will bring us."

"I'll be glad when it's all over," said his lieutenant. "This is ticklish
business. You were lucky to get in with the Apaches."

"Rather," drawled his chief. "My height and general appearance, together
with the fact that the former chief always wore a mask, have served us
well. I wonder what the Apaches would do to us if they knew how I
disposed of their real chief?"

His lieutenant laughed heartily.

"It would be no laughing matter if they were to find it out," said Duval.

"Perhaps not; still it is funny," was the reply.

The black cat jumped into Duval's lap, and he stroked it and talked to
it. Then the animal began to claw at him.

"What's the matter, kitty?" asked Duval.

The animal cried and continued to claw at him.

"He wants to get down," said the other.

Duval released his hold on the cat, which immediately jumped to the floor
and walked under the bed, to where Hal lay. The lad saw the animal
coming, and reached out a friendly hand, thinking to keep it quiet.

But the cat's back bristled. Its tail grew to huge proportions, and it
snarled and spat at him angrily.

"What do you suppose is the matter with the cat?" asked Duval.

"Sounds like he had found a dog under the bed," was the reply.

The hissing and snarling continued.

"Something wrong," said Duval. "Might as well have a look."

He dropped to his knees and peered under the bed, to where Hal was now
defending himself against the attacks of the cat, which was striking at
him with his sharp claws.

"See anything?" asked Duval's lieutenant.

"Man under the bed," replied Duval quietly. "Get out your gun and get on
the other side of the bed."

His lieutenant obeyed with alacrity, and each, with a revolver in his
hand, looked cautiously under the bed. Then Duval stretched forth a hand
and, seizing the cat by the tail, dragged it forth. At the same time he
called out:

"Come out from under there!"

Hal saw that resistance, between two fires as he was, would be useless.

"All right," he called back.

He crawled forth slowly, but before he emerged he drew his two revolvers
from his pocket and dropped them beneath the bed. He was thoughtful
enough to realize that, should he manage to regain his freedom, the guns
under the bed would come in handy.

The lad got slowly to his feet and faced the two criminals.

Both started back in surprise at sight of his face. They recognized him
immediately.

"Choteau!" cried Duval.