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Eddie rose and as he did so he staggered and grew very white. Billy dismounted

and ran forward, putting an arm about him. Another shot came from above and

Billy Byrne's pony grunted and collapsed.

Hell!" exclaimed Byrne. "We gotta get out of this," and lifting his wounded

comrade in his arms he ran for the shelter of the bluff from the summit of which

the snipers had fired upon them. Close in, hugging the face of the perpendicular

wall of tumbled rock and earth, they were out of range of the Indians; but Billy

did not stop when he had reached temporary safety. Farther up toward the

direction in which lay the village, and halfway up the side of the bluff Billy saw

what he took to be excellent shelter. Here the face of the bluff was less steep and

upon it lay a number of large bowlders, while others protruded from the ground

about them.

Toward these Billy made his way. The wounded man across his shoulder was

suffering indescribable agonies; but he bit his lip and stifled the cries that each

step his comrade took seemed to wrench from him, lest he attract the enemy to

their position.

Above them all was silence, yet Billy knew that alert, red foemen were creeping to

the edge of the bluff in search of their prey. If he could but reach the shelter of

the bowlders before the Pimans discovered them!

The minutes that were consumed in covering the hundred yards seemed as many

hours to Billy Byrne; but at last he dragged the fainting cowboy between two large

bowlders close under the edge of the bluff and found himself in a little, natural

fortress, well adapted to defense.

From above they were protected from the fire of the Indians upon the bluff by the

height of the bowlder at the foot of which they lay, while another just in front hid

them from possible marksmen across the canyon. Smaller rocks scattered about

gave promise of shelter from flank fire, and as soon as he had deposited Eddie in

the comparative safety of their retreat Byrne commenced forming a low

breastwork upon the side facing the village--the direction from which they might

naturally expect attack. This done he turned his attention to the opening upon

the opposite side and soon had a similar defense constructed there, then he

turned his attention to Eddie, though keeping a watchful eye upon both

approaches to their stronghold.

The Kansan lay upon his side, moaning. Blood stained his lips and nostrils, and

when Billy Byrne opened his shirt and found a gaping wound in his right breast

he knew how serious was his companion's injury. As he felt Billy working over

him the boy opened his eyes.

283

The Mucker