ves the house."

The lads hurried forward and, by going directly toward the house, arrived
there before the first of the crowd came into view.

Even as Hal had expected, Duval, believing that he had eluded his
pursuers, made a detour and entered his home from a side entrance. From
an upper window, a few moments later, he saw the first of the crowd. They
had no idea he was in the house and went dashing by. He did not see the
forms of the two lads across the street.

"I guess I'm safe enough for a while," he said to himself.

He made his way toward the bedroom, where he surmised his lieutenant
would be sleeping. He entered the room, took a single look and
staggered back.

His eyes had fallen upon the inert body of his aide.

Quickly he bent over him and felt his pulse.

"Dead!" he exclaimed.

He stood silent, struck by a sudden thought. Quickly he descended the
steps into the cellar and approached the room where Hal had been left to
die. The door was open and water trickled from within.

Duval uttered no word but, turning quickly, dashed up the steps. Once
more he looked from the window, and the first figures upon which his eyes
rested were Hal and Chester.

The boys, in the meantime, had halted the mad crowd and briefly explained
that the object of their search was in the house. They were engaged in
this occupation when Duval peered from the window the second time.

The Apache chief smiled grimly to himself. He produced his automatic and
aimed at the two lads. His finger tightened on the trigger.

"Crack!"

Hal's cap seemed to leap from his head, and instinctively all of the
crowd ducked. Then, with a terrible roar, they charged straight at
the house.

But Duval, standing in an upper window, emptied one automatic into the
howling mob and then another.

The crowd drew back.

While all this was going on, Hal had led Chester to the window leading
into the basement, and silently the lads lowered themselves through it.
Then, as the mob raged without, they made their way up the steps, through
the hall, and up a second flight.

There, at the head of the stairs, they paused. Before them were two
rooms, and they were not certain in which the Apache chief had
taken refuge.

"You take the one on the right, Chester," whispered Hal.

Chester nodded and they advanced, Chester toward the door on the right
and Hal toward the one on the left. They opened the doors upon the
same instant.

But Duval had heard sou