ere through its centre, shadowed by groves of
trees. All about, as far as eye could reach, stood great precipices,
their bold, rugged fronts rising hundreds of feet, unbroken, and
unscalable; the sun directly above bathed these with showers of gold,
and cast a blanket of colour across the sheltered valley.

This valley itself was nearly square, possibly extending not over a
mile in either direction, merely a great hole rimmed by desert, a
strange, hidden oasis, rendered fertile and green by some outburst of
fresh water from the rocks. Emerging upon it in midst of the barren
desolation through which they had been toiling for hours, blinded by
alkali dust, jolted down that dangerous decline, it seemed like some
beautiful dream, a fantasy of imagination.

Miss Donovan doubted the evidence of her own eyes, half convinced that
she slept. It was Moore's voice which aroused her.

"Mendez must have got back, Joe," he said eagerly. "There are horses
and cattle over yonder."

The other pushed up the canvas and looked out.

"That's right. Must just got here, or there'd 'a' been a guard up
above. The fellow is comin' now--see?"

He was loping along carelessly, Mexican from high hat to jingling
spurs, sitting the saddle as though moulded there, a young fellow, dark
faced, but with a livid scar along one cheek.

"Juan Cateras, the little devil," muttered Sikes, as the rider drew
nearer. "There's some pot brewing if he is in it."

The rider drew up his horse, and lifted his hat, his smiling lips
revealing a row of white teeth.

"A pleasant day, _senor_," he said graciously, his dark eyes searching
the faces of the two men, and then dwelling with interest on the woman.
"Ah, your pardon, _senorita_; your presence is more than welcome here."
He rested one hand on the wagon box, the expression of his face
hardening. "Yet an explanation might not be out of place--the Senor
Mendez may not be pleased."

"We came under orders from Lacy," replied Moore confidently. "You have
seen us both before."

"True, but not the lady; you will tell me about her?"

Sikes climbed down over the wheel.

"It is like this, _senor_," he began. "Lacy did not know your party
was here; he thought you were all south for another month yet. He
would keep this girl quiet, out of the way for a time. She is from New
York, and knows too much."

"From New York?" The quick eyes of the Mexican again sought her face.
"She is to be held prisoner?"