ths of the great canon, stood on the edge of craters of
extinct volcanoes, penetrated the mysterious caverns of the
cliff-dwellers, fished for trout in a mountain lake, caught axolotl in
a tank at the foot of San Francisco Mountain, shot turkeys, grouse,
and antelope, and enjoyed the march as only healthy youngsters can.
Brenda became a pupil of the boys in loading and firing their
revolvers, carbines, and fowling-pieces, and made many a bull's-eye
when firing at a mark, but invariably failed to hit anything living.
Henry said she was too tender-hearted to aim well at animals. That she
was no coward an incident to be told in a future chapter will prove.

When our train and its escort reached Fort Whipple, or, rather, the
site of that work--for we built it after our arrival--the Arnolds
caught up their cattle from our herd, and after a two weeks' stay in
Prescott removed to a section of land which they took up in Skull
Valley, ten miles to the west by the mountain-trail, and twenty-five
miles by the only practicable wagon-road. This place was selected for
a residence because its distance from Prescott and its situation at
the junction of the bridle-path and wagon-road made it an excellent
location for a way-side inn.

At a dress-parade held the evening before the family's departure for
their new home, Brenda sat on her pony, Gypsy, near Captain Bayard,
and heard an order read advancing her young friends from the grade of
corporal to that of sergeant, "for soldierly attention to duty on the
march, gallant conduct in the affair at Laguna, and meritorious
behavior in effecting the rescue of captive boys from the Navajos at
Carizo Creek; subject to the approval of Colonel Burton."

XI

BOTH PONIES ARE STOLEN

"Here, Frank, come and help push this gate, I can't start it alone."

"Don't be in such a hurry, Henry. Wait just a moment. I think I hear a
horse coming down the Prescott road. I want to see if it is the
express from La Paz."

The younger boy ceased his efforts to close the gates, and advancing a
few steps before the entrance of the fort, looked up the valley to
where the road from Prescott appeared from behind a spur of the
foot-hills. The two boys had mounted their sergeant's chevrons and
adopted white stripes down the legs of their trousers. As they stood
side by side Vic approached and placed herself between them, nestling
her delicate muzzle against the younger boy's hip and responding to
his care