ded, with a pitiful little laugh, "The Indians
couldn't get down--those who were shot did. And so did I; but only
after two awful tumbles. Why, it must be a wonder that I am alive. But
it killed my poor nag."

Chris did not talk to himself, but his brain was very active, and he
wondered a good deal why it was, as he kept on threading his way over
and under stones, with the water acting as guide--why it was that he
heard no more calls.

"It must be," he thought, "that they are quite behind me, while I'm
making my way across the end of the valley, so that I shall come out
somewhere near the opposite side--if I ever do get out, for the place
gets narrower and darker the farther I go."

Chris had good cause to complain, for from climbing over blocks of stone
he had to begin creeping under and between pieces so closely set that
there were times when he was ready to give up in despair, and at last
the end of his journey seemed to have arrived. For he was brought up
short at the mouth of a cavern-like place where the sound of trickling
water grew louder and was accompanied by a peculiar whispering echo
sounding horribly strange and mysterious, coming as it did out of black
darkness.

It took a strong effort to enter the place, but the lad had grown
desperate. He was conscious that whatever difficulty there was to
encounter he must face it, so bending down and feeling his way by the
rough rocky wall, he stepped on very slowly and cautiously, for the
flooring of the cavern-like place was of loose stones, beneath which he
could hear the water running faster as if nearing its exit, and he knew
that if he could not find the opening where the spring ran into the
valley, he could come back, for the hidden stream would still be his
guide.

He had just comforted himself with this thought--a most welcome one
where all was black--when it seemed to him that there was a dull
suggestion of light not far ahead, and he took a few more cautious steps
with his hands telling him startling news, for he found that the roof
was rapidly getting lower, and a few yards farther he had to stoop.

But it was lighter, and hence it was that a little farther on he did not
hesitate to crawl, while before he had progressed many feet farther he
had to drag himself over the rough stones, which vibrated now from the
water flowing about their bases, and then as he dragged himself out into
the full light of day it was into the rocky channel of a stream