s here
and try it on foot."

"There is a thick clump of trees over there," remarked Juarez, "where
it will be a safe place to tie them."

Without more ado, the two boys made their way to the grove, which
formed an excellent screen, for the trees were not pine, but a kind of
alder with large round leaves, and around the grove was quite a thick
growth of brush. With some difficulty they got into the center of the
trees, and made their horses fast. Then they started to make their way
out with their rifles ready.

"Hello! What is that?" cried Juarez. "Didn't you hear it?" The boys
stood perfectly still; then in a few seconds came two reports.

"Somebody has got ahead of us," remarked Jim. "Those were rifle
shots."

"Lucky we got in here when we did," said Juarez.

"There go five deer," cried Jim, "up the mountain opposite."

"Sure enough," said Juarez. They were going like the wind and were
soon lost to sight on the wooded slope of the mountain.

"I wish they had come our way," declared Jim, in a disappointed tone.
"Those rascals have spoiled our luck."

"It wouldn't have been safe," replied Juarez cautiously. "It's some of
this gang, that the Mexican came from, and they might outnumber us."

"We will wait here a few minutes," said Jim. "Perhaps we will sight
them." So the boys crouched at the edge of the grove with the brush
for a screen, looking narrowly in the direction of the shots. A half
hour passed, still they saw nothing, but they never stirred, and
watched steadily. The Frontier Boys had acquired something of the
patience of Indians when it came to lying in wait for an enemy.

"There they come," at length said Juarez the keen-eyed. He had
discovered several dark spots moving among the trees.

"That's them," cried Jim eagerly. "Four of 'em."

"If they cut our trail, we will have to fight," said Juarez, "unless
we cut for camp."

Jim shook his head. "I want to get a closer view of these beggars," he
said.

They were now coming within range, jogging along on their cayuses down
the gentle incline between the trees. They had shot a couple of deer.

"Three of them look like Mexicans," said Juarez. "I believe they are
coming right by us."

"If they do, we will jump the procession," said Jim.

However, they did not get the chance, for when the hunters had come
within about three hundred yards of the grove they turned at right
angles and were lost to view behind a spur that ran from the southern
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