"If they come we'll have to fire another shot."
"Right you are."
They rested an hour, and then, as tired as they were, went on again. The sun was now out clear and strong, so that they could see a long distance around them.
"I see them!" said Mark, after another three miles had been covered. "I really believe they are getting ready to attack us again!"
Slowly and cautiously the red men drew closer. One limped painfully, showing where a shot had taken effect.
"I'll fire first," said Josiah Socket. "They don't deserve no mercy."
He raised the gun he carried and blazed away. The bullet clipped the blanket of one of the Indians and he lost no time in dropping to the rear. But the others came on, and raised something of a war cry.
"If they can get at us, they will kill us!" gasped Mark, and took aim with his pistol. His shot told, and one red man fell, wounded in the knee. Then the others halted to consult together.
As soon as their weapons were discharged, our friends loaded up again and moved onward. Not once did they allow the horses to stop and they kept on a slow run beside them. Ahead was a turn in the trail and they hoped to find a safe shelter behind some other rocks and crags.
"Hullo, there is somebody!" ejaculated Mark, as the turn ahead was made. "It's Bob!"