The Indians uttered a short, sharp cry, then aimed their rifles at the figures of the two fleeing Pony Rider Boys.

Tad saw the movement.  He threw himself prone upon the ground, jerking Chunky down beside him.

They were screened from the eyes of the enemy, for the moment.

“Crawl!  Crawl!” commanded Tad.

On hands and feet the boys began running rapidly over the ground, on down into a narrow gulch.  If they could gain the opposite side they would be safe, as it was unlikely that the Indians would follow them there.  To do so, the boys were obliged to cross an open space.  They had just reached it, when their pursuers appeared behind them.  Once more the Indians raised their rifles, their fingers exerting a gentle pressure on the triggers.

CHAPTER IV

 On the trail of Juan

“Look out!  They’re going to shoot!” cried Tad.

The lads quickly rolled in opposite directions.

“Hallo-o, Tad!”

The call was in the stentorian voice of Professor Zepplin, to which Ned Rector added a shout of his own.

Fearing that some ill had befallen Tad and Stacy, the others had started out after them.  Following them came Walter and the lazy Mexican.

“We’re down here!  Look out for the Indians!” warned Tad in a loud voice.

“You’re crazy!” jeered Ned.  “Come out of that.  What ails you fellows?  The dinner’s stone cold and Professor Zepplin is all in the stew.”

Tad scrambled to his feet, with a quick glance at the top of the ridge, where, but a moment before, half a dozen rifles had been leveled at Chunky and himself.

Not an Indian was in sight.  Tad was amazed.  He could not understand it.  Grabbing Stacy by an arm he hurried him up the other side of the gulch, where they quickly joined their companions.

“What does this mean?” demanded the Professor.

“Hurry!  We must get out of this.  It’s Indians!”

“They—­ they wanted to scalp us,” interjected Stacy.

“But you runned away, eh?  Brave man!” chuckled Ned.

“Indians!  There are no Indians here.

“I’ll tell you about it when we get to camp.  They were just about to shoot at us when you appeared up here.”

“’Pache bad Injun,” vouchsafed Juan.

“Were those Apaches?” questioned Tad.

The guide shrugged his shoulders.

“I was sure they were, though I do not think I ever saw an Apache before.  They don’t live about here, do they, Juan?”

“’Pache off reservation.  Him go dance.  Firewater!  Ugh!” making a motion as if scalping himself.

“I’m hungry,” called Stacy.

“Yes; so am I,” added Tad.  “But I think we had better not wait to eat.  We can take a bite in the saddle while we are moving.”

Stacy protested loudly at this, but Tad’s judgment prevailed with the Professor, after the boys had related their experience in detail.  All hands began at once to pack up the few belongings that had been taken from the burro, and once more they started on their way, moving somewhat more rapidly than had been the case in the early part of the day.