en I went to sleep and dropped down, and they picked
me up and made me walk again, and then I was asleep once more, and
that's all. Ah, they bite fine and sharp, Master Bart, and I don't want
any more of it, and so I tell you."

By this time they had pretty well reached the summit of the rocky hill
they had been climbing, and obeying a sign from his companion, Bart
followed his example, dropping down and crawling forward.

"I 'spect we shall find we look right over the flat from here,"
whispered Joses, sinking his voice for no apparent reason, save the
caution engendered by years of risky life with neighbours at hand always
ready to shed blood.

"And we should be easily seen from a distance, I suppose?" responded
Bart.

"That's so, Master Bart. The Injun can see four times as far as we can,
they say, though I don't quite believe it."

"It must be a clever Indian who could see farther than you can, Joses,"
said Bart quietly.

"Oh, I don't know," said the other, with a quiet chuckle; "I can see
pretty far when it's clear. Look out."

Bart started aside, for he had disturbed another rattlesnake, which
glided slowly away as if resenting the intrusion, and hesitating as to
whether it should attack.

"You mustn't creep about here with your eyes shut," said Joses quietly.
"It isn't safe, my lad,--not safe at all. Now you rest there behind
that stone. We're close up to the top. Let me go the rest of the way,
and see how things are down below."

Bart obeyed on the instant, and lay resting his chin upon his arms,
watching Joses as he crept up the rest of the slope to where a few rough
stones lay about on the summit of the hill, amongst which he glided and
then disappeared.

Bart then turned his gaze backward, to look down into the Horse-shoe
Valley he had quitted, thinking of his breakfast, and how glad he should
be to return with the news that all was well, so that a fire might be
lighted and a pleasant, refreshing meal be prepared. But the curve of
the hill shut the waggon and those with it from view, so that he glanced
round him to see what there was worthy of notice.

This was soon done. Masses of stone, with a few grey-looking plants
growing amidst the arid cracks, a little scattered dry grass in patches,
and a few bushy-looking shrubs of a dull sagey green; that was all.
There were plenty of stones near, one of which looked like a safe
shelter for serpent or lizard; and some horny-looking beetles were