it turned on its side.

The driver leaped in safety to the ground, and the guide went scrambling
down the bank to his assistance.

The mules were plunging and kicking, and threatened to break their
harness to pieces.

Stella was mutely thankful that she had not been in the stage when it
went over, as she sat down on a rock to rest and watch the efforts of
the swearing and angry men to right the stage.

Once she thought of trying to escape while the men were engrossed in
their work, and she arose eagerly.

But when she got to her feet she realized the impossibility of such a
thing, for she almost fell. Then she sank down again, and resigned
herself to her fate.

But soon the stage was put back on its wheels again, and the guide
called to her to come down.

This was a slow and painful operation, during which the driver swore
impatiently at the delay. But she accomplished it, and crawled into the
stage and sank down on the pallet which had been made for her with the
seat cushions.

Now they were off again, faster than before, and with correspondingly
more discomfort to Stella. Oh, if the journey would only end, she
thought.

"Here we are," she heard the guide's voice in a shout.

The stage stopped, and Stella heard a rush of feet.

"Got her?" some one demanded gruffly.

"Yep, but she's all in," replied the guide. "Her forehead was creased by
a bullet, an' the trip has about finished her."

"Can't help that. Get her out. We've got to be moving. The soldiers are
out to-night."

"What's the matter?"

"Injuns.".

"Uprisin'?"

"Not yet, but the agent over to Fort Sill has a tip that they are
putting on paint."

"What's the trouble?"

"Somethin' about beef issue. The last cows issued to the Injuns were no
good, an' the Injuns made a kick, an' the agent told them to go to the
deuce. Old Flatnose an' his son Moonface, the Apache chiefs, have always
been bad actors, an' now they are tryin' to scare up a muss."

"Reckon they'll do it?"

"The commandant at Fort Sill seems to think they will, for he's got two
companies out on the scout."

"The boys better look out, then. The Injuns don't like the gang over at
the Hole in the Wall none too good."

"We stand all right with Flatnose and his son, an' it's their band
that's actin' bad."

"Well, y'u better get a move on y'u. The moon will be down in an hour."

"Get the gal out, then, an' we'll be movin'."

"All right," said the guide, poking his head int