ther-in-law, Jessie's
uncle--always promised he'd be down to tell me first thing, if they came
any way that he could hear of it. You bet he'll be with us before
morning, unless they're between him and us now."

With that he turned into the house, and in a moment reappeared with the
wondering, sleepy-eyed, half-wakened little maid in his strong arms.
Wells was already in saddle, and Spot was snorting and prancing about in
evident excitement.

"I'll leave the 'Henry' with Pete. I can't carry it and Jessie, too.
Hand her up to me and snuggle her well in the blanket."

Farron hugged his child tight in his arms one moment. She put her little
arms around his neck and clung to him, looking piteously into his face,
yet shedding no tears. Something told her there was danger; something
whispered "Indians!" to the childish heart; but she stifled her words of
fear and obeyed her father's wish.

"You are going down to Phillips's where Ralph is, Jessie, darling.
Sergeant Wells is going to carry you. Be good and perfectly quiet. Don't
cry, don't make a particle of noise, pet. Whatever you do, don't make
any noise. Promise papa."

As bravely as she had done when she waited that day at the station at
Cheyenne, the little woman choked back the rising sob. She nodded
obedience, and then put up her bonny face for her father's kiss. Who can
tell of the dread, the emotion he felt as he clung to the trusting
little one for that short moment?

"God guard you, my baby," he muttered, as he carefully lifted her up to
Wells, who circled her in his strong right arm, and seated her on the
overcoat that was rolled at his pommel.

Farron carefully wrapped the blanket about her tiny feet and legs, and
with a prayer on his lips and a clasp of the sergeant's bridle hand he
bade him go. Another moment, and Wells and little Jessie were loping
away on Spot, and were rapidly disappearing from view along the dim,
moonlit trail.

For a moment the three ranchmen stood watching them. Far to the
northeast a faint light could be seen at Phillips's, and the roofs and
walls were dimly visible in the rays of the moon. The hoof-beats of old
Spot soon died away in the distance, and all seemed as still as the
grave. Anxious as he was, Farron took heart. They stood there silent a
few moments after the horseman, with his precious charge, had faded from
view, and then Farron spoke,--

"They'll make it all safe. If the Indians were anywhere near us those
mules o