d. Wing's carbine can be utilized. He can post
Moreno down the gorge at the second bend to command that approach and
put little McGuffey, the recruit, at the next bend to command Moreno
and send a bullet through him if he shirk or swerve.

"I declare, I believe I will, you old scoundrel," he says. "Here,
McGuffey, untie this fellow. I've got to look around a minute."

Into the depth of the fissure where Moreno's women are praying and
rocking he peers a moment. One of the wounded bandits is now past
praying for. The other, painfully shot but plucky, begs to be given a
chance to fight for his life.

"You are too badly hurt now. We couldn't get you up there," is the
answer.

"Well, then, put me on with Moreno, wherever you're going to assign
him. Surely if you can trust a Greaser you can a white man. I'm only
fit to hang, perhaps, but damn me if I want to lie here when there's
an Indian fight going on."

And so he, too, is unloosed and lifted to his feet. Leaning on
McGuffey's shoulder and supported by his arm, the pale-faced stranger,
preceded by Moreno, who goes limping and swearing _sotto voce_ down
the rocky way, is led a hundred yards along the canon where it makes a
second bend. Here they can see nearly one hundred and fifty more ahead
of them, and here some loose bowlders are hurriedly shoved or rolled
to form a rifle-pit, and these volunteer allies are placed in
position.

"We cover the approaches above so that they can't sneak up and heave
rocks down upon you. All you've got to do now is to plug every Apache
that shows his nose around that bend below," says Drummond. "McGuffey,
you take post at the point behind. Watch the overhanging cliffs and
support as best you can." And "Little Mack," as the men call him, gets
further instructions as he takes his position, instructions which
would give small comfort to Moreno could he only hear them. Then back
goes the lieutenant to where Wing is lying, Miss Harvey bending
anxiously over him, her beautiful eyes filling with tears at sight of
Drummond's brave but haggard young face. Ruth is crouching by her
sister's side, but rises quickly as Drummond enters, her fears
lessening, her hopes gaining.

"Any news? Anything in sight--of ours?" is Miss Harvey's eager query.

"Not yet, but they're bound to be along almost any minute now. Some
Apaches whom I could see coming across from the east have a wounded
man with them. It makes me hope our fellows have met and fought th