e ready at sunset," said the captain. "My men are ready now."

"I've made up my mind to go with you," said the governor.

"You, sir?" cried Bart.

"Yes, my lad. I want to see the silver canyon and your mountain
fortress. And besides, it seems to me that a brush with the Indians
will do me good. I want them to have a severe lesson, for they are
getting more daring in their encroachments every day. Can you make room
for me?"

The captain expressed his delight, and Bart's eyes flashed as he felt
that it was one more well-armed, active, fighting man; and when evening
came, after an affectionate farewell, and amidst plenty of cheers from
the swarthy mob of idlers, the well-mounted little party rode out along
the road leading to the plains, with the lancers' accoutrements
jingling, their lance-points gilded by the setting sun, and their
black-and-yellow pennons fluttering in the pleasant evening breeze.

"At last," said Bart to himself, as he reined up and drew aside to see
the gallant little array pass. "Oh! if we can only get one good chance
at the cowardly demons! They won't hunt me now."

And in imagination he saw himself riding in the line of horsemen, going
at full speed for a body of bloodthirsty Indians, and driving them
helter-skelter like chaff before a storm.

CHAPTER FORTY ONE.

THE LANCERS' LESSONS.

With Bart for a guide, the relief party made good progress, but they
were, of course, kept back a great deal by the waggons, well horsed as
they were. Alone the lancer troop could have gone rapidly over the
ground, but the sight of hovering knots of Apaches appearing to right
and left and in their rear, told that they were well watched, and that
if the baggage was left for a few hours, a descent would be certain to
follow.

In fact, several attempts were made as they got farther out into the
plains to lure the lancers away from their stores, but Captain Miguel
was too well versed in plain-fighting to be led astray.

"No," he said, "I have been bitten once. They'd get us miles away
feigning attacks and leading us on, and at last, when we made ready for
a charge, they'd break up and gallop in all directions, while, when we
came back, tired out and savage, the waggons would have been rifled and
their guards all slain. I think we'll get our stores safe at the silver
canyon fort, and then, if the Apaches will show fight, why, we shall be
there."

The days glided on, with plenty of alarms, for,