s utter helplessness. He could hear the
pony strike out again and the stones the poor beast dislodged go
clattering down, and then there was a peculiar rushing sound, and small
broken pieces and earth began to fall near him, making him strain his
eyes once more to see whence they came.

He knew the next moment, for a shout reached his ears, coming from
above, and the legs of an Indian passed into sight, then the whole of
his body, as more stones crumbled down, and as the boy watched he made
out plainly enough that one of his enemies had lowered himself down,
crept sidewise, and had just reached a ledge far above him and a little
on one side, where he was busy settling himself in a sitting position
before drawing his bow from his back and proceeding to fit an arrow to
the string.

The look of triumph in the man's painted face was clear enough in the
bright morning air. His teeth glistened as he smiled, and Chris clung
still not daring to move, but ready to smile as the thought occurred
even then, Why shouldn't I let go and fall, so as to disappoint this
malicious savage of his attempt to slay?

But it was all like a terrible waking dream to Chris, who lay there
conscious of the fact that several of the man's comrades were peering
over the edge of the cliff watching his efforts and now waiting to see
the successful shot.

It seemed a long time after the nock of the arrow was fitted to the
sinew string before, setting his feet against a stone and his back
firmly against the perpendicular at the back of the shelf he had gained,
the Indian fixed his eyes on his victim and deliberately drew the arrow
to the head.

But the effort made in a very critical position caused one foot to slip
a little, and slackening the string, the savage shifted his foot, and as
soon as he had satisfied himself that he was not likely to slip and
plunge headlong down into the valley, he drew the arrow to the head
again.

But once more, as with starting eyes Chris watched for the loosing of
the shaft, there was a check in the proceedings. For, after lying quite
still for some minutes, the pony uttered a loud neigh and began to kick
and paw at the stones amongst which he lay, sending a fresh avalanche
down into the valley.

The Indian started like a wild beast at the sound, and his sharp eyes
were turned to gaze downward as he reached out a little. But apparently
satisfied that the sound was not the prelude to an attack, he once more
set