ght towards the
mountain range. They were on the crest of a high roll of ground, and
could see for miles in some directions, except as the view was cut off
by patches and strips of forest.

"Look! 'Pache!"

All that at first appeared to Sile's eyes were some moving black spots;
but now he was able to show Two Arrows another of the advantages of a
civilized man over a savage. Slung from his left shoulder was a small
leathern case, and Two Arrows watched him closely while he opened it,
took out something silver-mounted and handsome and put it to his eyes.
Such things had been much discussed in his hearing, and he knew it was
the "long eye of the pale-faces;" but he had no faith in it until Sile
made him try it.

"There they are; six of 'em," said Sile. "Then look away down yonder and
you'll see some more."

"No see us," said Two Arrows. "Come! Heap bad."

So it was, for the dreaded strangers were between them and the
mountains. For all they knew, they might have ridden past others unseen,
and these might intercept their return. Sile was only a white boy, and
in an instant he understood that the young chief was the "captain" of
their squad of two.

Two Arrows seemed to have the same notion instinctively, for anybody
could read the look of blank uncertainty upon Sile's face. His binocular
spy-glass could help him see farther and more accurately than the best
pair of Indian eyes in the world, but it could not tell him what to do
next.

"Come!" said Two Arrows, as he led his pony back down the slope and
towards the forest that skirted the river. This was less than half a
mile away, but the horses were not mounted until both were well under
cover of it. It struck Sile that they might safely ride homeward along
the stream, but Nez Perce training and caution forbade any such risk as
that. Even the operation of reaching the bank might be full of peril,
for nobody could guess at what moment they might stumble upon Apache
warriors, and no others were at all likely to be there. It was most
unlikely, however, that their enemies were advancing upon both sides of
the water, and as soon as Two Arrows reached it he rode in. It was a
wide and therefore shallow place, easily forded, and Sile breathed more
freely as soon as he was under the shade of the woods beyond. His guide
and captain pushed right on until they were out in a comparatively open
reach of country, and then he turned to Sile, his whole face gleaming
with uncontrol