shed by a
blow between the eyes that laid him flat, and saw a powerful-looking
old man, of his own race, levelling a carbine at him saying,

"Give it up, boys. Don't one of ye lift a hand."

Bill could not lift his, with the arrow in his arm. The man Steve had
tied could not move his elbows. The man on the ground was ruefully
looking into the barrel of Murray's rifle. Besides, here was Red Wolf,
springing forward, with his lance in one hand and his revolver in the
other, while Rita held his horse, and Ni-ha-be sat upon her own, with
her second arrow on the string.

"We give it up," said Bill. "But what are you fellers up to? I see.
You're the two miners, and you're down on us because we jumped your
claim to that thar gold ledge."

"Wall, Bill," grumbled one of his comrades, "I don't blame 'em for
that; but they needn't ha' took sides with redskins."

Red Wolf lowered his lance and stuck his pistol in his belt. "Your
prisoners. Not mine," he said to Murray. "Glad to meet friend. Come
in good time."

He spoke in Mexican Spanish, but Murray understood him, and so did the
miners.

"Hear him, Bill! He knows them two fellers. That's why they ain't
afraid to prospect away down here."

He had made a bit of a mistake, but Murray answered, short and sharp,

"Young brave take friend's advice. Jump on horse. Take young squaws
back to camp. Tell chief to ride hard. Kill pony. Get away fast."

"Who shall I tell him you are?"

"Say you don't know. Tell him I'm an enemy. Killed you. Killed young
squaws. Going to kill him."

There was a sort of grim humor in Murray's face as he said that. Not
only Red Wolf, but the two girls, understood it, and the latter would
have given a good deal to be able to tell the "white head," as they
called him, and his handsome young friend, how thankful they both were.

Steve had not said a word, but he was narrowly watching the three
miners for any signs of an effort to get loose. He and Murray might
have been able to upset the two unwounded men in a fair fight, but it
was just as likely to be the other way.

"It's that other one, Steve. He's watching his chance. That's it.
Draw it hard. Now he won't be cutting any capers."

The expression of the miner's eyes promised the unfriendliest kind of
"capers" if he should ever get an opportunity to cut them.

"It's no use, boys," said Bill. "Mister, will you jest cut this arrer,
close to my arm, so's I can pull it ou