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"Must fire now," the young Indian said, "then Leaping Horse know 'Rappahoes coming up." They went out on to the platform and opened fire. They knew that their chance of hitting one of the Indians was small indeed; the other side of the valley was a quarter of a mile away, and the height at which they were standing rendered it difficult to judge the elevation necessary for their rifles.
Tom indeed did not fire again, the movements of the Indians being so rapid that they were gone before he could bring his sight to bear upon any of them. "Go now," the chief said. "'Rappahoes fire soon; run quick." It was but a few yards to shelter.
Once across river follow up little stream among hills other side, that the way to pass. If 'Rappahoes follow us we fight them." "Yes, we shall have them at an advantage there, for they would have to come up under our fire, and there are sure to be places where half a dozen men could keep fifty at bay. Very well, chief, that is settled. When do you think we had better start?"
I laughed, and said that we could take care of ourselves, and preferred doing so to trusting ourselves in the hands of the 'Rappahoes, when we had made some of their squaws widows." "Would they have kept their word, uncle, do you think?" Tom asked. "Not they.
"An old trapper who had lived among the Shoshones told me that nine months in the year they were shut up in the valleys by the snow on the passes." "Then how can live?" the chief went on. "As long as we stay in this country the 'Rappahoes will watch us. They will tell the Bannacks and the Nez Perces, and they too would be on our trail.
"I suppose uncle talks their language?" "No, I don't reckon he knows the 'Rappahoe dialect. But the tribes on the western side of the plains can mostly understand each other's talk; and as I know he can get on well with the Utes, he is sure to be able to understand the 'Rappahoes' talk."
The 'Rappahoes are like the dead leaves drifting before the wind. They come as far south as the emigrant trail, and have attacked caravans many times. After to-night we must look out for them always, and must put out our fires before dark."
The Shoshones are further north, and are friendly; the Bannacks and Nez Perces are in northwest, near Snake River; and the Sioux more on the north and east, on other side of great mountains. 'Rappahoes here." "Waal," Jerry said wrathfully, "onless they catch Harry asleep, some of the darned skunks will be rubbed out afore they get his scalp. It is a good country for hiding trail.
"Leaping Horse has been hunting," the Indian said quietly, with a wave of his hand, denoting that he had been over a wide expanse of country. "I guessed so," Jerry put in. "And fighting with 'Rappahoes and Navahoes." "Then you've been north and south?" The Indian nodded. "Much trouble with both; they wanted our scalps.
"Afraid we come down path and stop them. See, Leaping Horse among rocks." It was some time before Tom could detect the Indian, so stealthily did he move from rock to rock. "Where are the others?" "No see, somewhere in bushes. Leaping Horse go on to scout; not know how many 'Rappahoes."
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