t all. He was
not discommoded by rifle or pistol, and could not have been better
prepared for climbing.

He felt as yet no fatigue, and resumed his work as soon as he was ready.
If he continued to find projections such as he had found thus far, there
was no reason why he should not reach the level ground above in safety.
As an evidence of how fate sometimes plays fast and loose with us, it is
certain that Hank Hazletine entered the cavern while his young friend
was climbing the wall overhead, without either dreaming of the actual
situation.

Fred Greenwood, at the beginning of his climb for liberty, was subjected
to a peculiar peril. He had rested but a moment, when he was seized with
an extraordinary "panicky" feeling. He was sure that Motoza was standing
on the ledge below, peering upward in the gloom, and holding his rifle
ready to fire at him on the instant he could make his aim certain.

Like all such emotions, it was opposed to common sense. According to his
belief it was out of the power of the Sioux to obtain the most shadowy
glimpse of him, and the youth ought to have felt as secure against being
picked off as if in his home, hundreds of miles away; but the feeling
for a time was uncontrollable, and, yielding to it, he began frantically
climbing, never abating his efforts until he had gone fully fifty feet
higher. By that time he was all a-tremble, and so weak that he was
forced to pause for rest. Thus far he had been extremely fortunate in
meeting with no difficulty, the projections affording abundant support
for hands and feet. Moreover, he had again attained a ledge where he was
able to sustain himself with comparative ease.

He paused, panting, trembling and exhausted. Thrusting out his head as
far as was safe, he looked downward. Nothing but impenetrable gloom met
his eye. He could hear the torrent rushing against the rocks and
boulders in its path, and flinging itself against the walls of the
canyon, but he could distinguish nothing, and his strong sense now came
to his rescue.

"If he is down there he cannot see me; he will not dream I have started
to climb the wall, and therefore will not follow. If he does, he must
appear below me, and I will kick him loose the minute I see him. How
foolish to be afraid!"

In a few minutes his nerves became calmer, but he began to realize the
nature of the terrifying task before him. There was no thought of
retreat on his part, and he was determined to keep on,