with what a whing they can send an
arrow."

"I didn't know that," said Chris thoughtfully.

"Didn't you, now?" said Griggs mockingly. "I shouldn't wonder if there
are two or three more things that you haven't found out yet. But, as I
was saying, you ought to have been a dead one over that job, squire.
The redskins meant you; but they got the worst of it. I say, though, I
could teach you a-many things."

"Well, you have taught me many things in shooting and fishing and
hunting."

"Well, yes, a few," said the American coolly; "but they're just about
nothing to what you could teach me."

"I?" cried Chris, staring at him in wonder. "Why, what could I teach
you that you don't know?"

"How to tumble over a cliff like that without doing yourself any worse
damage than making a few scratches, tearing your jacket, and getting
yourself full of dust."

They had been tramping together across the head of the valley as they
talked about their experiences, with Chris keeping a keen lookout ahead
for the first glimpse of his father, and giving an occasional look up
towards the edge of the cliff, which he noted was wonderfully broken up
into hollows and prominences, rifts and gorges that had been invisible
from a distance, and all overhung by a level band of apparently
impassable rock. But during the last few minutes of their chat they had
been so deeply interested that neither had glanced upward to their
right, and the first warning they had of danger was given in a quick
sharp shout in the doctor's familiar voice.

"Ah, look out!" he cried, and followed up his words by firing; but
before the bullet left his rifle Chris heard a loud whirring and saw his
companion start violently before stooping down a few yards away to pick
a little arrow from where it had stuck in the ground.

"That's not bad shooting," said Griggs coolly. "Hit him, doctor?"

"Yes," said the latter, hurrying up to catch Chris's hand.

"My boy! my boy!" he cried in a choking voice which prevented him from
saying more.

But he seemed to give himself a wrench directly after, to speak out
plainly and with decision.

"You must keep a sharper lookout, Griggs," he cried. "You forget that
we are within range of their arrows."

"I shall remember in future, doctor," said the American dryly.

"Did that arrow touch you?" said the doctor anxiously.

"Went right through the leg of my boot, sir," said Griggs coolly.

"But it did not graze you? Why, man,