Indians had got the better of the Doctor's
party, they would have torn it down."

"Or perhaps kept it up as a lure to entrap us," said the captain,
smiling; "but I think you are right about that."

"What a splendid position for a city!" exclaimed the Governor, as they
rode on towards where the waters of the lake gleamed brightly in the
sun.

"Yes; a great town might be placed there," said the captain,
thoughtfully; "but you would want some large barracks and a little
army," he added with a smile, "to keep our friends there at a distance."

For, as they neared the mountain, it seemed ominously like a certainty
that the savages now meant to make a tremendous onslaught upon the band,
for they were steadily coming on in large numbers, as if to meet the
new-comers before they could form a junction with the holders of the
rock.

"I don't want to fight them if I can help it," said Captain Miguel,
scanning the approaching Indians carefully as they advanced--"not until
the waggons are in safety. If we do have to charge them, you drivers
are all to make for the rock, so as to get under the cover of our
friends' fire. That is, if it comes to a serious attack, but I do not
think it will."

The watchfulness and care now exercised by their leader showed how well
worthy he was of being placed in such a position, and the men, even to
the governor, obeyed him without a word, though at times his orders
seemed to run in opposition to their own ideas. For he seemed to be
almost skirmishing from the Indians, instead of making a bold stand, and
the result was that when, after a couple of hours, they came on in
strength, their insolence increased with the seeming timidity of the
relieving force.

"You underrated the numbers, young gentleman," said Captain Miguel at
last, when the Apaches were in full force. "You said five hundred. I
should say there are quite six, and as fine a body of well-mounted
warriors as I have seen upon the plains."

"Well, Miguel," said the governor, "it seems to me that, unless you
attack them, we shall all be swept into the lake."

"I don't think you will, sir," replied the captain, calmly; "they are
only bragging now, many as they are; they do not mean to attack us yet."

Captain Miguel was right, for though the Apaches came yelling on,
threatening first one flank and then the other, their object was only to
goad the lancers into a charge before which they would have scattered,
and then gone on l