Two, and they were not mules, though evidently four-footed creatures.

But what could they be? he asked himself, as he recovered his feet and stood with presented piece, his heart throbbing, and his finger on the trigger, ready to fire at the next movement from the cave. They could not be pumas, for the touch he had of the first one's body was not furry; neither could they be large monkeys, for they would not have smooth bodies, and besides, these creatures were too large.

He was still in doubt, when there was a sound behind him, and as he turned sharply, a husky whisper:

"Don't fire, my lad. What was that?"

"Did you hear it, Manning?"

"Yes, and had a glint of some one running by me."

"Some one?"

"Yes. Indian, I think; did you see him?"

Cyril told him of what he had seen, and was just finishing, when there was a faint whisper and a movement of a stone or two as some one hurried up.

"Manning--Cyril--"

"Yes, sir."--"Yes, sir."

"Look out. Some one pa.s.sed me just now. Who's this--Perry?"

"Yes, father," came in excited tones from out of the darkness. "Was it you who fell over me?"

"No: when? where?"

"Just now. Then it must have been Cyril. He went down heavily, but jumped up and ran away."

"Indians, sir," said John Manning, in a low angry growl. "They pa.s.sed the line of sentries, and must have been trying to spot the camp."

"Absurd."

"Fact, sir. Ask Mr Cyril here."

"Yes, sir; two Indians--I thought they were wild beasts--came crawling out of the cave and jumped by me."

"You saw them?"

"Oh no, sir: it was so dark; but I hit at one of them and felt him."

"Came out of the cavern?"

"Yes, sir."

"But are you sure?"

"Quite, sir; I heard them frighten the mules, which began trampling, and then one of the men sprang out."

"Shall I light the lantern, sir, and go in and see if there's any more?"

growled John Manning.

"No, my man; in all probability there were only the two, and perhaps they were not enemies to be feared. Possibly we have scared them more than they scared us."

Cyril mentally demurred to that, but said nothing, and the colonel went on:

"I'm afraid our night's rest has gone," he said, "for it is impossible to lie down with the knowledge that Indians who may be enemies are about.--Did you see anything as you made your round, John Manning?"

"No, sir; but I heard something twice. It may have been only an animal, but something moved a few little stones up to the left. When I went cautiously up, whatever it was had gone. Did you see or hear anything, sir?"

"I thought I heard a whisper a short distance away, but I could not be sure. I am sure, though, that some one glided by me, and Perry here had the best of evidence that one of the Indians fell over him."

"Unless it was Cyril; he did lie down to sleep by me, father."

"I've been on guard here by the cave's mouth for ever so long," said Cyril sharply, as if resenting the fact that his companion should have been sleeping while he watched.

"Then it was an Indian," said the boy sharply.

"We have the mules safe, Manning," said the colonel, "and now we must make sure of the baggage. Stand together, boys, facing two ways, while Manning and I get the packs into the cave."

"But there may be more Indians in there, sir," said Cyril.

"If there are, we must drive them out. That must be our fort for the present."

At that moment there was a faint whistle from a distance, and it was answered from somewhere high up on the mountain-side.

CHAPTER TWENTY FIVE.

BETWEEN TWO STOOLS.

No time was lost. The two boys were posted at the cavern entrance, one to try to check any advance from the valley, the other to guard against the escape of the mules, and stay by his presence any Indian who might still be in hiding.

This latter was Cyril's duty, and this time he set his teeth and stepped right within the opening, encouraged by the fact that he had the colonel and John Manning constantly coming and going with the mule-packs, till only two were left to bring in.

"I can hear people coming nearer," whispered Perry just then, and the colonel threw his load down at his son's feet.

"You lads carry that in," he said.--"Manning, quick, we must get those other packs. They're coming on."

John Manning, who was walking back from the cave, hastened his pace, and the two men hurried through the darkness to where the last two packages lay.

"You keep watch," said Cyril. "I'm the stronger, and will get the pack inside."

Perry said nothing, but felt glad and yet sorry, for he dreaded to re-enter the cave alone, and at the same time was ashamed to relegate the task to his companion.

But there was no time for hesitation. Something serious was evidently going on by the spot where the packages had been stacked, for there were shouts and cries, and Cyril stooped to lift the pack, meaning to hurry into the cave and then return to pick up the gun he left with Perry, and stand ready to support their companions, in case he could do any good.

The package was heavy, but he hoisted it on to one shoulder, and was about to bear it into the cave, when he was driven backward, and fell heavily, to be trampled under foot by a couple of men who charged out, plainly showing that there were others inside.