d handkerchief Spanish
Joe wears on his head."

"I see him peeping at us from behind the bushes," returned Bob. "And
say, he's handling that gun of his just like he'd be glad to use it if
anybody gave him the dare. I reckon Spanish Joe is some ugly customer,
Frank."

"That's just what he is; but let's be moving on. If Peg takes another
flop and splashes in this puddle again, he'll have to swim for it, or
else depend on his own guides to yank him out. No more for me. I'm
wet to the knees; and did you hear him thank me for it? He's sure the
limit."

So the two boys went on.

They were not interfered with, which pleased Frank not a little.
Knowing the nature of Spanish Joe, and the revengeful character of Nick
Jennings, he would not have been much surprised had they attacked him
and Bob, and carried things with a high hand.

Presently a turn in the canyon shut out the scene of their late
adventure. The last glimpse they had of Peg Grant, he had nearly
arrived at the top of the slope, and it seemed possible that he would
not make a slip that might cause him to repeat his recent circus act.

"Why do you think they left the trail, and made their horses climb up?"
asked Bob, presently.

"Well, they might have talked it over just as we did, and chosen to
leave the horses so they could look around on foot," Frank replied.

"But you suspect they might have another reason, too?" Bob insisted.

"That's a fact," replied his chum, seriously. "For all we know they
may have run across some sign of the rustlers, and thought it best to
get out of the beaten rut here before they got caught."

"Then you don't believe that little Lopez had anything to do with it,
Frank?"

"What, that Mex boy? Oh! he's out of the business long ago," replied
the other.

"In what way? Didn't he come along this trail ahead of us?" asked Bob.

"Sure thing," Frank went on. "But you see I've missed the marks of
that burro's little hoofs for nearly twenty minutes. I made up my mind
Lopez had some slick way of climbing out of the _barranca_ a ways back,
without leaving much of any trail. I told you he was a sly one, and I
say the same now, no matter whether he's a brother to the girl you
defended against Peg, or the girl herself."

"All right, Frank. Get us out of this as soon as you can," Bob
remarked, looking ahead, as though he did not much fancy the appearance
of things there.

Ten minutes later Frank drew rein sharply.

"What