“Mounted men against one on foot,” said the doctor, with a sigh.
“I don’t suppose they’ll catch me,” said Griggs coolly. “Well, naturally enough when I see the enemy after me I begin to run.”
“But suppose they don’t all come, Griggs?” said Chris.
“Shan’t suppose anything of the kind, and don’t you talk so loudly,” growled the American. “They’ve all got to be there, according to my notions, and come crowding after me. I run as I never ran before, straight for the narrow way here, dash through, making for the old camp, and they tear away to cut me off before I can get under cover of our marksmen. But all at once I dodge in among the stones and begin to climb up to the terraces, get up to the top step-way in the square pit, and loosen out the stones there, after blocking the place below. One of these two bits of work is bound to keep those who have dismounted to climb after me from climbing any farther, and when I begin to fire at them pretty sharply they’ll turn back at once, get to their horses, and join their mates, to have a palaver and come to the conclusion that it isn’t safe to stop in the valley, because they’ll be expecting every moment for fire to be opened by us. Then they’ll ride back without another shot being fired at them, for the simple reason that I’m hurrying round to join your people here by the top way and the gully. I shan’t lose any time, and if I’m lucky I may get here soon enough to join you in giving the enemy a few bullets when they come riding back to find their way stopped.”
“As it ought to be,” said the doctor dubiously.
“As it has got to be,” said Griggs sharply. “Got to be—got to be, and must be!” he cried.
“If all goes well,” said Bourne.
“If all goes well, sir,” said Griggs, “and if we all do our parts like men, it will. Good-bye!”