reconnoissance, cost him no thought. Such a situation he
was quite used to. But for a green boy from the East to put up so
unequal a fight seemed to the experienced scout a most humorous
proceeding.

He mounted his horse and directing Hawk what to do if he should be
hit, set out to ride completely around the suspected wagon. The canvas
cover was the uncertain element in the situation. It might conceal
nobody, and yet it might conceal three rifles waiting for an
indiscreet pursuer to come within range. Scott, taking advantage of
the uneven country, rode circumspectly to the south, keeping the
object of his caution well in view, and at times, under cover of
friendly rocks, getting up quite close to it.

Before he had completed half his ride he had satisfied himself as to
the actual state of affairs. Yet his habitual caution led him to
follow out his original purpose quite as carefully as if he had
reached no conclusion. When he crossed the trail west of the wagon, he
looked closely for fresh tracks, but there were none. He then circled
to the north and was soon able, by dismounting, to crawl under cover
within a hundred yards of the heads of the horses. When he got up to
where he could see without being seen he perceived clearly that his
surmise had been correct.

Both horses lay dead in the harness. From the front seat of the wagon
a boot protruded; nothing more could be seen. Scott now, by signals,
summoned Dave Hawk from where he lay, and when the swarthy conductor
reached the scout, Scott called out loudly at the wagon.

There was no answer, no movement, no sound. Things began to seem
queer; in the bright blaze of sunshine, and with the parched desert
glistening after the welcome rain, there in the midst of the vast
amphitheatre of mountains lay the dead horses before the mysterious
wagon. But nowhere about was any sign of life, and the wagon might
hold within its white walls death for whoever should unwarily approach
it.

Bob Scott had no idea, however, of sacrificing himself to any scheme
that might have occurred to the enemy to lure him within danger. He
called out again at the top of his voice and demanded a surrender. No
sound gave any response, and raising his rifle he sent a bullet
through the extreme top of the canvas cover midway back from the
driver's seat.

The echoes of the report crashed back to the rocks, but brought
nothing from the silence of the emigrant wagon. A second shot
followed, tearing