scaped me?" said the Beaver, scornfully; "there is not one of my young
men who would have been trifled with like that."

This he said in the Indian tongue, and there was a chorus of assenting
ejaculations.

"But the Apaches are blind dogs, and children," he went on, speaking
with bitter contempt. "They fight because they are so many that one
encourages the other, but they are not brave, and they are not warriors.
The young men of the Beaver-with-Sharp-Teeth are all warriors, and
laugh at the Apaches, for it takes fifty of them to fight one of my
braves."

He held up his hand to command silence after this, and then pointed out
into the plain.

"Can you see anything, Joses?" whispered Bart.

"Not a sign of anything but dry buffler grass and sage-brush. No; it's
of no use, Master Bart, I've only got four-mile eyes, and these Injun
have got ten-mile eyes. Natur's made 'em so, and it's of no use to
fight again it. 'Tis their natur to, and it arn't our natur to, so all
we can do is to use good medicine."

"Why, you don't think that physic would do our eyes any good, do you,
Joses?" whispered Bart.

"Physic, no! I said medicine," chuckled Joses.

"Well, what's the difference?" replied Bart.

"Difference enough. I meant Injun's medicine, as they call it. Didn't
the Beaver say that the master's glass was all good medicine? He
thought it was a sort of conjuring trick like their medicine-men do when
they are making rain come, or are driving out spirits, as they call it.
No; we can't help our eyes being queer, my lad, but we can use medicine
spy-glasses, and see farther than the Injun. Hold your tongue; he's
making signs."

For the Beaver had held up his hand again to command silence. Then he
drew Bart towards him, and pointed outwards.

"Apache dogs," he whispered. "Young chief Bart, see?"

"No," replied the lad, after gazing intently for some time; and then,
without a word, he glided off along the narrow, rocky, well-sheltered
path, and made his way to the Doctor, who, with his men, was upon the
_qui vive_.

"Well, Bart, what is it?" he said, eagerly.

"The Beaver can see Apaches on the plain."

"A night attack, eh?" said the Doctor. "Well, we shall be ready for
them. Why have you come--to give us warning?"

"I came first for the glass," replied Bart. "I'll send you notice if
they appear likely to attack, sir."

"Then I hope you will not have to send the notice, my lad," said the
Doctor, "for