The top sack of corn in the barricade slewed out over the brink. It
toppled and came plunging downward. Above it a dark head came into
sight, half out-thrust over the top of the other sacks.

Lennon fired up past the falling bag of grain. The head jerked upward,
twisted, and lay still on the edge of the barricade, as the sack of corn
thudded and burst on the cliff foot within two feet of the saddles. To
make doubly certain, Lennon sent up another bullet, as well-aimed as the
first.

His lips were set in a smile of stern satisfaction as he came to where
Elsie was cowering in the arms of Carmena.

"You were right--as usual," he said. "The knife could only have knocked
him out for a time. He must have played 'possum. But he was disabled.
Crawled after us--couldn't get a gun till we left and too eager to
wait--thought we'd be under the hoist. Yet why he should have exposed
himself----"

"His wounds," divined Carmena. "The strain of heaving over the sack was
too much for him. He collapsed. You're sure you didn't miss him, Jack?"

"No. Through the head--same as he shot Blossom's father."

CHAPTER XXIV

HIS DAUGHTER'S FATHER

Carmena stroked the dishevelled Elsie's yellow locks.

"There, there, sweetheart," she said soothingly. "The fighting is all
over. The bad Indian really is dead this time. You've no more need to be
frightened. Brother Jack and I will take care of you."

Elsie gazed up into the loving dark eyes of her comforter.

"Why, of course, Mena, when you've always----"

The blue eyes suddenly widened.

"But--but not always--papa and mamma--it seems only yesterday---- No,
you--all these years---- But then I can't be only ten! My goodness, what
a funny rumbly-wumble in my head--just like two dreams mixed up--only
they're real--both of them!"

"Yes, both real--all real, Blossom."

"Except one thing," hastily put in Lennon. "It is Carmena whom I am
going to marry, Elsie. Remember that."

The girl looked at him, blushing and dimpling with shy delight.

"Oh, it'll be ever so much nicer, 'cause then I can be just your dear
little sister, and Mena loves you a thousand times more."

Carmena's cheeks flooded with scarlet, but she faced Lennon with a look
of unflinching candour.

"Yes, Jack, I do. I tricked you into the Basin. For Dad's sake, I was
ready to lead you to almost certain death from Cochise and his bunch.
But after that Gila monster I loved you--I put you above all else except
Bl