ng, coming to an abrupt stop directly in
front of the door. Thus he and the Texan stood within a few inches of
each other, separated only by the heavy structure, which, for the time,
barred all entrance.

Captain Shirril even fancied that the eye of the redskin was pressed
against the opening, in the vain effort to gain sight of the interior.
Had the Comanche chosen to place his lips there, how readily he could
have whispered into the ear of his enemy!

That the Texan was right in suspecting one of the warriors was so very
near was proven a moment later, when a second Indian approached with his
mustang on the walk, dropped lightly to the ground, and coming forward,
halted so close to the door that he almost touched it.

The captain knew this because he heard the two talking in low tones. He
understood the tongue of the dusky miscreants, but though he listened
closely, could not catch the meaning of a word that passed between
them. Their sentences were of the short, jerky character common to all
American Indians, accompanied by a peculiar grunting, which helped to
obscure their meaning.

The unspeakable relief of the listener was caused by the awakening of
hope for his nephew. He was certainly some way from the cabin, for had
he stayed near the door, discovery was inevitable by the two warriors
now standing there. Indeed, they must almost have stumbled over him.

But he might be still within a few paces, unable to stir through fear of
detection. Extended flat on the ground, on the alert for the first
possible opening, he was liable to discovery at every moment.

In fact, so far as Avon was concerned, he had crossed the Rubicon; for,
if seen, it was impossible to re-enter the cabin, the door of which had
been shut and barred.

The warriors who had paused in front of Captain Shirril kept their
places but a brief while, when they moved off so silently that he could
not tell the direction they took. Everything remained still for several
minutes, when the listener once more fancied he heard something
unusual.

It was a stir among the mesquite bushes, such as might be caused by a
puff or eddy in the wind, which blew quite steadily, though with
moderate force.

He was listening with all his senses strung to the highest point, when
the stillness was broken by the report of a rifle, accompanied by a
ringing shriek, both coming from a point within a few rods of the cabin.
The hearts of the inmates stood still, the wife