t the
Indians assumed there had been a camp there and that the campers had
departed, but had they made as close observations as when on a trail
they would have made discoveries that would have suggested the near
presence of the late campers.

Creedon had as far as possible destroyed all signs when raking out the
fire of a recent encampment, but an experienced and alert eye can detect
the truth despite these little tricks.

Desmond saw the Indians: they were a hard-looking lot, the worst
specimens he had ever beheld, and they were assassins at sight, as he
determined. He was secure from observation, but it was necessary to warn
his comrades, who were in different crevices, and at that moment Creedon
actually snored. He was in the crevice adjoining the one where Desmond
had taken refuge.

The Indians were too far away to overhear the snore, but it was possible
the man might awake and step forth; then, as Desmond feared, the fight
would commence. He did not desire a fight; he might think the chances
would be with his party, as only two of the Indians had rifles, but then
if even one of their own party were kicked over it would be a sad
disaster.

The lad meditated some little time and studied the conditions. He
crawled into his crevice, and, lo, he saw a lateral breakaway. He might
gain Creedon's berth, as he called it, without chancing an outside
steal. Fortune favored him; Creedon's crevice was one of several rents
in the rock, and he managed to reach the sleeper's foot, and he
cautiously touched it, fearing at the moment that Creedon in his
surprise might make an outcry or an inquiry in a loud tone, but here he
learned a lesson in woodcraft. Creedon did not make an outcry; he awoke
and cautiously investigated, and soon discovered that Desmond had
touched him and was seeking to communicate with him. He demanded in a
whisper:

"What is it, lad?"

"There are Indians in the gulch."

"Aha! where?"

"Down where we were camped last night."

"You keep low and I will take a peep."

Desmond could afford to let Creedon take a peep. The woodsman did peep
and took in the situation, and he said:

"You are smaller than I am; does the rent where you are run to the berth
where Brooks is sleeping?"

"It may; I will find out and go slow; we don't want a fight if we can
help it, but we've got the dead bulge on those redskins if we have to
fight."

CHAPTER III.

CREEDON'S KNOWLEDGE OF WOODCRAFT--THE REDMEN'S
DEPA