the corral,
and that means there's something wrong as sure as can be. Injun smells
danger long before it comes. There's no deceiving them."

"Let's go and see him, Joses," cried Bart; and, shouldering their
rifles, they walked past the drawn-up rows of empty waggons, whose
stores were all high up on the mountain.

As they reached the entrance to the corral the Indians had driven in the
last pair of oxen, while the horses and mules were already in their
hiding-place.

"Did the Doctor order this?" asked Bart.

"Not he, sir: he's busy up above looking at the silver they dug out
while we were down in the canyon. It's all the Beaver's doing, Master
Bart, and you may take it for granted there's good cause for it all."

"Ah, Beaver," said Bart, as the chief came out of the corral, "why is
this?"

"Indian dog. Apache," said the chief, pointing out towards the plain.

Bart turned sharply round and gazed in the indicated direction, but he
could see nothing, neither could Joses.

The Beaver smiled with a look of superior wisdom.

"The Beaver-with-Sharp-Teeth," said the interpreter, coming up, "hears
the Indian dog, the enemies of his race, on the wind; and he will not
stampede the horses and cattle, but leave the bones of his young men
upon the plain."

"But where are the Apaches?" cried Bart. "Oh, he means, Joses, that
they are out upon the plain, and that it is wise to be ready for them."

"Yes; he means that they are out upon the plain, and that they are
coming to-night, my lad," said Joses. Then, turning to the chief, he
patted the lock of his rifle meaningly, and the chief nodded, and said,
"Yes."

"Come," he said directly after, and he led the frontiersman and Bart to
the entrance of the stable, where his followers were putting the last
stones in position. Then he took them to the corral, which was also
thoroughly well secured with huge stones; and the Indians now took up
their rifles, and resuming their ordinary sombre manner, stood staring
indifferently about them.

Just then there was a loud hail, and turning quickly round, Bart saw the
Doctor waving his hand to them to join him.

"Indians are on the plains," exclaimed the Doctor. "I saw them from the
top of the castle,"--he had taken to calling the mountain rock "the
castle,"--"with the glass. They are many miles away, but they may be
enemies, and we must be prepared. Get the horses secured, Joses; and
you, interpreter, ask the Beaver to see t