The trail became easier for a time, and then more difficult until, as they neared the top, the girls were almost ready to give up and go back. Mr. DeVere, too, was a little doubtful about continuing.
"Suppose they drive us back?" the actor asked. "We would never be able to negotiate a retreat safely down such a slope."
"Oh, I guess it's all right this time," said Baldy. "But if it wasn't that I'm sure there are only a few Indians here, I wouldn't have let you come. Keep on. I guess you'll be all right."
By dint of struggling the ponies covered the short remaining distance and, a little later, the party found itself on the summit. They were among a lot of stunted trees and straggling bushes, on top of the flat expanse that stood so high above the surrounding country.
"Oh, what a view!" cried Alice, as she looked off to the west, toward the foothills and mountains.
"Isn't it?" agreed Ruth. "I wouldn't have missed it for anything."
"But where are the Indians?" asked Russ, who was getting his moving picture machine ready for work.
"Oh, they're probably somewhere in the middle of the place," said Baldy. "It's about three miles across it, you know."
They gave the horses a breathing spell, and then started slowly across the table land. There was no smoke in sight now, and as far as could be told from observation, they were alone on the plateau.
"It's likely the Indians are getting ready to make their 'medicine,'" said Baldy. "Now leave everything to me. I can speak some of their lingo, so I'll do the talking. I'll tell 'em you have powerful 'medicine' in that picture machine of yours," he went on to Russ. "That may stop them from taking a notion to throw stones at it."