shadowed as it was by trees, had a beautifully
peaceful appearance as seen against the broad light of day.

All at once there was a loud yell, betokening the fact that the entrance
to the chimney had been seen, and directly after a couple of Indians
leaped in and began to climb.

Bart's and the Beaver's rifles seemed to make but one report, when the
narrow chasm was filled with the vapour of exploded gunpowder, and the
two Indians fell back.

"Climb," whispered the Beaver; and Bart led the way, the chief keeping
close behind him, till they were on the heels of the rest of the party,
who had halted to see if they could be of use.

The entry was now hidden, and they stopped to listen, just as the
successive reports of three rifles came echoing up in company with the
curious pattering noise made by the bullets, which seemed as if they
glanced here and there against the stones, sending fragments rattling
down, but doing no farther harm, for the fugitives were not in the line
of the shooters' sight.

The retreat went on, with the Beaver and Joses taking it in turn to
remain behind at a corner of the rift or some barrier of rock to keep
the Apaches in check, for they kept coming fiercely on. Now and then
they were checked by a shot, but in that dark narrow pass there was but
little opportunity for firing, and the chief thing aimed at was retreat.

The top was reached at last, and as they neared it, to Bart's great
delight, he found that there was a strong party there, headed by the
Doctor, who had heard the firing, and came to his followers' relief.

The main thing to decide now was how to hold the Apaches in check while
a retreat was made to the mountain, where all was right, the horses and
cattle being in their strong places, and every one on the alert.

The Beaver decided the matter by undertaking, with one of his men, to
keep the Apaches from getting to the top till their friends had reached
the rock, where they were to be ready to cover his retreat.

The Doctor made a little demur at first, but the chief insisted, and
after an attempt on the part of the Apaches at fighting their way up had
been met by a sharp volley, the whole party, saving the Beaver and one
follower, retreated to the rock fortress, where they speedily manned all
the points of defence, and waited eagerly for the coming of the chief.
But to Bart's horror he did not come, while simultaneously there was a
shout from the Doctor and another from Jo