Here they were hidden from the view of the Indians, and
Billy broke at once into a run, half carrying the girl with a
strong arm about her waist.
"If we can reach the foothills," he said, "I think we can
dodge 'em, an' by goin' all night we may reach the river and
El Orobo by morning. It's a long hike, Barbara, but we gotta
make it--we gotta, for if daylight finds us in the Piman
country we won't never make it. Anyway," he concluded
optimistically, "it's all down hill."
"We'll make it, Billy," she replied, "if we can get past the
sentry."
"What sentry?" asked Billy. "I didn't see no sentry when I
come in."
"They keep a sentry way down the trail all night," replied
the girl. "In the daytime he is nearer the village--on the top
of this bluff, for from here he can see the whole valley; but at
night they station him farther away in a narrow part of the
trail."
"It's a mighty good thing you tipped me off," said Billy;
"for I'd a-run right into him. I thought they was all behind us
now."
After that they went more cautiously, and when they
reached the part of the trail where the sentry might be
expected to be found, Barbara warned Billy of the fact. Like
two thieves they crept along in the shadow of the canyon
wall.
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