do with the abduction of
Stella, was not one to get disgruntled.

Ted would have been well pleased to have Kit with him, but Kit's arm was
not yet well enough to risk in a possible rough-and-tumble adventure.

"Say, Ted," Kit called after the leader of the broncho boys.

"What?" asked Ted, riding back.

"Don't you think you better take Stella's pony, Magpie, along with you?
She'll have to have something to ride coming back."

He did not say "if you find her," for he knew that if she was anywhere
in the Wichita Mountains Ted would find her.

"Glad you spoke of it," said Ted.

It did not take long to rope the magpie pony and throw Stella's saddle
on it.

Now they were off into the northeast, where the Wichita Mountains lay.
None of them knew just where the Hole in the Wall was, but Ted felt
confident of finding it if there was such a place.

They rode so hard, only stopping at noon to water the ponies, that early
in the afternoon they entered the mountains.

As they were going up the valley they saw the flying figure of a man on
horseback coming toward them.

As he approached, they saw that he was a cavalryman.

"Hello, what's up?" said Bud. "I never see a sojer goin' so fast, except
there was somethin' doin'."

A few minutes later the soldier rode up to them.

He proved to be a sergeant of cavalry.

"Where are you going?" he asked, pulling his horse to its haunches.

"What's that ter you?" asked Bud jovially.

"Just this: The Indians are threatening to rise, perhaps to-night,
perhaps not until to-morrow. But when they do, this will be no place for
white men."

"Where is the place called the Hole in the Wall?" asked Ted.

"Do you want to go there, or do you want to avoid it?" asked the
sergeant.

"We want to go there as soon as we can."

"I'd advise you to keep away until the troops get there and clean things
up."

"Why?"

"That is where the dissatisfied Indians are camped. I do not know it
officially, but I understand that Flatnose and Moonface, the two chiefs,
are there now, and that the orders from Washington are to send us in to
drive them out."

"When is this to take place?"

"The Indians have made no open declaration of war as yet, but it is
looked for at any time."

"How will it be announced?"

"By the signal fires on the hills. A detachment of our men picked up
early this morning a wounded Indian, named Pokopokowo. He was wounded,
and was taken to the post surgeon to be cared f