He plumped down behind a rock, and waited for the advancing foe.

Pasmore caught him by the arm and dragged him to his feet.  The others had stopped also.  It was not likely they were going to allow their friend and master to sacrifice himself in such a fashion.

“Let’s make up this ravine, sir,” cried Pasmore.  “Come, give me your arm; we may be able to fool them yet.  There’s lots of big rocks lying about that will be good cover.  There’s no man going to be left behind this trip.”

High walls of clay rose up on either side, so that at least the Indians could not outflank them.  At first the latter, thinking that the troublesome escapers were effectually cornered, essayed an injudicious rush in upon them, but the result was a volley that dropped three and made the remainder seek convenient rocks.  Taking what cover they could the white men retired up the narrow valley.  It was becoming lighter now, and they could distinctly see the skulking, shadowy forms of the redskins as they stole from rock to rock.  Suddenly they made a discovery that filled them with consternation.  They had come to the end of the valley and were literally in a cul-de-sac! They were indeed caught like rats in a trap.

“I’m afraid we’re cornered,” exclaimed Douglas, “but we’ve got some powder and shot left yet.”

“Yes,” remarked Pasmore, “we’ll keep them off as long as we can.  I can’t understand why the troops are not following those fellows up.  There’s no getting out of this, I fear,”—­he looked at the crescent of unscalable cliff—­“but I don’t believe in throwing up the sponge.  I’ve always found that when things seemed at their worst they were just on the mend.”

He did not say that there was a very powerful incentive in his heart just then that in itself was more than sufficient to make him cling to life.  It was the thought of Dorothy.

Half-an-hour more and the Indians had crawled up to within fifty yards, and might rush in upon them at any moment, and then all would be over.  As yet, thanks to their excellent cover, none of the little party had been wounded, though the redskins had suffered severely.  There were few words spoken now; only four determined men waited courageously for the end.  And then something happened that paled their cheeks, causing them to look at one another with startled, questioning eyes.  There was a growing fusillade of rifle fire over their heads and the sound of British cheers!

“Hurrah!” exclaimed Douglas.  “It’s the troops at last They’ve come up overnight to attack the camp, and they haven’t come a minute too soon.”

“So, that is so,” said Jacques, as he took deliberate aim at his late enemies, who, realising the situation, were scuttling in confusion down the ravine. “Mais, it is the long road that knows not the turn.”

But as for Pasmore, as on one occasion when he had been snatched from the Valley of the Shadow, and realised how beautiful was the blue between the columns of the pines, he now saw the sweet face of a woman smiling on him through the mists of the uncertain future.