e to scrutinize it closely," explained the major.
"Now, Feeny, you're officer of the guard. How do you want to post us?"

"It's what I've been thinking of, sir, ever since Mr. Harvey got in,
and we've no time to lose. We can't loop-hole this adobe now, but we
can barricade the door of these two rooms and stand off a good-sized
gang. Mr. Harvey will, of course, want to be where he can look after
the ladies; but if I can put one of his men in the corral, one who can
be relied upon to shoot down any of Moreno's people who should try to
come out, I think we can look out for the rest. Any minute now they'll
be coming. First thing, run these two wagons around to the corral, so
as to clear the approaches. There mustn't be anything behind which
they can hide or take shelter." And, laying hold of the pole while
willing hands manned the spokes, Feeny soon had the Concord and the
weather-beaten ambulance safely out of the way. Then came a moment of
consultation as to which of Harvey's men would be best suited for the
onerous post opposite the enemy's door, and then a sudden and
breathless silence.

"Listen!" whispered Feeny. "That's a signal. Hist! you'll hear it
again presently."

Grasping their rifles with nervous hands, the five men stood huddling
in a little group at the west end of the low, flat building.

Somewhere out on the dark expanse towards the peak a long, low
whistle, ending in an abrupt high note, had sounded. For a moment
there was no repetition. The invisible foe was signalling for reply.
From whom could answer be expected but Moreno?

"Watch the old scoundrel's window there and this shutter over here,"
whispered the sergeant, indicating a board-covered port in the
westward wall. "They'll try to show a light, perhaps. Run round into
the corral and smash the first man that tries to come out. I'll tend
to any feller that shows a head hereabouts."

Harvey turned with his employe and ran with him as far as the other
end of the ranch. Here he entered the low door-way. The little lamp
burned dimly, but two pairs of dark, dilated eyes gleamed eagerly upon
him.

"I'm going to close this door now, girlies," he whispered. "Lie still.
Do not venture near it or the window, and don't be frightened. It
looks as though some of the Morales gang were around here hoping to
find the paymaster unguarded. We'll give them a lesson they'll never
forget, if they attempt to attack him."

For all answer Ruth Harvey only nestled c