three shadowy figures, dimly seen in
the half light, apparently watching the wagon and its occupants.

They quickly withdrew as they saw Dick looking at them, but not before
the young reporter had received a startling impression that one of
them at least was familiar to him. The wagon drove out over the desert
and rumbled along till it came to a deep arroyo, or gulch, in which
stood a deserted, bleaching hut.

"This is the place," said Zeb.

"Sure, you can stay thar fer a year an' a day an' nuthin' but
tarant'las an' rattlers ull ever bother ye," said old McGee
cheerfully.

The cases they had brought were quickly unloaded and lowered into the
arroyo which led down to where they could see the turgid flood of the
Colorado flowing between low banks. For at this spot the river is a
very different stream from what it is above and below, where it makes
its way to the Gulf of California between unscalable walls of cliffs
and is a succession of cruel rapids and unpassable falls.

When old McGee drove back for the second and last load, for the
Wondership was constructed so as to "take-down" very compactly, Dick
elected to go with him. When they arrived at the freight depot the
young reporter took the first opportunity to wire his paper in Boston.

"Find out if Bill Masterson is in town," was the substance of his
message.

They were not to return to the camp till after the mid-day meal, so he
had plenty of time to receive an answer. This is it:

"Masterson and two others left for the West five days ago."

* * * * *

"The same day that we did," mused Dick. "I wonder--but no, I'm sure.
One of those three figures lurking behind that hut was Masterson, and
he's planning some mischief, sure as a gun."

CHAPTER XXV.

INTO THE BEYOND.

"Well, this is something like camping," said Tom that evening,
stretching himself out luxuriously under a mesquite bush.

"See here, young feller," said Zeb, who by unanimous consent had been
put in charge of the adventurers. "Are you on a pleasure trip, jes'
dropped in as a visitor like, or air you a part of this expedition?"

"I guess I'm a part of it all right," said Tom, with rather a sheepish
grin. "At least I was under that impression."

"Same here," said Zeb dryly. "Thar's lots to be done yet afore we're
all shipshape fer ther night. Ther's lamps ter be filled and tent
ropes set right an' then I want a trench dug around ther tents."

"Wha