yards, and at last came to a perpendicular shaft of sandstone
twenty feet high, with a flat top. The diameter of the shaft was about
fifty feet.

"Henry could not have come up here, or he never would have set us to
attempt an impossibility," said Frank, as his eyes ran up and down
the rock.

"Perhaps it may not be so impossible as it appears," I replied. "Let
us walk round the butte."

We passed to the right, and, having found a practicable place for
attempting the ascent, accomplished the feat in a few moments.

On the flat summit we found the remains of former fires that had
undoubtedly been lighted as signals. The view was grand and extensive.
Directly to the north lay many verdant valleys--grazing-grounds of the
nomadic Navajos. One of these valleys lay at the foot of the mountain
upon which we stood, with a bright stream of water crossing its hither
border. Well out in the valley were several flocks of sheep and goats,
and close to the opposite side of the brook was a herd of ponies.

After Frank had looked long and anxiously towards the flocks and
herds, he said: "Those specks near the ponies must be men, I suppose.
I wonder if Henry is among them? Shall I make the signal?"

"Not yet. It is not yet noon. Let us lie down among these rocks,
where we shall be less conspicuous, and use the field-glass."

"Tell me what you see, sir, if you please."

"There are five large flocks of sheep in the charge of a lot of women,
some mounted and some on foot. The pony herd, which must number
several hundred, is in charge of three naked Indians--boys, I think.
There are no other persons in sight. Take a look for yourself."

Frank accepted the glass and surveyed the valley. "I can see nothing
that looks like Henry," he said. "He certainly cannot be there. Why
are those boys so ghostly white?"

"They are covered with yeso to protect them from sunburn."

"Oh yes--whitewash."

"Gypsum. The Mexicans use it for whitewash, and to preserve the
complexion."

"Well, those boys must have plastered it on thick; they look like
living statues. Not a rag on them except 'breech-clouts.' Hello, there
comes a troop around that mound to the right. Must be two hundred
men."

Taking the glass, I looked again. Coming into sight from the opposite
side of an elevation on the farther side of the valley was a party of
two hundred and fifteen Navajo warriors. They rode to each flock of
sheep in succession, stopped near the women a few mom