the band of Indians in the
open park in the land beyond.

To Bart's surprise, the chief drew back quickly, his face changed, and
his whole figure seemed to be full of excitement.

He said a few words rapidly, and then, seeing that he was not
understood, he began to make signs, pointing first to the opening out
into the plain, and then taking out his knife, and striking with it
fiercely. Then he pointed once more to the opening, and to his wounded
arm, going through the motions of one drawing a bow.

"Friends, friends, friends," he then said in a hoarse whisper, repeating
the Doctor's word, and then shaking his head and spitting angrily upon
the ground, and striking with his knife.

He then signed to Bart, to follow, and ran down the steep slope just as
one of his followers cantered hastily up.

Both had the same news to tell in the little camp, and though the Doctor
could not comprehend the Indian chief's dialect, his motions were
significant enough, as he rapidly touched the barrels of his followers'
rifles, and then those of the white party, repeating the word,
"Friends."

The next moment he had given orders which sent a couple of his men up
the rocks, to play the part of scouts, while he hurriedly scanned their
position, and chose a sheltered place, a couple of hundred yards back,
where there was ample room for the horses and waggon, which were quietly
taken there, the rocks and masses of stone around affording shelter and
cover in case of attack.

"There's no doubt about their being friends now, Bart," said the Doctor;
"we must trust them for the future, but I pray Heaven that we may not be
about to engage in shedding blood."

"We won't hurt nobody, master," said Joses, carefully examining his
rifle, "so long as they leave us alone; but if they don't, I'm afraid I
shall make holes through some of them that you wouldn't be able to
cure."

Just then the Indian held up his hand to command silence, and directly
after he pointed here and there to places that would command good views
of approaching foes, while he angrily pointed to Maude, signing that she
should crouch down closely behind some sheltering rocks.

The Doctor yielded to his wishes, and then, in perfect silence, they
waited for the coming of the Indian band, which if the trail were noted,
they knew could not be long delayed.

If Bart had felt any doubt before of these Indians with them being
friendly, it was swept away now by the thorough earn