girls were sleeping. Assured that his words could reach
there no listening ears, Drummond returned, kneeling again by the
sergeant's side. "Just think, man; any moment after daybreak the
Apaches may be upon us, and, who knows? it may be my last fight. Of
course I believe that our fellows can stand them off until rescue
comes, but a bullet may find me any moment, and then who is there to
report your conduct and secure the recognition due you, or, if the
doctor should be late in coming and fever set in and this wound prove
too much for your strength, is there nothing that ought to be said to
her for you?"

Again only painful silence. At last Wing spoke.

"I understand. I appreciate all you say. But I've got to think it
over, lieutenant. Give me an hour or so. Don't ask me to tell you
now."

"So be it, man. Now rest all you possibly can. It's almost day. The
crags are beginning to light up back of us here already. Yes, and the
sentry's calling me now. I'll be back by and by. What is it,
Patterson?" he whispered, going to the mouth of the cave.

"I've just come down from the tree up there, sir. You can see quite a
ways down the range now, though the light is dim, and what I take to
be a signal-fire leaped up not three miles below us, certainly this
side of where Wing was shot."

"So soon? All right, then get back to the post just as quick as you
can. I'll rouse the man who has slept longest. All must be astir in
half an hour, but you keep watch there."

And half an hour later it is that, field-glass in hand, the young
officer is there by Patterson's side, peering eastward almost into the
eye of the sun, searching with anxiety inexpressible for any sign of
dust-cloud rising along the trail on which they came, for the sight he
has seen down the range, now brilliant in the morning light, has
filled his heart with the first real dread it has yet known. In three
places, not more than four or five miles apart, down along the sunlit
side of this wild and picturesque mountain-chain, signal-smokes have
been puffing straight up skyward, the nearest only a couple of miles
from this lone picket post, but all on the same side of the valley.

Last evening the answer came from across the broad desert. They have
come over, therefore, and are hastening up the chain to join the eager
advance here so close to their hiding-place. Beyond a doubt watchful
spies are already lurking among those heights to the west, striving to
get close