Just then there was a loud hail, and turning quickly round, Bart saw the Doctor waving his hand to them to join him.
“Indians are on the plains,” exclaimed the Doctor. “I saw them from the top of the castle,”—he had taken to calling the mountain rock “the castle,”—“with the glass. They are many miles away, but they may be enemies, and we must be prepared. Get the horses secured, Joses; and you, interpreter, ask the Beaver to see to the cattle.”
“All safely shut in, sir,” said Bart, showing his teeth; “the Beaver felt that there was danger an hour ago, and everything has been done.”
“Capital!” cried the Doctor; “but how could he tell?”
“That’s the mystery,” replied Bart, “but he said there were Indian dogs away yonder on the plains.”
“Indian dog, Apaché,” said the Beaver, scowling, and pointing towards the plain.
“Yes, that’s where they are,” said the Doctor, nodding; “he is quite right, and this being so, we must get up into our castle and man the walls. Let me see first if all is safe.”
He walked to both entrances, and satisfied himself, saying:
“Yes; they could not be better, but, of course, all depends upon our covering them from above with our rifles, for the Apachés could pull those rocks down as easily as we put them there. Now then, let us go up; the waggons are fortunately empty enough.”
The Doctor led the way, pausing, however, to mount a waggon and take a good look-out into the plain, which he swept with his glass, but only to close it with a look of surprise.