the rest that they forgot their usual
cautious methods of approach, and at last gathered together, evidently
meaning to make a headlong rush.

This, the Beaver knew, meant that he and his man must be overpowered or
shot down before they could reach the pathway of the natural fort, so
cunning was brought to bear to give them time.

He knew that the Apaches would be sure to spend some few minutes in
firing, partly to distract their enemies and partly to give them the
cover of abundant smoke for their approach before they made their final
rush; and taking off his feather head-gear, he secured it with a couple
of stones so near the top of the rock which sheltered him and his
companion that the eagle plumes could be seen by the Apaches as they
gathered below.

His companion did the same, and as soon as this was done, they broke
away from their hiding-place, and ran a few yards over the soft, sandy
soil at the edge of the patch of forest, to some rocks, making deep
impressions with their moccasins. Then, taking a few bounds along the
hard rock, they found a suitable place, and there the Beaver bent down,
his follower leaped upon his shoulders, and he walked quickly backward
into the forest.

"And so made only one trail!" cried Bart, excitedly.

"And that one coming from the trees if the Apaches should find it," said
Joses, grinning. "Well, you are a clever one, Beaver, and no mistake."

To put the chiefs words in plain English:

"We had only just got into cover when we heard the firing begin very
sharply, and knowing that there was not a moment to lose, we backed
slowly in among the trees till it grew stony, and our moccasins made no
sign, and then my young man stepped down, and we crept from cover to
cover, stopping to listen to the yelling and howling of the dogs, when
they found only our feathers; and then we seemed to see them as they
rushed off over the plain, meaning to catch us before we were in safety.
But the dogs are like blind puppies. They have no sense. They could
not find our trail. They never knew that we were behind them in the
forest; and there we hid, making ourselves a strong place on the edge of
the canyon, where we could wait until they had gone; and when at last
they had gone, and all was safe, we came on, and we are here."

"They wouldn't have escaped you like that, would they, Beaver?" said
Bart, after shaking hands once more warmly, and telling him how glad he
was to see him back.

"E