en suddenly he heard what seemed to be a stealthy rustling, off
somewhere to his right. He dropped to the ground like a flash, and,
scarcely daring to breathe, peered through the velvety blackness,
straining his eyes in an attempt to make out the cause of the sound.

For the space of perhaps a minute all was as still as the grave, and Bert
had almost made up his mind that the noise must have been occasioned by a
snake or lizard, when suddenly, within three feet of where he lay he made
out the form of an Indian, a mere black splotch against the slightly
lighter background of the sky. The savage did not move, and Bert knew
that he had not been discovered as yet. But the dark form seemed to
have no intention of going any further, and Bert came to the conclusion
that the brave was one of the band that had been detailed to surround the
devoted little party of whites.

Bert knew that it would be impossible for him to move without being
discovered by the Indian, so he resolved on a swift, deadly attack as the
only way out of the dilemma.

Gathering his muscles for the spring he suddenly launched himself like a
thunderbolt at the Indian. With the same motion he drew his revolver and
aimed a blow at the savage's head, for he knew that a single shot would
give the alarm and frustrate all his plans.

But the wily redskin was not to be so easily caught off his guard. With
a grunt of surprise he half turned to meet the attack, and the butt of
Bert's revolver dealt him only a glancing blow. Before the savage had a
chance to shout a warning, however, Bert had grasped him by the throat
with one hand, while he rained blows from the clubbed revolver on him
with the other. The Indian made a desperate attempt to loose his
assailant's hold and secure the knife from his girdle, but Bert's attack
was too fierce and deadly. In a few seconds the struggling form of the
brave grew limp and fell to the earth.

Without giving him a moment's further notice, Bert started out over the
desert at a swift run, guided by his almost instinctive sense of
direction. He ran quickly and lightly with the speed and silence of a
wolf, and he breathed a heartfelt prayer of thanksgiving when he realized
that he was clear of the besiegers.

In a short time he reached the line of newly laid rails that marked one
more stride of civilization into this far western country. He scrambled
up the steep embankment, and was not long in locating a telegraph pole.
He clim