ed to be on the move. He even asked how long
it would take to reach the main valley over on the other side of this
ridge, by followin' the canyon route; and vowed he was good for a few
hours' tramp, if the sheriff was agreeable."

"Yes, and he told how one of their hosses kim down lame, so they had
to leave both animals in a place to rest up while they was in the
mountains," remarked the guide; "but it's sure too bad the way things
is a settin' for that boy."

"You mean Aleck, I guess, don't you, Toby?" asked Step Hen.

"Yes, Aleck Rawson. I wanted to see the kid git that mine his dad
found years ago; but seems to me the woods is full of people as think
they orter have a claim on it, afore the fambly of Jerry Rawson. If so
be this ole chap is a uncle to the boy, he's a bad egg; I kin see that
in his face. But Sheriff Bob thinks he's doin' the right thing in
tryin' to arrest Aleck; and he'll take him away, if he ever lays eyes
on him. I say, it's too bad."

"If we only could warn them?" said Smithy, disconsolately.

"Mebbe we can," remarked Step Hen, eagerly looking at the guide in the
same breath, as though it depended a good deal upon Toby whether this
idea could be carried out, or not.

"Oh! do you really mean it, Step Hen?" demanded Smithy, brightening
up; for he seemed to be conscious of a new sense of reliance in the
other nowadays, something similar to that he felt in Thad himself;
Step Hen had been "doing things," and that alone breeds confidence.

"I'm wanting to ask Toby something first, before I promise," remarked
the other, cautiously, as became one who valued his word not lightly.

"Go on, then; what is it?" asked the guide.

"Think hard, please," Step Hen continued, very soberly; "and tell me
if you believe you could take me to a place, not a great ways off,
where we would be able to see the tents of the home camp, if daylight
was here."

Toby's face turned into a grin; evidently he grasped the idea that had
flashed into the boy's mind. After having seen how Giraffe had "talked"
with Aleck by means of "fire flashes," when the Rawson boy was away up
on that ledge of the cliff, Toby was ready to believe these wonderful
scouts capable of almost anything in the line of "next miracles."

"Say, yes, I kin do that same now; that is, if you think you'd be able
to climb a leetle bit more," he broke out with.

"Oh! I am not all tuckered out yet," declared Step Hen, proudly; "a
bit sore from my scratches