Part 6 (2/2)

”Well, we will go at once, Joe. Even a redskin's eyes could not make us out from that village now.”

The horses were at once set in motion. As soon as they had left the path the cords were unfastened, and the five mounted.

”Which way, Dave?” Boston Joe asked.

”We had better make west. It is lucky we shall have the moon, for there is no traveling over the hills in the dark if you don't know the way.

Anyhow, we will make straight back at present, or we may come upon those fellows riding round. We will go in Indian file. I will go first, with a pony tied to mine. The two lads will follow, then either you, Zeke, or Joe, can take the last pony, and the other one ride in the rear, so that you can keep us well in sight, and yet be far enough off to use your ears.”

For an hour they continued their course south, the ground rising as they went. Then they reached a dip running west.

”We will follow this,” Dave said; ”it is the right direction anyhow, and it is as likely to take us down into the valleys again in time.”

As they proceeded, the dip became more decided, and after two hours'

riding the sides narrowed in.

”We shall strike a water-course soon,” Dave said, turning round to speak to Tom, who was riding next to him. ”The water that falls here has got to make its way out somewhere, and this is the only way as it can go.

Not that there is much water, for it is often months without rain.”

Presently they found that the ground was covered with pebbles.

”There is the water-course, you see,” Dave said.

The fall became steeper and steeper, and the ground more stony; low trees and bushes rose on the slopes on either side.

”We had best dismount here,” Dave said; ”it is growing mighty steep, and we may come upon a sudden fall anywhere, and it is mighty difficult to judge about depth in the moonlight.”

The lads were heartily glad at the order, for they had for some time been momentarily expecting that their horses would come down over the bowlders.

”I will go twenty yards ahead,” Dave said. ”You had better loose the baggage-ponies and let them pick their own way. Throw your bridles on your horses' necks: they will go a deal safer so than if you were leading them; the critters can pick their way anywhere if they have got time and can look about.”

Luckily the moon was still high and shot full down upon the path they were traveling. Even on foot the lads found it difficult to make their way down. Sometimes they had to climb over heaps of bowlders, sometimes to slide down smooth faces of rock so steep that they could not keep their feet upon them, and often it seemed so perilous that they would have hesitated to attempt it had they not seen that Dave with his two horses kept steadily on below them.

Chapter XIV.--In The Ravine.

The lads were surprised at the way their own horses followed, sliding on their haunches down the steepest places and picking their way among rocks and bowlders. Six hours after starting they found themselves in a deep ravine, whose sides were covered with trees. They had now lost the moon, and it was far too dark for them to progress further.

”We will give them four hours' rest,” Dave said; ”that long halt on the path was worse than traveling. We shall go three times as fast when we get light to help us as in the dark; besides, we have got to look for some place where we can double on them. We shan't find that till we are out of this valley. We shall have to be pretty spry if we are going to get away from them; they will come along fast when they once take up the trail. It has taken us six hours to get down here; it won't take them three. Well, I hope we shall get on the move an hour or two before they do. If they wait until daylight before advancing there will be a lot of hubbub and talk before they really make up their minds that we have really slipped through their fingers, and arrange for a start. Still, by midday we shall be having them behind us if we can't find the way to throw them off.”

”I'd willingly take twenty ounces for my share of that gold, to be paid to me at Santa Fe,” Boston Joe said.

”So would I, Joe; there ain't no denying it, we are in a tight place, and unless we find some way out of it in the morning, my own opinion is that we have only got one chance, and that is to leave all the horses behind us and to take our rifles and a loaf of bread each, and to start back on foot.”

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