hat would retain its clasp and
Drummond's that was again struggling for release. In a moment the
lieutenant stood under Patterson's perch.

"What did you see? What was it like? How far away?"

"Six or seven miles, sir. The valley is broad and open, and three of
our fellows were riding slowly back on the west side, while Wing was
galloping as though to meet them, and when they weren't more than a
mile apart Wing's horse went down,--looks no bigger than a black
speck,--and the other three sheered off away from the rocks on this
side and seemed to be scattering apart."

The words were low spoken so as to reach only his ear. Now it was no
easy scramble for a man in Drummond's condition to make, but it took
him only a little time to clamber to Patterson's side.

"There's something back of all this, and you know it, Patterson. What
Apache sign have you seen?"

"Smoke, sir, on both sides. But we agreed, the sergeant and I, that
the young ladies mustn't be alarmed nor you aroused. Then he rode away
to hurry in any of our fellows who were in sight and warn them to keep
out from the rocks. What I'm afraid of is that they've been ambushed,
or at least that the Indians have ambushed him. His horse is down, and
those others you see are away out on the plain now. They're working
around towards the horse as though he were lying behind it, and they
appear to be firing mounted."

What was Drummond to do? To leave his charges here, unprotected, was
out of the question. Fail to go, or send, to Wing's relief he could
not. Decide he must and decide quickly.

"Patterson, that party of Apaches can't be over a dozen strong or they
would have rushed out of their cover by this time, yet they are too
strong and too securely posted to be driven by that little squad,
especially if Wing is wounded. I can't shoot now, but I can ride and
direct. Every man who can shoot may be needed here. You have four now
and can stand off forty Apaches--Tonto or Chiricahua--in such a
position as this, so I leave you in charge. You have everything to
help you stand a siege. Now see to it that the ladies are kept well
under cover, and I'll hurry back with Walsh and what men I can find."

Then down he scrambled, giving one look at Moreno and his sleeping
guardian as he passed, then gave a low-toned order to Walsh.

"Saddle your horse again and ride just to the other side of that rock
yonder and wait for me."

Well he understood that it would be impossible f