seems," remarked
Frank.

"Who d'ye think it can be; and would a bear or a mountain lion pick up
our tracks this way?" continued Bob, who was trying to work his rifle
around, so as to cover the rear.

"Wait! Let's all listen, after I send the word along to Hank and
Chesty," remarked Frank.

When this had been done even the old cowman thought well enough of the
idea to wait until they could find out the nature of the sounds that had
reached the keen hearing of the wide-awake Chinaman.

It was only half light in the break of the rock, and the passage they
had been following thus far was so very crooked that no one could see
more than twenty feet down the trail.

Still every eye was fastened on that point where the advancing man or
animal would first appear. Frank, too, had his rifle bearing on the
spot; and taken as a whole the appearance of the little company,
flattened out against the break in the mighty rock wall, was rather
threatening.

All of them could catch the sounds below now. Whoever came up the rock
ladder must be unused to negotiating such a stairway, for they rattled
small bits of loose shale down at times; and Frank felt sure he could
hear a panting sound, very much like that which tired Bob had been
making a minute ago.

And, as he listened, Frank made a discovery that caused him to tighten
his grip on that reliable repeating rifle. There were two of the
pursuers! And he anticipated that the leader must come in sight ere
another dozen seconds passed!

There was some sort of movement now, down in the region of the little
twist where the steep stairway of the old cliff dwellers made a turn.
Then a head and shoulders came into view.

Frank chuckled aloud. Just in almost that last second of time he had
suddenly guessed the truth, when, in this clinging figure that was
staring upward, as though filled with genuine surprise, he recognized an
old friend.

It was Mr. Stanwix, the sheriff of the county!

He and his mate from the adjoining division of Coconino must have just
had a glimpse of Charley Moi disappearing in the dark hole at the base
of the cliff; and, being in pursuit of two shrewd law breakers, who had
been known to appear in other dress than that of cowmen, perhaps the
officers had concluded that here was something that ought to be
investigated.

Frank immediately made a friendly gesture with one hand. He did not want
to risk the chances of being fired upon by the officers of the law,