as that in the rear; indeed, there seemed to be
no choice between the two.

"Well, we're treed," remarked the lieutenant.

"I should say we were shelved," answered the captain, with a faint
smile.

"We're in a bad box," added the sergeant. "What's to do?"

"I think we might tackle that blockade in the rear, and thus open the
way to join the rest of the regiment. Then, if Colonel Lyon says so,
we'll clear the blockade ahead." The captain spoke thus of Colonel Lyon,
for that officer once more occupied his position with the Riverlawns,
having just about recovered, but no more.

With extreme caution Captain Abbey advanced to the landslide in the
rear, and managed, with his lieutenant's aid, to reach the ground just
above the blockade. It was shaky and uncertain, and he sank into the
sand up to his ankles.

"If we had a lever of some sort we might pry those rocks over the edge
of the cliff," he observed. "I don't believe much more would come down
outside of sand and small stones, and that we could shovel away. Let us
try to find a pole, or--Hullo, Major!" he added, suddenly, "how did you
get here?"

"Climbed up from the other side of the fallen mass," answered Major Deck
Lyon, for the new arrival was he. "Here's a pretty how-do-you-do, eh?"

"That's right, Major. I was just saying we might pry these rocks off
with a heavy pole, if we had the pole."

"I thought as much, Captain, and have already sent back for the heaviest
wagon pole the train possesses," responded Deck. "It will be here as
soon as the boys can bring it up. The problem will be, can we get enough
strength on one end of the lever to move the weight at the other end?"

"The boys are strong, if only they can get a hold."

"But they may not be able to get a hold,--in which case we'll have to
try some other plan. To be sure, the men might climb back in this
direction, but that won't be saving the horses, or opening the trail
again," concluded Deck.

The problem on foot interested him, and as soon as the heavy wagon pole
put into appearance he had it slid up on the rocks, and one end was
inserted between the largest of the boulders, and that next to it. The
major, captain, and sergeant tugged with might and main, but the upper
stone did not budge, and it looked as if ten men could not do the work.

"I reckon that rock is there to stay," remarked Captain Abbey, as he
wiped the perspiration from his face. "This is nigger's work; and I'm
done."

Deck