there, at the bottom of the
narrow rift between the mass of fallen rock and the mountain, was the
pale lemon-tinted horizon, with a few streaks above it flecking the
early morning sky and telling of the coming day.

"The canyon will look glorious when the sun is up," said Bart to
himself; "but I don't see any game about, and--oh!--"

_Click_--_click_--_click_--_click_ went the locks of his double rifle as
he came suddenly upon a sight which seemed to freeze his blood, forcing
him to stand still and gaze wildly upon what was before him.

Then the thought of self-preservation stepped in, and as if from the
lessons taught of the Indians, he sprang to shelter, sheltering himself
behind a block of stone, his rifle ready, and covering every spot in
turn that seemed likely to contain the cruel enemy that had done this
deed.

For there before him--but flat upon his back, his arms outstretched, his
long lance beneath him--lay one of the friendly Indians, while his
companion lay half raised upon his side, as if he had dragged himself a
short distance so as to recline with his head upon a piece of rock. His
spear was across his legs, and it was very evident that he had been like
this for some time after receiving his death wound.

For both were dead, the morning light plainly showing that in their
hideous glassy eyes, without the terrible witness of the pool of blood
that had trickled from their gaping wounds.

Bart shuddered and felt as if a hand of ice were grasping his heart.
Then a fierce feeling of rage came over him, and his eyes flashed as he
looked round for the treacherous enemies who had done this deed.

He looked in vain, and at last he stole cautiously out of his
lurking-place; then forgot his caution, and ran to where the Indians
lay, forgetting, in his eagerness to help them, the horrors of the
scene.

But he could do nothing, for as he laid his hand upon the breast of each
in turn, it was to find that their hearts had ceased to beat, and they
were already cold.

Racing back to the camp, he spread his news, and the Beaver and his
little following ran off to see for themselves the truth of his story,
after which they mounted, and started to find the trail of the
treacherous murderers of their companions, while during their absence
the Doctor examined the two slaughtered Indians, and gave it as his
opinion that they had both been treacherously stabbed from behind.

It was past mid-day before the Beaver re