“Can’t it be that it was for something else?  Can’t it be that they took us for Indians, or perhaps they haven’t seen us at all, and don’t know that we’ve passed?”

“It does seem as if something of the kind might be, and yet that don’t sthrike me as the Injin style of doing business.”

They continued their moderate pace for quite a distance further, continually looking back toward the camp-fire, the smoke from which continued to ascend with the same distinct regularity as before, but nothing resembling a warrior was detected.  Finally a curve in the gorge shut out the troublesome signal, and they were left to continue their way and conjecture as much as they chose as to the explanation of what had taken place.

A little later, and when the afternoon was about half gone, they reached a portion of the pass which was remarkably straight, so that the eye took in a half mile of it, from the beginning to the point where another turn intervened.  The two friends were galloping over this exact section and speculating as to how soon they would strike the open prairie, when all their calculations were knocked topsy-turvy.  A party of horsemen charged around the bend in front, all riding at a sweeping gallop directly toward the alarmed Mickey and Fred, who instantly halted and surveyed them.  A second glance showed them to be Indians, undoubtedly Apaches, and very probably Lone Wolf himself and some of his warriors.

“We must turn back,” said the Irishman, wheeling his horse about and striking him into a rapid gait.  “We’ve got to have a dead run for it, and I think we can win.  Holy saints presarve us!”

This ejaculation was caused by seeing, at that moment, another party of horsemen appear directly in their front, as they turned on the back trail.  Thus they were shut in on both sides, and fairly caught between two fires.

CHAPTER XV.

ON THE DEFENSIVE.

AT the moment of reining up their mustangs, the fugitives were about equidistant between the two fires, and it was just as dangerous to advance as to retreat.  For one second the Irishman meditated a desperate charge, in the hope of breaking through the company that first appeared in his path, and, had he been alone, or accompanied by a man, he would have done so.  But, slight as was his own prospect of escape, he knew there was absolutely none for the boy in such a desperate effort, and he determined that it should not be made.

“Can’t we make a dash straight through them?” asked Fred, reading the thought of Mickey, as he glanced from one to the other, and noted the fearfully rapid approach of the redskins.

“It can’t be done,” replied the Irishman.  “There is only one thing left for us.”

“What is that?”

“Do as I do.  Yonder is an opening that may serve us for awhile.”

As he spoke, he slipped off his steed, leaving him to work his own will.  Fred did not hesitate a moment, for there was not a moment to spare.