"Two out o' four," declared Poke Stover. "That wasn't so bad, after
all."

The captured Mexican was questioned, and said the missing officer was
Captain Arguez, from Santa Cruz.

"He belongs to a most noble family," said the prisoner. "He will never
give up."

"He will if I lay my hands on him," said Amos Radbury, quietly.

Both father and son were much worried over Ralph, and wondered what had
become of him. It was agreed that while looking for Captain Arguez they
should hunt for the boy also.

CHAPTER XXI.

WHAT HAPPENED TO RALPH.

"I'm lost, and that is all there is to it!"

Ralph sat on the back of his mustang the picture of dismay. He had
tried to follow his big brother and had failed, and had spent the night
on the bank of the ravine, but at a point several miles from the cave.

Ralph was not nearly as well versed in woodcraft as his big brother,
and he hardly knew how to turn or what to do. All about him was one
vast wilderness, and the silence and loneliness made him shiver in
spite of himself.

"If I only knew what had become of him," he said, over and over. "But
perhaps he is dead!" And the tears started to his eyes.

He had eaten nothing since the evening before, but he was too worried
now to satisfy the cravings of his stomach. He had his own mustang and
that of Dan with him, and they were feasting on the rich grass close at
hand. Procuring a drink at a stream near by, he watered the animals and
set forth once again on the hunt.

The day drifted by swiftly, and Ralph found neither Dan nor the way out
of the belt of timber. He was now weak from so much travelling, and was
compelled to rest and partake of the scant lunch still left in the
hamper Pompey had provided.

As night came on so did the storm, and with the first fall of rain he
sought shelter under some overhanging rocks near the top of one side of
the ravine.

It was anything but a pleasant position, and no wonder Ralph wished
himself safe at home again.

The storm increased until the rain came down in a deluge, forming a
good-sized stream in the basin of the ravine. Ralph was thankful that
there was but little thunder and lightning.

Having found a dry place in a corner of the rocks, he was on the point
of falling into a doze when a clatter not far off aroused him.

"It must be Dan," he thought. "Dan! Dan!" he cried, starting up. "Is
that you?"

At the sound of his voice the clatter ceased, and only the violence of