; they spread out to right and left in close skirmish order; they
advanced three scouts, one on the trail, one on either flank; and in a
broadened front they followed with a discipline, an earnestness, a
precision of purpose and a deadly anticipation that drowned every fleeting
hope.

This was unbearable: to lie here awaiting an inevitable end.

"Shall we make a break for it?" I proposed. "Ride and fight? We might
reach the train, or a stage station. Quick!"

In my wild desire for action I half arose. Her hand restrained me.

"It w