read spurring
him on, the father was gone to the rescue of his children, leaving old
Plummer and his faithful sergeant shocked and nerveless at the ranch.

IV.

And now, with such confirmation of the truth of the story of an Apache
raid, the paymaster thought it only right to release Moreno from the
duress in which Sergeant Feeny had placed him. When so old an
inhabitant of Arizona as Mr. Harvey gave entire credence to the
report; recognized the note as really his son's handiwork and hastened
at all speed to overtake the pursuers, what room for doubt could be
left in the mind of a new-comer to the soil? It was time, thought
Plummer, to form an alliance, offensive and defensive, with the
Mexican denizens of the ranch against the enemy common to both. But
again Feeny shook his head in solemn protest.

"I may have been wrong as to the Apaches, sir, but I can't be mistaken
as to Moreno. He's in the pay of the Morales brothers, even if not an
active member of the gang. He is lurking in there now, I'll warrant
you, with two or three of them in hiding, waiting for the coming of
the main body. They'd 'a' been here before this, perhaps, if it hadn't
been for the Apache story. They're more afraid of one of Cochises's
band than of all the sheriffs from Tucson to Tacoma. I wish the rest
of Harvey's people would get here," he continued, looking longingly
out into the darkness. "Unless they are of better stuff than most of
these mule-whackers in the Territory, you won't catch them hustling
out alone trying to find their master this night. And yet, what use
would they be to us?"

Plummer turned anxiously away and gave himself up to thought. Nothing
but a faint glimmer now remained of the beacon-light. All was still as
the grave about the lonely rancho. Walking over to the eastward door
he entered the dark room, and was instantly hailed by the voice of his
clerk.

"You're there, are you, Dawes?" he asked. "Not getting sleepy, I
hope."

"Not a whit, major; I couldn't, even if I hadn't slept most of the
day. I'm sitting here on the safe with a Colt's six-shooter in each
hand. If old Moreno's door cracks, by gad! I'll let drive."

"Well, that's all right; but suppose they come around through the
corral to this door?"

"I'm ready. I came within an ace of blazing away at you, but I
happened to recognize your figure and step just in the nick of time."

A low whistle without broke up the colloquy. Plummer waddled off in
t