A small stone rattling down the side of the declivity, passing within a few inches of his head, warned him of the close proximity of his enemies. It also told him that they had ascended to the top of the cliff. In fact, that seemed the only way of escape from the place, as the rock descended smooth and perpendicular to the bottom. With greater caution than ever, he noiselessly scaled the ascent in the footsteps of the four men, who were hastening to find him. As his head came on a level with the top of the rocky heights, he discovered them approaching the opposite side, creeping cautiously toward the edge overlooking the clearing where the Raggles family had camped, and where he had left Jack. A movement below him at that moment warned him of the return of Blake from his search for the missing letter. Glancing downward, he saw the head of the other appearing in the mouth of the cave! Little Snap began to realize that he was in close quarters. To retreat would be to throw himself into the arms of the enemy behind, while it would be even greater madness to ascend to the summit. No sooner had Little Snap taken a hasty survey of his situation than he decided that by following along the side of the bluff he might reach a place where he could descend in safety to the valley. With an agility belonging to one of his years, he advanced on the side of the cliff, finding a foothold in some crevice of the ledge or on a bush, and clinging with a tenacious hold to its precarious support. But he had not gone half a dozen yards before a sharp cry from Blake told that he had been discovered. "Here he goes!" shouted the excited man, regardless of all caution now. The cries were answered by a great commotion among those on the summit, and he heard the chief call out some question he did not understand. "He's climbin' along th' rock!" cried Blake. "Head him off, an' ye hev got him!" The next instant four heads were thrust over the brink within a rod of where Little Snap was suspended in midair! "Hold up where you are!" commanded the chief, whose sharp eyes had discovered the fugitive. Without stopping to reply, the postboy dropped from the bush supporting him in a diagonal direction to another several feet below. "Don't let him get away!" cried the chief. "Hold up there, boy, where you are, and we won't hurt you! Stop, or we will end your career at once. We hold your life in our hands." Little Snap knew enough of the natures of the men menacing his life to feel that he was running no greater risk in trying to get away from them than he would in allowing himself to fall into their power. Accordingly, without paying any heed to the warning, he swung himself forward and downward to a narrow shelf on the side of the ledge, where he found himself in sight of the clearing in front of the bluff.