ed Ruggles.

"Then it must have been that if he had took all the animals with him,
even though they was a considerable way down the gulch, the thing
would have been noticed by others, who would have wanted to know what
it meant."

"No doubt you have struck the right reason. Had the start been in the
night time, he would have made sure that not even the mules were left
for us. But, Vose," added the parson gravely, "we would be much better
pleased if when you referred to the lieutenant, you said nothing about
'honor.'"

"Oh, I am as much down on him as any of you," airily responded Vose;
"and, if I git the chance to draw bead on him, I'll do it quicker'n
lightning. Fact is, the hope of having that same heavenly privilege
was as strong a rope in pulling me up the trail after you as was the
wish to keep you folks from gettin' lost. But, pards, Hercules is
rested and I guess likely your animals are the same, so let's be
moving."

Although Captain Dawson had been silent during the last few minutes,
he did not allow a word to escape him. He knew Vose Adams was
talkative at times, due perhaps to his enjoyment of company, after
being forced to spend weeks without exchanging a word with any one of
his kind, but there was no overestimating his value, because of his
knowledge of the long, dangerous route through the mountains. When,
therefore, the party were about to move on, the captain said:

"Vose, from this time forward you are the guide; the place for you is
at the head; you will oblige me by taking the lead."

Vose accepted the post of honor, which was also the one of peril, for
it is the man in his position whose life hangs in the balance when
Indians are concerned. But there was no hesitancy on his part, though
he was well aware of the additional risks he incurred.

"There's one good thing I can tell you," he said, just before they
started.

They looked inquiringly at him and he explained:

"The hardest part of the climbing is over,--that is for the time," he
hastened to add, seeing that he was not understood; "you'll have
plenty more of it before we see Sacramento, but I mean that we have
struck the highest part of the trail, and it will be a good while
before there's any more climbing to do."

"That is good news," said Ruggles heartily, "for it has been mighty
tough on the animals; I 'spose too, the trail is smoother."

Adams laughed.

"I am sorry to say it's rougher."

Ruggles muttered impatiently, but