d set
it. The square of soiled and faded cotton had failed to tempt the
cupidity of the savages, who knew that in the waggons they had captured
were hundreds of such, clean and new, with far richer spoil besides.

"S'pose we still try that path, Frank. It may lead us to the top arter
all. If they've bin up it they've long ago gone down agin; I kin tell
by thar yelpin' around the waggons. They've got holt of our corn afore
this; and won't be so sharp in lookin' arter us."

"Agreed," said Hamersley.

Without further delay the two scrambled out through the aperture, and,
creeping along the ledge, once more stood in the hollow of the ravine,
at the point of its separation into the forks that had perplexed them in
their ascent. Perhaps, after all, they had chosen the right one. At
the time of their first flight, had they succeeded in reaching the plain
above, they would surely have been seen and pursued; though with
superior swiftness of foot they might still have escaped.

Once more they faced upward, by the slope of the ravine yet untried.

On passing it, Walt laid hold of his "clout," as he called it, and
replaced it, turban fashion, on his head.

"I can only weesh," he said, "I ked as convenient rekiver my rifle; an',
darn me, but I would try, ef it war only thar still. It ain't, I know.
Thet air piece is too precious for a Injun to pass by. It's gone back
to the waggons."

They could now more distinctly hear the shouts of their despoilers; and,
as they continued the ascent, the narrow chine in the cliff opened
between them and the plain, giving them a glimpse of what was there
going on.

They could see the savages--some on foot, others on horseback--the
latter careering round as if engaged in a tournament.

They saw they were roystering, wild with triumph, and maddened with
drink--the fire-water they had found in the waggons.

"Though they be drunk, we mustn't stay hyar so nigh 'em," muttered Walt.
"I allers like to put space atween me and seech as them. They mout get
some whimsey into their heads, an' come this ways. They'll take any
amount o' trouble to raise ha'r; an' maybe grievin' that they hain't got
ourn yit, an' mout think they'd hev another try for it. As the night's
bound to be a mooner, we can't git too far from 'em. So let's out o'
this quick's we kin."

"On, then!" said Hamersley, assenting; and the next moment the two were
rapidly ascending the gorge, Wilder leading the way.

Thi