lad. He therefore concluded that his friend Mickey was not unwise in
placing him in such a refuge.




CHAPTER XVI.

FRIEND OR ENEMY?


It can scarcely be said that either of the fugitives had any definite hope
of escape, for neither was able to see how the thing was possible. Mickey
knew that occasionally, in the affairs of the world, seemingly
providential interferences had occurred, but he looked for nothing of the
kind. He considered that there would be a siege, lasting perhaps several
days, then a desperate hand-to-hand struggle, and then.

The summary manner in which the Irishman disposed of the first Apache who
showed himself brought matters to a standstill. In this condition they
probably would have remained but for the Irishman himself, who saw nothing
to be gained by inaction. Turning his head, he whispered to Fred:

"Do ye kape quiet, me laddy, till my return. I am going to take a look
around."

The boy offered no objection, for he knew it would not be heeded, and
Mickey moved away. It required the greatest care to pick his way down the
fissure, as the stones and gravel were liable to turn under his feet and
betray his approach, and it was much easier to go forward than backward.