Part 8 (2/2)
”Splendid grazing land,” he said, ”atered We lass, so as to take the landscape closer in, he uttered an ejaculation of astonishment
”Why, Bart,” he said, ”I'ht”
”Let lass, but only to exclaih without Why, they cannot be muchin our direction,” replied the Doctor
”Let's get back quickly, and try if we cannot find another hiding-place for the waggon”
Hurrying back, Bart started the idea that these ht be the main body of their friendly Indians
”So much the better for us, Master Bart, but I'ain”
”I half fancied I saw our chief as
”More than half fancy, Bart,” replied the Doctor, ”for there he sits upon his horse”
He pointed with his glass, and, to Bart's astonishment, there in the little wilderness of rocks that they had ht, was the chief with his eleven folloere already tethering their horses, and ements to take up their quarters close by them as of old
”Do you think they mean to continue friendly?” asked Bart uneasily, for he could not help thinking how thoroughly they were at the mercy of the Indians if they proved hostile
”I cannot say,” replied the Doctor ”But look here, Bart, take the chief with you up to the gap, and show him the party beyond His men may not have seen them, and we shall learn perhaps whether they are friends or foes”
On reaching the waggon, as no attempt was made by the Indians to join theht up to the chief, and ns to him to follohich he proceeded to do upon his horse, but upon Bart, pointing upwards to the rocky ascent, he leaped off lightly, and the youth noticed that he was beginning to make use of his injured ar between the rocks, where, upon seeing that there was open country beyond, the Indian at once crouched and approached cautiously, dropping flat upon the earth next round with a rapidity that astonished his co his face directly after, to try and read therefroed to 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 excite that he was not understood, he began toout into the plain, and then taking out his knife, and striking with it fiercely Then he pointed once h thea 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 sah the Doctor could not conificant enough, as he rapidly touched the barrels of his followers'
rifles, and then those of the white party, repeating the word, ”Friends”
The next iven 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 aon, which were quietly taken there, the rocks andshelter 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 weblood”
”We won't hurt nobody,as they leave us alone; but if they don't, I'h 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 corily pointed to Maude, signing that she should crouch down closely behind so rocks
The Doctor yielded to his wishes, and then, in perfect silence, they waited for the co 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 theh earnestness hich they joined in the defence of their little stronghold On either side of hi warriors, rifle in hand, watchful of eye and quick of ear, each listening attentively for danger while waiting for warnings froht over their position and its dangers, he grew troubled at heart about Maude, the sister and companion as she had always seemed to him, and somehow, much as he looked up to Dr Lascelles, who seeth, and skill, it filled his s of the future as he wondered how they were to continue their expedition to the end without happening upon soht to have been left with friends, or sent to the city It seeht her here”