the invisible plant of the trader. Close at hand, near the
hospital and again lining the edge of the mesa, a score of yards
farther to the left, a number of soldiers of the other company were
eagerly watching developments. Even with the naked eye, two miles or
more up the valley, Strong's little detachment, black dots of
skirmishers, could occasionally be sighted pushing on northward, while,
at heavy gallop, heading for the front, Willett was still in plain
view; but, at the moment, nothing could be seen of the objects that
were the original cause of the excitement.

From the Picacho, it seems, both Strong and Bonner had made out through
their glasses two tiny black dots in the direction of Bennett's ruined
ranch, coming slowly toward the post, but still five or six miles away.
From the platform, forty minutes later, two horsemen had distinctly
been seen moving swiftly about, close to the willows that lined, in
places, the rocky stream bed. More than this, the general was sure he
had caught sight of three or four figures afoot, skipping actively
about when moving at all. What he and his advisers believed was that
Sergeant Woodrow and his comrades were, for some reason, trying to make
their way back to Almy and had found Apaches barring the way. Therefore
had Strong and his little party been sent forth to meet, to aid, to
bring them in. Therefore had Willett, of his own motion this time, and
without the delegated authority he bore when following Harris, set
forth at speed to overtake them, forgetful, in the eagerness of the
moment and the possible over-excitement of his faculties, that he had
promised Archer to be back just as soon as he'd got his Colt--that
calibre 44 Colt now belted at his hip, with every chamber loaded.

And now as the eager watchers at the platform trained their glasses on
the distant field, Bucketts, taking up the handsome binocular left by
the aide-de-camp, had time to notice its fine silver mounting and the
engraved "H. Willett, U.S.A.," in exactly the same script as that
which adorned the revolver. Then, as he adjusted it to his eyes, it
occurred to him to tell the doctor of Harris's coming to the side door,
and of his most earnest language and manner, whereat the general turned
sharply:

"What's that? Harris said no Apache-Mohaves?"

"No Apache-Mohaves in the affair at Bennett's Ranch, sir, on 'Tonio's
authority, and Willett scoffed at both statement and 'Tonio."

"By heaven," said Archer,