Part 8 (1/2)

CHAPTER SEVEN

ANOTHER ALARM

To the surprise and satisfaction of Bart, all ell in the ca contentedly at the end of their tether ropes, and the Indians were just stirring, and raking together the fire that had been sht

Breakfast was prepared, and they were about to partake thereof, when the Doctor took counsel with Joses as to as best to be done

”Do you think they will molest us now?” he asked

”No,how to take an Indian I should be very careful about the horses though, for a good horse is ht the same; and it seeone, for I don't want the us from place to place”

”There's a band of 'em somewhere not far away,” said Joses, ”depend upon it, so p'r'aps it will be best to wait till we see which way they go, and then go totherwise”

Soon after breakfast the chief caon and held out his ar his satisfaction, as it was very plain that a great deal of the swelling had subsided

This went on for so which the Indians see found a better supply of water; and to show their friendliness, they ame which they shared in a very liberal way

This was all very well, but still it was not pleasant to have thehbours, and several times over the Doctor made up his mind to start and continue his expedition, and this he would have done but for the fact of his being sure that their savage friends, for this they now seemed to be, would follow them

At the end of ten days the chief's arm had wonderfully altered, and with it his whole deely towards the cure But he was always quiet and reserved,aloof with his watchful little band

”We are wasting ti ”We'll start at once”

”Why not wait till night and steal off?” said Maude

”Because we could not hide our trail,” said Bart ”The Indians could follow us I think it will be best to let theo away boldly”

”That's what I mean to do,” said the Doctor, and directly they had ended their oing and shaking hands all round with the stolid Indians, the horses werethe valley

Passing the Indian ca off to the west, the Indians reached the plains, and for hours kept on winding in and out ast the hills

It was after sundown that the Doctor called a halt in the wild rocky part that they had reached, a short rest in the very heat of the day being the only break which they had had in their journey In fact, as darkness would soon be upon them, it would have beenbecome so broken and wild that it would have been next to ion

Their usual precautions were taken as soon as a satisfactory nook was found with a fair supply of water, and soon after sunrise next ht, the Doctor and Bart started for a look round while breakfast was being prepared, Bart taking his rifle, as there was always the necessity for supplying the wants of the camp

”I wonder whether we shall see any st the rocks to what looked alateway formed by a couple of boldly scarped masses, in whose strata lines various plants and shrubs maintained a precarious existence

”I wonder they have not followed us before now,” replied the Doctor

”Mind how you come Can you climb it?”

For answer, Bart leaped up to where the Doctor had clambered as easily as a mountain sheep, and after a little farther effort they reached the gate-like place, to find that it gave theht out on to the partly-wooded country beyond For they had left the level, changeless plain on the other side of the rocks, and the sight of a fresh character of country was sufficient to erly take the little telescope he carried in a sling, and begin to sweep the horizon

As he did so, he let fall words about the beauty of the country