othing better to do, got many fine moving pictures through
the hole in the hut, and later the films made a great hit in New York.
It was the first time these peculiar rites had ever been shown on the
screen. In fact, few white men had witnessed them.

Baldy was waiting for a chance to send up his smoke signal, but it was
not until afternoon that he got it. Then, most of the Indians having
gone off to a distant part of the _mesa_, for some new ceremony, Baldy
made a thick smudge and he and Paul, holding a blanket over it, sent up
a number of "puff balls." Russ took pictures of the signalling.

"There! If Bow only sees that he'll come runnin'!" Baldy cried.

But the smoke signal was the cause of considerable trouble to our
friends. Hardly had Paul and Baldy finished sending the message, which
they could only hope was seen and read at Rocky Ranch, than some of the
Indians came back. They had noted what had been done, and they were very
angry.

With furious gestures they rushed on the prisoners and for a moment it
looked as though there would be trouble. Baldy and Paul stood steadily,
revolvers in hand. But there was no need to use them. Jumping Horse
rushed up, and drove back his men. Then he said something angrily to
Baldy.

"What is it?" asked Mr. DeVere.

"He says we shall be punished for making the smoke," was the answer. "I
don't know whether they think it's a signal or not; but it seems to have
been contrary to some of their ceremonies. We'll have to sit tight and
watch."

Muttering angrily, Jumping Horse went back to join the other Indians,
and they seemed to hold a conference regarding the prisoners. Nothing
was done immediately, however, in the way of punishment, and a little
later the ceremonies went on.

It was growing dusk, and the howling and yelling of the Indians
punctuated their caperings about a blood-red post in the center of the
sandy circle. Then, suddenly, there was a fusillade of pistol shots from
the direction of the trail, and at the same time the unmistakable shouts
of cowboys.

"They're here!" yelled Baldy, jumping to his feet and firing his own
revolver in the air. "To the rescue, boys! Here we be!"

CHAPTER XVIII

A RUSH OF STEERS

Russ came bounding from his hut, carrying with him the moving picture
camera, its three legs trailing behind him.

"Come on, girls!" he cried, as he saw Ruth and Alice peering from their
shelter. "It's all right!"

"Oh, what does it mean?" a