"Look!" he exclaimed. "I wonder if the Indians can be there now, doing some of their snake ceremonies?" "Let's have a look," suggested Paul. "We've got lots of time. I'd like to have a peep." "I would too!" exclaimed Alice. "Oh, Daddy, will it be safe?" asked Ruth, for she saw that her father seemed interested. "There are so many of us, I think so," he replied. "We will try it, at all events. They can no more than tell us to go. I should very much like to see what they do, and perhaps I can get some of their weapons or musical instruments for my collection," for the actor had that fad. And then, though Ruth was a bit timid about it, they turned toward the elevated table land to see if the Indians were at their rites. CHAPTER XVI PRISONERS "Russ, are you going to try to get a film?" asked Alice, as she saw the young operator examining his camera. "I was thinking of it," he confessed. "I guess I've got film enough to get you people, and take about eight hundred feet of the Indians--that is, if they'll let us." "Maybe we can make them believe the camera is some new kind of magic, that will help them better than some of their own," suggested Paul. "One of the cowboys was telling me the Indians come here to make magic or 'medicine' that they take back to the reservation with them, to ward off sickness, bring good crops, and the like." "Well, don't run into danger, whatever you do," advised Mr. DeVere. "We'll just take a look, if we can, and come away." "But I want a film," insisted Russ. They were nearing the _mesa_. The smoke on top was seen to be growing thicker, but there were no other signs that the Indians were on top of the peculiar, table-like formation. "Suppose they aren't there?" suggested Paul. "Oh, don't come any of that Mr. Sneed business," laughed Russ. "Don't cross a bridge until you come to it. I guess they're there, all right." "Who's that coming after us?" asked Ruth, as she turned in her saddle, and indicated an approaching horseman, who was coming on at a gallop. A cloud of dust almost hid him, and it could not be made out who he was. A little later, as he drew nearer, however, he was seen to be Baldy Johnson. He waved his hat at them, his bald pate shining in the hot sun, and called out: "Hold on! Where you goin'?" "Up to the _mesa_," answered Russ. "The Indians are there, I think, and we want to see them. I want to get some pictures." The two girls expected Baldy to make an objection, but he merely said: "Well, I guess it'll be safe enough this time. I'll go along with you. There's only a small party of them up there now." "Then you know the Indians are there?" asked Alice.