enough to peer into the rocky fortress and estimate the
strength of the garrison. Great they well know it cannot be, for did
not their keen eyes count nearly twenty chasing those hated brigands
far down towards Sonora Pass, and of that number how many have
returned?--only three. Did they not see the flurry and excitement when
that sergeant was shot from ambush? Now, therefore, is the time to
strike,--now while the main body is far away. Whatsoever booty there
may be obtainable in that rocky canon 'tis well worth the attempt. And
so from north to south the puff-balls of blue-white smoke go sailing
upward through the pines, and it all means speed! speed!

At seven o'clock the little command has had coffee and a hearty
breakfast. No lack of provender here in this hitherto undiscovered
robbers' roost. Drummond, cool, confident, has had his men about him
where none others could see or hear, has assigned them the stations
which they are to take the instant of alarm, and has given them their
instructions. Walsh it is who is now on lookout, and he is peering
away down southward so intently that some comrade is prompted to call
up to him in a low tone,--

"See anything?"

To which, without removing the glass from under his hat-brim, the
Irish trooper merely shakes his head.

"Any more smokes?"

"Sorra a smoke have I seen at all."

"Well, then, what in blazes are you staring at?"

"How can I tell ye till I find out?" is the Hibernian reply, and this
is enough to send the corporal on a climb. Drummond at the moment is
again kneeling by Wing, who has but just awakened from a fitful sleep,
Miss Harvey being the first to hear him stir and sigh. Ruth and her
sister, too, seem about to withdraw, but Wing, whose voice is weak
now, begs them to remain.

"Has anything been seen yet--back on the trail--of the Stoneman
party?" he asks.

"No, sergeant," replies Drummond; "but remember that we can only see
some six miles of the trail, after that it is lost in that tortuous
ravine down which we rode on the chase. Walsh is up there on lookout,
and I'll ask if he can see anything now;" and calling to one of the
men, Drummond bids him inquire. All eagerly await the reply.

At last it comes,--

"No dust on the back track, sir, but something that looks like it far
to the south. We think it may be some of our fellows coming back, but
it is too faint and far to make it out yet."

The corporal is the speaker, his resonant voice contras