“Maybe that is Sut himself; you know you have been expecting him.”

“It can’t be him,” replied Mickey, with a shake of his head.  “He would have showed himself long ago, when he could be sure of helping us.  There must be some redskins over there that have put up a job on Lone Wolf and his scamps.”

“Whoever it is, whether one or a dozen, they are helping us mightily.”

“So it looks, though they don’t mean it for that, and after driving these spalpeens away, they may come over to clean us out themselves.”

Nothing was heard of the redskins above for a considerable time after the shot mentioned.  Then the body was suddenly whisked out of sight.  It is a principle with Indians to bring away their dead from any fight in which they may have fallen.  At the imminent risk of losing his own life a warrior had stolen up and drawn away the remains of his former comrade.

The mysterious shots seemed to come from the other side of the ravine, and they naturally had a very demoralizing effect upon the party.  Lone Wolf was not only brave, but sagacious and prudent.  He was not the chief to allow his warriors to stand idly and permit themselves to be picked off one by one by an unseen enemy.  But for the latter, he would have descended into the fissure, and, with several of his most reliable braves, captured and secured Mickey and his companion at all hazards.  But what assurance could he have that after he and his men had entered the little ravine, a whole party of Kiowas would not swarm in, overwhelm them, and make off with their horses?  So the leader concluded for the time being to remain outside, where his line of retreat would be open, while he could arrange his plans for disposing of the whites at his leisure.

Lone Wolf dispatched two of his most skillful scouts, one to the right, the other to the left, with orders to get to the rear of the enemy, no matter how long a detour was necessary.  In case they were unable to extinguish them, they were to signal or return for assistance.  After sending off his trusty messengers, Lone Wolf concluded to hold back until their return, keeping himself and his braves pretty well concealed, but guarding against the capture of their horses in the ravine below, or the escape of the two fugitives, who might attempt to take advantage of the diversion.

At the end of an hour, nothing had been seen or heard of the Apache scouts sent out, and the chief dispatched another to learn what was going on, and what was the cause of the trouble.  During this hour not a rifle-shot was detected by the waiting, listening ears.  Another half hour passed away, and the third man sent out by Lone Wolf came back alone, and with astounding tidings.

He had found both of the warriors lying within a few yards of each other, stone dead.  He sought for some explanation of the strange occurrence, but found none, and returned with the news to his leader.