The descent was almost more arduous than the ascent, but there was no
danger save such as might result from a slip or wrench through placing a
foot in one of the awkward cracks, and once more down in the plain,
where the camp was as busy as an ant hill, the Doctor called the
principal Englishmen about his waggon, and formed a sort of council, as
he proceeded to lay his plans before them.
The first was--as they were ready to defy the Indians, and to fight for
their position there, to make the mountain their fortress, and in spite
of the laborious nature of the ascent, it was determined that the tents
should be set up on the top, while further steps were taken to enlarge
the interior of the opening as soon as the narrow entrance was passed,
so as to allow of a party of men standing ready to defend the way
against Indians who might force themselves in.
This was decided on at once, and men told off to do the work.
Then it was proposed to build three or four stout walls across the
sloping path, all but just room enough for a man to glide by. These
would be admirable means of defence to fight behind, if the enemy forced
their way in past the first entry, and with these and a larger and
stronger barrier at the top of the slope by the first turn, it was
considered by the Doctor that with ordinary bravery the place would be
impregnable.
So far so good; but then there were the horses and cattle, the former in
the cavern-like stable, the latter in their stonewalled corral or
enclosure.
Here was a difficulty, for now, however strong their defence might be,
they were isolated, and it would be awkward in case of attack to have
two small parties of men detailed for the guarding of these places,
which the Indians would be sure to attack in force, in place of throwing
their lives away against the well-defended mountain path.
"Couldn't we contrive a gallery along the face of the mountain, right
along above the ravine and the stables, sir?" said Bart. "I think some
stones might be loosened out, and a broad ledge made, too high for the
Indians to climb up, and with a good wall of stones along the edge we
could easily defend the horses."
"A good idea, Bart, if it can be carried out," said the Doctor. "Let's
go and see!"
Inspection proved that this could easily be done so as to protect the
horses, but not the corral, unless its position were altered and it were
placed close alongside of the cavern stable.
After so much trouble had been taken in rearing this wall it seemed a
great pity, but the men willingly set to work, while some loosened
stones from above, and levered them down with bars, these fallen stones
coming in handy for building up the wall.
Fineness of finish was not counted; nothing but a strong barrier which
the cattle could not leap or throw down, if an attempt was made to scare
them into a stampede, was all that was required, and so in a few days
not only was this new corral strongly constructed, and the ledge
projected fifty feet above it in the side of the mountain had been
excavated, and edged with a strong wall of rock.
There was but little room, only advantage was taken of holes in the
rock, which were enlarged here and there so as to form a kind of
rifle-pit, in which there was plenty of space for a man to creep and
kneel down to load and fire at any enemy who should have determined to
carry off the cattle. In fine, they had at last a strong place of
defence, only to be reached from a spot about a hundred feet up the
sloping way to the summit of the mountain; and the road to and from the
bastion, as the Doctor called it, was quite free from observation in the
plain, if the defenders crept along on hands and knees.
Beneath the entrance to this narrow gallery a very strong wall was built
nearly across the slope; and at Bart's suggestion a couple of huge
stones were loosened in the wall just above, and a couple of crowbars
were left there ready to lower these still further, so that they would
slip down into the narrow opening left in case of emergency, and thus
completely keep the Indians out.
All these matters took a great deal of time, but the knowledge of the
danger from the prowling bands of Indians always on the war-path on the
plains, and also that of the large treasure in silver that was within
their reach, made the men work like slaves.
Water had been found in a spring right at the top of the mountain, and
after contriving a basin in the rock that it should fill, it was
provided with an outlet, and literally led along a channel of silver
down to where it could trickle along a rift, and then down by the side
of the sloping paths to a rock basin dug and blasted out close to the
entrance in the plain.
This was a good arrangement, for the water was deliciously pure, and
gave an ample supply to the camp, and even to the cattle when necessary,
a second overflow carrying the fount within the corral, where a
drinking-place was made, so that they were thus independent of the lake
upon the plain, or the necessity for contriving a way down to the river
in the canyon. Attention had then to be given to the food supply, and
this matter was mentioned to the Beaver.
For Bart had suggested that no doubt the Indians would find buffalo for
them, instead of passing their time playing the part of mountain scouts
and herdsmen when the cattle were driven to feed down in the rich
pastures by the lake.