"It was surely Thomas Hardy, one of the men who accompanied Jasper Williams," said Roger, showing much concern. "And I believe the other to be Mordaunt, the second frontiersman and trapper. But there is no third in the party. What can have become of Williams? If he is dead there is an end to all our hopes. Oh, Dick, I am afraid!" Dick's face had also lost much of its customary color, for a spasm of alarm had attacked his bold heart when his companion thus voiced his fears. CHAPTER X ATTACKED BY HOSTILE BLACKFEET "CHEER up, Roger!" said Dick, making an effort to look as though he himself had no fear of disaster. "I've often heard my father say it is foolish to cross a bridge before you reach it. The first thing for us to do is to let these poor fellows in the trap know we are here." When there was a prospect for action Roger could rouse himself wonderfully. "And we must get them out of that deep hole by hook or by crook, Dick!" he exclaimed. The two pushed forward until they could look down toward the place where they had discovered the forlorn figures of the prisoners. "Hello! Hardy--Mordaunt!" called Dick, just loud enough to make his voice carry to the men. He did not know what danger might be near, and on this account believed it the part of wisdom to be careful. Immediately the pair below looked up. When they discovered the boys they manifested the greatest delight, even to shaking hands with each other. Evidently they had been close to the point of despair. "We're going to get you out of that hole first of all!" called Dick, "and then you can tell us what happened." "Where is Jasper Williams?" demanded Roger, unable to restrain his impatience longer. "We do not know," came the discouraging answer. "Then he isn't down there with you?" pursued Roger. "No. The last we saw of Jasper he was still alive, although hotly pursued." Naturally these last words excited Roger's curiosity more than ever. He could easily guess that the party must have met with a stirring adventure of some sort, and if Williams had fled it must have been hostile Indians who pursued him. But Dick would not hear of any further delay in starting work. "Come, Roger, I shall need your assistance," he told the other. "Bottle up your curiosity until we can get those poor fellows up out of the pit. They seem to be injured more or less, for Hardy has a bandage around his arm that looks bloody." Roger was only too willing to render what aid he could, though the fact struck him that they were not likely to find it plain sailing. "If they couldn't climb up out of that hole on account of the smooth face of the rock, how shall we go down to help them, Dick?" he demanded. "That would be foolish," was the reply. "We must plan to draw them up here." "But, Dick, where is the rope to come from? We brought nothing of the sort from the camp?"