or another simultaneous rush. The purpose of
these dashes was twofold: While one or two men might be killed in the
advance, the whole party was nearer the object of attack at the finish,
and the defenders were demoralized by the hopelessness of all
resistance. For the silent rising of naked, paint-daubed Indians from
out of the ground, the quick closing in of the cordon, similar to the
turn of a lariat around a snubbing-post when a pony weakens for a
moment, is calculated to shake the nerves of the strongest of
Indian-fighters.

In the breathing-space which the Apaches had given them Jack, who had
resigned himself to die, took a new grip on life. His dream of
atonement had worked out better than he had planned. Selling his life
bravely fighting in a good cause was far, far better than ending it by
his own hand. It was a man's death. Fate had befriended him in the
end.

Reaching his hand out to Dick, he touched his shoulder, rousing him
from a stupor into which he was sinking.

"Quick, Dick, they're coming closer. Go," he ordered. "Don't be a
fool, only one of us can escape. One of us alone. Let it be you,
Dick, go back to her, back to home and happiness."

Dick struggled to a sitting posture, offering a fair target for the
Indian hidden behind the ledge on the cliff trail. The Apache took
full advantage and fired, but missed. Dick returned the shot with his
revolver before the warrior could sink back behind the rock. The
Apache lurched forward in his death-blindness, with the last convulsive
obedience of the muscles ere the will flees. Then his legs crumpled up
beneath him and he toppled forward off the ledge. His breech-clout
caught in a rocky projection, causing the body to hang headlong against
the side of the cliff. His rifle fell from his nerveless hands,
clattering and breaking on the rocks below.

The sight served as a tonic to Dick. His success braced his strength
and will. The old battle-spirit surged over him. Only with an effort
did he suppress the desire to laugh and shout. He would have left Jack
to fight it out alone but a minute before, but the one shot drove all
such ideas from his mind.

"No. I'll be damned if I'll go!" he shouted. "I'll stay and fight
with you," and, seizing his rifle joined Jack in stopping a rush of the
Apaches.

"We stopped them that time," Jack cried, with satisfaction. In the
lull he again urged his comrade to escape to the horse and return to
Echo.