AT BAY.
When the Indian had scraped the sand away to the solid rock, thereby deepening the enclosure at least twelve inches, he ceased work, and, seating himself by Cummings' side, prepared to do his share of the watching.
By this time the assailants had become convinced that it was useless to expose themselves to the murderous fire which could not be returned with any possibility of injuring the white men, and they remained under cover.
"I believe we might sneak away from them," Neal said, after looking fifteen or twenty minutes at the ledge beneath which the enemy had taken refuge, without seeing so much as a man's head. "They think we will shoot them down, and might keep under cover while we were escaping."
"Then you believe they do not know what we are about?" Cummings asked grimly.
"How can it be possible if no one comes out to reconnoiter?"
"Look down the valley."
Following with their eyes the direction of Cummings' outstretched finger the boys saw a party of Indians far down the mountain side out of range, traveling rapidly in the opposite direction.
"They are running away!" Teddy cried gleefully. "Our guns were too much for them."
"Do you believe there are as many in that crowd as we saw coming up the mountain?"