ng the fallen in those
fierce charges; for he shuddered and thought of the horrors of such an
occupation, even when the fights were in thorough self-defence.

Joses was full of excitement, and kept on shaking hands with the Beaver
instead of with Bart.

"I knew he'd do it. I knew he'd do it," he kept on saying. "There
arn't a braver lad nowhere, that I will say."

There was but little time for talking and congratulations, however, for
the waggons had to be unloaded and camp formed for the lancers and
Mexicans, the former being out in the plains driving in the Indian
ponies that had not gone off with the Apaches, the result being that
thirty were enclosed in the corral before dark, being some little
compensation for the former loss.

Bart learned that night, when the captain and the governor were the
guests of the Doctor, that beyond occasional alarms but little had gone
on during his absence. The Indians had been there all the time, and his
friends had always been in full expectation of an attack, night or day,
but none had come.

The most serious threatening had been on the night when Bart set off,
but the terrible storm had evidently stopped it, and the Doctor related
how the rock had been struck by lightning, a large portion shattered,
and the bodies of several Indians found there the next morning.

There was good watch set that night, not that there was much likelihood
of the Indians returning, but to make sure; and then many hours were
spent in rejoicing, for several of the adventurers had been giving way
to despair, feeling that they had done wrong in coming, and were asking
in dismay what was to become of them when the stores were exhausted.

"We can't eat silver," they had reproachfully said to the Doctor; and
when he had reminded them how he had sent for help, they laughed him to
scorn.

All murmurers were now silenced, and, light-hearted and joyous, the
future of the silver canyon became the principal topic of conversation
with all.

The next morning, as it was found that the Indians were still hovering
about, Captain Miguel showed himself ready for any emergency. The
Beaver and his men were at once mounted on the pick of the Indian
ponies, and a start was made to meet the enemy.

So well was this expedition carried out, that, after a good deal of
feinting and manoeuvring, the captain was enabled to charge home once
more, scattering the Indians like chaff, and this time pursuing them to
their