“Remain here while I climb up above the falls,” said Little Rifle, “it will take but two or three minutes at most.”
“Have a care,” admonished Harry, “for these red-skins are mighty sharp, and I think can see around a corner.”
The young trapper smiled to think that his new acquaintance should deem him in need of advice, in such a business, but he continued as cautiously and carefully upward as if he was sure of finding Blackfeet there.
And so there were, as he very speedily found out. Where in the name of the seven wonders they came from he could not guess, but he saw half a dozen, just above the falls upon the other side, groping their way down-stream, and still more upon the same side with himself coming directly toward him! This latter party were scarcely a hundred feet distant, and in a few minutes would reach the spot where he was. This was a most alarming state of affairs, and Little Rifle had to think and act at once. One glance was sufficient to tell him the whole story, and hastily backing out from his perilous position, he scrambled back to where the wondering Harry was awaiting him.
“They are coming!” he exclaimed in a terrified whisper; “there is a whole party, and they’ll be here in a minute. Where shall we hide?”
“Hanged if I know!” replied Harry, fully as startled as his friend, and with less presence of mind. “Let’s jump into the water again, and keep diving.”
Such a course would not have been recommended by the lad in his cooler moments, and it did not affect Little Rifle in the least. He looked vainly around in quest of some rock that offered a chance to hide, and when he was actually meditating going forward and surrendering himself, in the hope of being ransomed by the authorities at the fort, there flashed upon him, as if by inspiration, a remark that he once heard Old Ruff Robsart make about a cavern behind the falls into which he once made his way.
“It’s our only chance!” he exclaimed, dashing toward the water. “Come on, Harry! it is death or life with us!”
Young Northend had no idea what he meant, but he did not hesitate to follow him at full speed, so that he reached the spot scarcely behind him.
Little Rifle dashed down among the rocks, and reaching the edge of the water, at the very edge or side of the falls, he paused, and looked despairingly around. He could see nothing like a cavern, nor any thing that seemed to afford an entrance to such a retreat.