I don't like fighting in the dark."

As he spoke he handed the glass, and Bart returned to the gallery.

"Are they still there?" he whispered.

"Yes; Apache dogs," was the reply. "Good medicine."

"They won't find it so," growled Joses, "if they come close up here, for
my rifle has got to be hungry again. I'm 'bout tired of not being left
peaceable and alone, and my rifle's like me--it means to bite."

As he crouched there muttering and thinking of the narrow escapes they
had had, Bart carefully focussed the glass, no easy task in the deep
gloom that surrounded them; and after several tries he saw something
which made him utter an ejaculation full of wonder.

"What is it, my lad?" whispered Joses.

"The young chief sees the Apache dogs?" said the interpreter.

"Yes," exclaimed Bart; "the plain swarms with them."

"Then they're gathering for a big attack in the morning," said Joses.
"Are they mounted?"

"Yes, all of them. I can just make them out crossing the plain."

"Well, their horses are only good to run away on," growled Joses; "they
can't ride up this mountain. Let me have a look, my lad."

Bart handed the glass, and Joses took a long, eager look through, at the
gathering of Apache warriors.

"I tell you what," he said, "we shall have to look out or they'll drive
off every head of cattle and every leg of horse. They're as cunning as
cunning, I don't care what any one says, and some of these days we shall
open our eyes and find ourselves in a pretty mess."

"The Apache dogs shall not have the horses," said the Beaver fiercely.

"That's right; don't let 'em have them," cried Joses. "I don't want 'em
to go; but here's one thing I should like answered--How are we going to
find 'em in pasture with all these wild beasts hanging about, ready to
swoop down and make a stampede of it, and drive them off?"

"The Beaver's young men will drive the horses and cattle out," said the
Beaver, in tones of quiet confidence, "and bring them back again quite
safe."

"If you can do that," said Joses, "perhaps we can hold out; but it don't
seem likely that we shall get much salmon from down in the canyon
yonder, which is a pity, for I've took to quite longing for a bit of
that; and if the Apache don't take care, I shall have some yet."

CHAPTER THIRTY FOUR.

HARD PRESSED.

Day broke, and the sun rose, displaying a sight that disheartened many
of the occupants of the rock; for far out on the plain, and well