an to crash through it. Presently a
broad deep river came in view. There was no looking for a ford, no
checking the pace. In they went with sounding plunge, as if water were
their native element, breasted the foaming tide, and gaining the
opposite bank, went steadily forward.

Thus on they sped, over hill and dale, all that night, for the moon was
bright in a cloudless sky, and part of next day. Then Dick made a
sudden halt and dismounted, to examine something on the ground.
Footprints of Indian horses--four of them--going in the direction of his
dwelling!

Dick rose, and his strong brows were knitted, and his lips firmly
pressed together. For a moment or two he pondered, then he told his
horse to follow him, and, dropping the bridle, set off at a rapid walk,
keeping steadily on the tracks, and stooping now and then to examine
them when the nature of the ground rendered them less discernible. Thus
he retraced his course for about a mile, when he stopped and muttered,
"No doubt o't. Them reptiles niver come to these diggins but when they
want to pay me a visit."

As he said this he remounted his horse and sat for a minute or two
undecided. It was hard to give up his purpose; but it was impossible to
leave his cavern defenceless with Mary in it, and the certainty that
savages were hunting it out. That thought settled the matter. He shook
the reins, and back they flew again towards the cave, at a much quicker
pace than they had hitherto maintained.

The result was that Dick gained the entrance of his ravine just two
hours later than the savages, and in time to superintend personally the
hospitalities of his own dwelling. Riding quickly up to the head of the
gorge, he dismounted and ascended the pathway to his cave with giant
strides and a beating heart, for Dick thought of Mary, and the words
"too late" _would_ whizz about in his brain.

The Indians were still sitting round the fire enjoying themselves when
March and Mary, to their unutterable surprise, beheld Dick stride
through the low doorway of the cave, raise himself to his full height,
and stand before the stricken invaders, absolutely blazing with wrath.
His eyes, his hair, his beard, his glistening teeth, seemed each
individually imbued with indignation.

The Indians did not move--they could not move--they simply sat and
stared; and thus both parties continued for a quarter of a minute.

Mary used that short time well. She knew exactly what to d