"Of course not, Ulna, but I do not understand you."
"It may be that the Apaches, and I am not sure they are about, will let you and the others go on without harm, while if they discover me they will be sure to make an attack on all of us," said Ulna, speaking very slowly, but with a strong, steady voice.
"Well, we can't help that. If they attack us we shall be able to show that we have rifles and know how to handle them," said Sam, bravely.
"This is what I have been thinking," continued Ulna. "I can make my way alone from here faster than the four of us can, and I can elude the Apaches as the hawk eludes the wild-cat. If I can reach Hurley's Gulch I can start men out to your relief; if I fail you will be none the worse off."
"This is too serious a matter to decide at once," said Sam. "Even to save the lives of the others, I would not increase your danger——"
"But what if the danger of all is increased by my staying here?"
"Then I should say go, but let us go down to the spring and think it all over. I am sure we can tell Ike and Wah Shin about this; they are both plucky and faithful."
"As you say," was Ulna's reply, and he cast a quick glance about the horizon before descending from the rock on which they had been standing.
"What do you see?" asked Sam, looking eagerly in the direction of Ulna's fixed eyes.
"Apaches!" was the whispered reply.