'The only safe Indian is the dead Indian.'"

The boys were assigned to a small room next to that occupied by Captain
Moore and Lieutenant Carrol. The apartment was neatly furnished with
iron cots, an iron washstand, and a small wardrobe for extra clothing.
Fortunately the extra clothing they had carried had not been stolen, so
they were not as bad off as they would otherwise have been.

Joe was anxious to hear from his brother Will, but had to be patient.
Yet he was not greatly worried, for he was almost certain that the
soldiers would fail to fall in with the desperadoes, each having taken a
different trail.

The day following their arrival the boys fell in with several soldiers
who were going fishing up a mountain stream not far away, having
obtained special leave of absence for that purpose. The soldiers, who
were named Biggs, Ferry, and Lambert, were glad enough to have the boys
for company.

"We'll show you some good sport," said Lambert, who proved to be
something of a leader. "No better fish in these parts than those you can
catch in Rocky Pass River."

The boys had no fishing-tackle, but Lieutenant Carrol fitted them out,
and soon the party was on the way. The soldiers were to be gone but four
hours, and so struck out at a gait that taxed Joe and Darry to the
utmost to keep up with them.

"It's the air does it," explained Biggs, when Darry spoke about the
speed. "After you've been out here a while you'll eat like a horse and
feel like walking ten miles every morning before breakfast. I tell you,
the air is wonderful."

"It certainly is bracing," answered Darry. "I noticed that as soon as we
began to climb the foothills."

A walk of half an hour brought them to Rocky Pass River, and they
journeyed along the bank until they came to a favorite fishing-hole.

"Here we are," said Lambert. "Now for the first fish!"

"Ten cents to whoever catches it!" cried Joe, and placed a shining dime
on a nearby tree stump. At this the three soldiers laughed.

"That dime is mine," declared Ferry, who was the first to throw in.

"Perhaps," answered Biggs. "But I reckon I've got just as good a chance
now."

"Here I come," put in Lambert, and threw over his friends' heads. Hardly
had his bait gone down than he felt a tug and whipped in a little fish
not over six inches long.

"Mine!" he cried.

"It isn't worth ten cents!" cried Biggs and Ferry; nevertheless Lambert
pocketed the coin, amid a general laughing.

The