"What do you mean?" asked Price, alarmed.
"I'll show you," was the reply. "Here, boys; come on, quick," he shouted, turning toward the dense thicket from which he had emerged.
"We are surprised! Fall back!" shrieked Price, as he wheeled his horse.
The guard had not waited for this command, but were already rapidly retreating toward the main camp, followed by the aids of Price.
The Indian and his rescuer had already mounted a cliff which overlooked the entire ground, and turning he cried:
"Look how the cowards run! Ha! ha! ha!"
Price heard the words, and the laugh of derision. He commanded a halt, and exclaimed:
"It was but a ruse! No troops excepting our own are near us. Follow me—we can yet overtake them. There is but one path leading down the mountain, and one along the ridge. Take the lower one, Rains, with forty men. I will take the upper path, and thus we will cut them off."
The order was at once executed, and the different detachments galloped along each mountain road.
"There they are!" cried Price, as he reached the highest mountain point, about four miles from his camp. "There is a path to the right of that ledge, which leads to the valley. Quick—intercept them. They are making for that spot."