Nas Ta Bega led along the ridge-top and then started down, following the waves in the rock.  He came out upon a round promontory from which there could not have been any turning of a horse.  The long slant leading down was at an angle Shefford declared impossible for the animals.  Yet the Indian started down.  His mustang needed urging, but at last edged upon the steep descent.  Shefford and the others had to hold back and wait.  It was thrilling to see the intelligent mustang.  He did not step.  He slid his fore hoofs a few inches at a time and kept directly behind the Indian.  If he fell he would knock Nas Ta Bega off his feet and they would both roll down together.  There was no doubt in Shefford’s mind that the mustang knew this as well as the Indian.  Foot by foot they worked down to a swelling bulge, and here Nas Ta Bega left his mustang and came back for the pack-horse.  It was even more difficult to get this beast down.  Then the Indian called for Lassiter and Jane and Fay to come down.  Shefford began to keep a sharp lookout behind and above, and did not see how the three fared on the slope, but evidently there was no mishap.  Nas Ta Bega mounted the slope again, and at the moment sight of Shadd’s dark bays silhouetted against the sky caused Shefford to call out: 

“We’ve got to hurry!”

The Indian led one mustang and called to the others.  Shefford stepped close behind.  They went down in single file, inch by inch, foot by foot, and safely reached the comparative level below.

“Shadd’s gang are riding their horses up and down these walls!” exclaimed Shefford.

“Shore,” replied Lassiter.

Both the women were silent.

Nas Ta Bega led the way swiftly to the right.  He rounded a huge dome, climbed a low, rolling ridge, descended and ascended, and came out upon the rim of a steep-walled amphitheater.  Along the rim was a yard-wide level, with the chasm to the left and steep slope to the right.  There was no time to flinch at the danger, when an even greater danger menaced from the rear.  Nas Ta Bega led, and his mustang kept at his heels.  One misstep would have plunged the animal to his death.  But he was surefooted and his confidence helped the others.  At the apex of the curve the only course led away from the rim, and here there was no level.  Four of the mustangs slipped and slid down the smooth rock until they stopped in a shallow depression.  It cost time to get them out, to straighten pack and saddles.  Shefford thought he heard a yell in the rear, but he could not see anything of the gang.

They rounded this precipice only to face a worse one.  Shefford’s nerve was sorely tried when he saw steep slants everywhere, all apparently leading down into chasms, and no place a man, let alone a horse, could put a foot with safety.  Nevertheless the imperturbable Indian never slacked his pace.  Always he appeared to find a way, and he never had to turn back.  His winding course, however, did not now cover much distance in a straight line, and herein lay the greatest peril.  Any moment Shadd and his men might come within range.