Apaches acted like so many goads to the frightened beasts.

Would they hear them on the rocks? Would Joses be ready? Would the
Doctor give their enemies a salutation? Would they never reach the
gateway?

These and a dozen other such questions passed like lightning through
Bart's brain in those moments of excitement; for the rocky gateway, that
had seemed so near to the first scout when they set out that morning and
cantered off, now appeared at an interminable distance, and as if it
would never be reached; while the Apaches, as if dreading that their
prey might escape, were now redoubling their efforts, as Bart could see
when he glanced over his left shoulder.

But on the little band of fugitives swept, so close together that their
horses almost touched; and, unless some unforeseen accident occurred--a
slip, a stumble, or a fatal shot--they would soon be in comparative
safety.

The Beaver saw this, and, forgetting his ordinary calm, he rose in his
stirrups, half turned and shook his rifle at the great body of Apaches,
yelling defiantly the while, and drawing a storm of vengeful cries from
the pursuers that rose loud above the thunder of the horses' hoofs.

Another two hundred yards, and the gateway would be reached, but it
seemed as if that short distance would never be passed; while now the
Apaches, taking advantage of the fact that their prey was compelled to
swerve to the left, began to close in, bringing themselves in such close
proximity that Bart could see the fierce, vindictive faces, the flashing
eyes, and eager clutching hands, ready to torture them should they not
escape.

Another fierce race for the last hundred yards, with the Apaches closing
in more and more, and the fate of the fugitives seemed sealed, when,
just as the enemy gave a fierce yell of triumph, rising in their
stirrups to lash their panting little steeds into an accelerated pace,
the rock suddenly seemed to flash, and a sharp sputtering fire to dart
from the zigzag path. Some of the pursuing horses and their riders
fell, others leaped or stumbled over them; and as Bart and his
companions drew rein close in beneath the gallery, forming a breastwork
of their blown horses, and began firing with such steadiness as their
excitement would allow, a regular volley flashed from above their heads,
and Joses and his companions followed it up with a triumphant shout.

The effect was marvellous,--the great body of Apaches turning as upon a
pivo