"There's where they stay while the ceremonies are going on," spoke Baldy. "They're all in the huts now, probably, watching us." He had hardly finished before there were loud cries, and from the huts poured a motley gathering of Indians. They were attired in very scant costumes--in fact, they were as near like the aborigines as is customary in these modern days. And most of them had, streaked on their faces and bodies, colored earth or fire-ashes. Crude, fierce, and rather terrifying were these painted Indians. "Oh!" faltered Ruth, as the savages advanced toward them. "Now don't be a bit skeered, Miss," said Baldy, calmly. "I'll palaver to 'em, and tell 'em we just come to pay 'em a visit." One Indian, taller and better looking than any of the others, stepped out in advance and came close to the party of players, who had halted their horses. He spoke in short, quick, guttural tones, and looked from one to the other, as if asking who was the spokesman. "I'll talk to you," said Baldy, and then he lapsed into the Indian dialect. The two talked for a little while, and it was evident that some dispute was taking place. At first, however, the voices were kept down, and each of the talkers was calm. Then something the Indian said seemed to annoy Baldy. "Well, you just try it on, and see what happens!" cried the cowboy, hotly. "If you think we're afraid of you it's a big mistake," and, whether unconsciously or not, his hand slid toward the weapon on his right hip. "What is the trouble? Are we not welcome here?" asked Mr. DeVere. "If so----" "Oh, they don't so much mind our coming, as I told 'em we had rights here," replied Baldy. "But the trouble is they don't want us to go until their ceremonies are over. They say it will spoil the magic if we come and go so quickly, so they want to keep us here a couple of days." "As prisoners?" asked Paul, quickly. "That's about it," was the cowboy's laconic answer. CHAPTER XVII THE RESCUE Ruth and Alice gasped convulsively, and then urged their horses nearer to their father's mount. Russ and Paul looked curiously, and a bit apprehensively, at each other. As for Baldy, he sat confronting the tall, thin Indian who had announced the ultimatum of his tribe. "What are you going to do?" asked Russ of the cowboy. "Will we have to stay here?" Paul wanted to know. "Oh, that would be impossible," objected Mr. DeVere. "I would not allow my daughters to remain out over night." Baldy moved uneasily in his saddle. "I sort of got you into this trouble," he said, apologetically, "and I guess I'll have to get you out. We'll have a talk among ourselves," he went on. "Some of these fellows understand English, and it's just as well to be on the safe side." Then, turning to the Indian, Baldy said: "We go for pow-wow!" "Ugh!" was the answer. The Indian then made a sign to his followers, at the same time calling something to them in a high-pitched voice.