ugh for that. If you killed off all
these Injun, you might do it for a time, but 'fore long a fresh lot
would have sprung up, and things would be as bad as ever. Seems to me
finding silver's as bad as keeping cattle. Come along, Master Bart. I
wish we had some of them salmon we speared."

"Never mind the salmon," said Bart, smiling; "we escaped with our
lives;" and leading the way, they were soon ensconced in their places,
watching the darkness creep over the plain like a thick veil, while the
great clusters of stars came out and shone through the clear air till
the sky was like frosted gold.

"Do you think the Apaches will come again to-night?" said Bart, after an
hour's silence.

"Can't say, my lad. No, I should say. Yes, I should say," he whispered
back; "and there they are."

As he spoke, he levelled his rifle at the first of two dusky figures
that had appeared out in the plain, rising as it were out of the earth;
but before he could fire, there was a hand laid upon his shoulder, and
another raised the barrel of his piece.

"Treachery!" shouted Joses. "Bart, Master Bart, quick--help!"

There was a fierce struggle for a few moments, and then Joses loosened
his hold and uttered an exclamation full of vexed impatience.

"It's all right, Master Bart," he cried. "Here, give us your hand, old
Speak English," he added, clapping the interpreter on the shoulder,
"it's of no use for us English to think of seeing like you, Injun."

"What does all this mean, Joses?" whispered Bart, excitedly, for it
seemed marvellous that two Indians should be allowed to come up to their
stronghold unmolested.

"Why, don't you see, my lad," cried Joses, "Beaver and his chap arn't
dead after all. There they are down yonder; that's them."

Bart leaped up, and forgetful of the proximity of enemies, waved his cap
and shouted: "Beaver, ahoy! hurrah!"

The two Indians responded with a cheery whoop, and ran up to the rocks,
while Bart communicated the news to the Doctor and his fellow-guardians
of the gate, where the lad pushed himself to the front, so as to be the
first to welcome the chief back to their stronghold--a welcome the more
warm after the belief that had been current since his non-return.

The Doctor's grasp was so friendly that the chief seemed almost moved,
and nodding quietly in his dignified way, he seated himself in silence
to partake of the refreshments pressed upon him by his friends.

"The Apache dogs must l