ey would know that we should keep careful
watch during the night, but they were very likely to fancy that while
breakfasting we should be off our guard, and that they might then take
us by surprise. If so, they were disappointed. We rode steadily on, we
Whites keeping together, while the Indians on their active mustangs,
scouted on either side, their keen eyes searching every thicket and bush
for a concealed enemy.

"Can they be trusted?" asked Dick of Armitage.

"They will lose the reward I engaged to give them, should they prove
treacherous," was the answer, "and Pierre considers them honest."

"I cannot help suspecting that they are very sure no enemy is near, by
the way they are showing off," observed Story.

"They behaved as well as men could do, when we were last attacked,"
remarked Charley, who way always ready to stick up for the Indians, of
whom he had a great admiration. I agreed with Jack, but at the same
time I did not wish to disparage our gallant-looking allies.

While we were speaking two of them came up and addressed Pierre in their
own language which he understood thoroughly.

"They say that they have caught sight of a mounted war-party, who are,
they think, trying to steal upon us round yonder wood, and take us by
surprise," said Pierre.

"We'll be prepared for them then, my friends!" exclaimed Dick; "but
we'll ride on as we have been going, and not dismount until they show
themselves; we shall then be able to turn the tables on them. You all
know what you have to do; but remember again, our powder is running
short; don't throw a shot away."

"Ay, ay, captain," was the reply from all of us, for we had given Dick a
title he well deserved although the Lords of the Admiralty had not thus
favoured him.

Our scouts on the left flank now drew in closer to us, they having made
up their minds that we should be attacked on that side. Almost ahead--
or, as Dick called it, on our starboard bow--was a clump of trees,
backed by rocky ground. It would assist at all events to protect us, on
one side. We accordingly directed our course towards it. Anyone seeing
us riding along would not have supposed that we were well aware of a
powerful body of enemies being close to us, as we might have been seen
laughing and joking, one of the party occasionally breaking out into a
jovial song.

Our behaviour encouraged our allies, and should the enemy have perceived
us, it would have made them suppose that we w