"Guess you're right. Boys, get your shooting irons ready. We're liable to run into an ambush any time. Keep to the rocks as much as you can."
But his warning was of no avail.
Of a sudden, the still, hot air was rent with whoops and yells.
"Injuns, or I'm a nigger!" gasped Wild Bill. "Poor Tony! He's in for it bad—unless we get to him!"
Jesse, however, had made a more important discovery.
The shouts of defiance had come from above.
And as the last warwhoop rolled back and forth between the towering cliffs, he raised his pistols, pointing them at random.
Crack! Crack!
Sharp and loud their report rang out.
Sounded a shriek of mingled pain and terror and the next instant a dark mass came hurtling down upon the little group of men standing huddled together on the rocky bottom of the canyon.