ack to their dens; but I am a soldier in
command, and I have to think of my men as well as my own feelings.
These fifty men are to me worth all the Indian nations, and I cannot
spare one life, no, not one drop of blood, unless it is to give these
creatures such a blow as will cow them and teach them to respect a
civilised people, who ask nothing of them but to be left alone. Wait a
little longer, my lad; the time has not yet come."

That night strong outposts were formed, for the Indians were about in
great force; but no attack was made, and at daybreak, on a lovely
morning, they were once more in motion, while, to Bart's great surprise,
though he swept the plain in every direction, not an Indian was to be
seen.

"What does that mean, think you?" said the governor, smiling.

"An ambush," replied Bart. "They are waiting for us somewhere."

"Right," exclaimed the Captain, carefully inspecting the plain; "but
there is little chance of ambush here, the ground is too open, unless
they await us on the other side of that rolling range of hills. You are
right though, my lad; it is to take effect later on. This is to lull us
into security; they have not gone far."

A couple of hours brought them to the foot of the low ridge, when scouts
were sent forward; but they signalled with their lances that the coast
was clear, and the party rode on till the top was reached, and spurring
a little in advance of the troop in company with the captain and the
governor, Bart reined up and pointed right away over the gleaming lake
to where the mountain stood up like some huge keep built in the middle
of the plain.

"There is the rock fortress," he cried.

"And where is the silver canyon?" said the governor, looking eagerly
over the plain.

"Running east and west, sir, quite out of sight till you are at its
edge, and passing close behind the mountain yonder."

"Forward, then," cried the captain; "we must be there to-night. Keep up
well with the waggons, and--halt! Yes, I expected so; there are our
friends away there in the distance. They will be down upon us before
long, like so many swarms of bees."

The greatest caution was now observed, and they rode steadily on for a
few miles farther, when Bart joyfully pointed out that the occupants of
the rock fortress were still safe.

"How can you tell that?" said the governor, eagerly.

"By the flag, sir," said Bart. "There it is out upon the extreme right
of the mountain. If the