considerable
height above the level of the stream, though perhaps we shall be unable
to cross, we may camp near the edge of the cliffs, so that, at all
events, we shall be safe from attack on that side," I observed.

"Not so sure of that," said Mr Tidey. "The Indians may know of a path
up them which we may fail to discover, and if so, the cunning rascals
will be sure to take advantage of it and endeavour to surprise us,
besides which, some of our cattle and horses may chance to tumble over
it and break their necks. However, as we are aware of the dangers, we
may guard against them."

A few minutes after this, we found ourselves once more close to the
river.

"If you will hold my horse I will run along the brink of the precipice
and try to discover a way down to the water," I said; "there is no lack
of wood near the margin of the river, so if we can get down the cliffs
we shall be able to obtain both those necessary articles." Still the
cliffs were so steep, that I was almost in despair when I saw another
gully, similar to the one I had before passed. On examining it, greatly
to my satisfaction I found that it formed a deep notch as it were in the
precipice, and that not only could a person on foot descend by it with
the greatest ease to the river, but that even horses and cattle might
make their way to the water. I shouted to Mr Tidey, who, coming up,
agreed with me that we could not hope for a better place for camping.
We accordingly galloped back to the train, and soon brought the waggons
up to the spot, with which my father was perfectly satisfied. While the
rest of the party were employed in placing the waggons so as to form the
sides of a square, the cliffs and the gully serving as the two other
sides to our camp, Mr Tidey, Dan, and I set off to explore the gully,
for which purpose but little light now remained.

"Be cautious, boys, for that brushwood may conceal a lurking foe, though
I don't think a red-skin is likely to show himself when he sees three
rifles which may shoot him down if he does so," said the Dominie, as we
commenced our descent. We found that by cutting away the brushwood and
the trunks of a few trees we might form a road down to the level of the
river, and that we might at once lead the horses and oxen to water. It
was necessary, however, first to examine the foot of the cliff above
which we were encamped, that we might ascertain what security it would
afford us against a surprise fr