t with a single
gesture. "We move straight for the leading wagon. See that you don't
fire into it or near it."

And these were the last instructions as they reached the ridge, and a
hoarse murmur flew along the eager rank, a murmur that, but for
Drummond's raised and restraining hand and Sergeant Lee's prompt
"Steady there; silence!" might have burst into a cheer. And then the
leader shook loose his rein, and just touching "Chester's" glossy,
flank with the spur, bounded forward at the lope.

Out on the sandy barren, winding among the cactus plants, the weary
mule-teams with drooping heads were tugging at the traces. Bearded
men, some still with coal-blackened faces, rode drowsily alongside the
creaking wagons. In one of these, the foremost, an arm in blue flannel
suddenly thrust aside the hanging canvas curtain, and a dark, swarthy
face, grooved from ear-tip to jaw with a jagged scar, appeared at the
narrow opening.

"How much farther have we got to go, Domingo?"

"Only across this stretch, two--three miles, perhaps."

"Well, I want to know exactly. The sun is getting blazing hot and
these girls can't hold out longer. Tell Pasqual I say there is more
danger of his killing them with exhaustion than there is of their
making way with themselves. Say the little one's about dead now. Here,
take this canteen and get some fresher water out of the barrel under
the wagon."

The fellow hailed as Domingo leaned to the right, took the
canteen-strap, and then reined in his foaming broncho.

"Hold your team one minute, Jake," was the order to the driver, and,
nothing loath, the mules stopped short in their tracks. Pasqual's
ambulance was a few rods behind, and, to save time, Domingo dismounted
and, placing the canteen under the spigot, drew it full of water,
rewarded himself with a long pull, handed it up to the waiting hand
above, and swung again in the saddle just as the second ambulance
closing on the first came also to a willing halt, and the lead mules
of the buck-board, whereon lay two wounded bandits, attended by
Moreno's womenfolk, bumped their noses against the projecting boot.

"Some cool water, for God's sake!" gasped one of the prostrate men,
and a comrade rode to the leading wagon to beg a little from Harvey's
well-filled barrel. One or two men threw themselves from the saddle to
the sands for brief rest. The dust-cloud slowly settled earthwards in
their wake. Mules, horses, and men blinked sleepily, wearily.