or. He has just confessed
that it is the intention of the Indians to rise and kill all the white
settlers they can lay their hands on. I am on my way to send out the
alarm."

"And you say the Indians are camped at the Hole in the Wall?"

"Yes, the detachment sent out early this morning were on a scouting
expedition when they picked up Pokopokowo."

"Where is this Hole in the Wall, and how do you get there?"

"You are bound to go there? I would advise you not to."

"We must go. A young lady belonging to our party has been captured and
taken there. We did not know there were any Indians there, but only
white outlaws."

"That is different. I suppose you must go. But why don't you wait and go
in with the troops? The Hole in the Wall is the rendezvous for all the
white outlaws in this part of the country, and they are believed to be
in league with the Indians, and will use the uprising of the Indians as
a cover under which to run off all the stock in the country."

"There is no use of our waiting for the troops when the young lady is in
there, we don't know under what indignities. The troops put off
attacking the Indians as long as they can for the sake of policy. We are
all deputy United States marshals, and we get quicker action. Tell us
where the Hole in the Wall is, and we will go in and get our own. The
troops can do what they please later."

"Weil, pardner, you talk straight, and you feel about the young lady as
I would if she was a friend of mine. But they are a bad bunch in there."

"I appreciate your warning, but it will not stop us."

"All right; go ahead, and good luck to you. About a mile farther on you
will come to a narrow defile leading to the north, cutting the range.
That leads into a broad valley, at the west end of which is the place
called the Hole in the Wall. It is practically impregnable. It is
entered by a narrow passage which one man could hold against an army.
It can be approached at night by riding down the valley, dismounting,
and crawling over the mountain until you are above the Hole in the Wall,
when every man can be wiped out by a few rifles."

"Thanks, sergeant. We will take to the hills."

With mutual good wishes, they parted, and the boys were soon riding in
single file up the defile.

In the valley they secreted themselves and their horses, while Ted and
Bud went forward to reconnoiter. It was rapidly growing dark in the
mountains as Ted and Bud crawled along the mountain pa