fashion on the canvas of each tent.

They sat up a while longer, and canvassed the situation; but the hour
getting late, and several of the boys showing signs of being sleepy,
it was finally decided that they had better turn in.

So Bumpus had to pretend to blow "taps," with his fist for a bugle;
and as usual he acquitted himself splendidly. The young Indian's eyes
sparkled when he heard that imitation of the real thing; and Thad
imagined the Fox must at some time or other have rubbed up against
the regular cavalry of the United States Army, so that he understood
what Bumpus was doing.

Thad and Allan had arranged matters with the guide, so that there
would be some one on guard at all hours of the night. With those three
men hovering near, there could be no telling what might happen. While
they were not outlaws, or anything of that sort; still, after learning
how they had treated poor Aleck, just because he very rightly refused
to give up the secret of the mine that was his mother's property, and
on which Kracker did not have the slightest claim, Thad could give a
pretty good guess as to the character of the men.

The guide had told him more than enough to stamp Kracker in his mind
as a very unprincipled man. Thad believed the prospector was so
determined to discover the hidden silver mine that there was almost
nothing he would not attempt in order to carry out his designs. And
since their camp now sheltered the boy against whom all his animosity
seemed to be aroused, it was at least possible that he might pay them
a visit, backed by his followers, men quite as reckless as himself.

So it would seem to be the part of wisdom to keep on the watch for
danger. It is the principle of scouts to avoid trouble, rather than
seek it; and Thad believed in the old saying that "an ounce of
prevention is always better than a pound of cure."

But the night passed, and nothing happened.

None of the others were called upon to take a turn as sentries; indeed
more than one of the boys slept like a log all that night, and never
dreamed there was any watch being kept. Still, when in the morning
they ascertained this fact, they reproached the scoutmaster for not
having called upon them to share the vigil; since they always wished
to do their share of the work.

Thad knew that the coming of Aleck Rawson was bound to add to the
excitement of their stay in the mountains; but he had already taken a
great liking for the boy, and admire