ed.

In a moment Stella looked up again, and this time they saw her start,
then stare fixedly at them. Ted nodded his head again, and this time she
made a gesture that told them that she had seen them, and knew that they
were there.

"Duck yer head quick," said Bud, rapidly getting out of sight himself.

"What's the matter?" asked Ted.

"I saw Shan Rhue walking toward Stella."

"But she saw us, just before she ducked into her tent. Now it's up to us
to get her out of there."

"You bet. But it will be a big job to get in there."

"I've got a plan that ought to work out."

"What is it?"

"You go back and get the boys. Put Ben and Clay down in the valley to
hold the entrance to the Hole in the Wall. Bring the rest up here.
Hurry! I'll stay here on guard. If any man attempts to touch Stella,
I'll pot him from here. Bring your lariat with you."

Bud hurried away as he was bid, and in the course of half an hour,
during which Ted, looking over the edge of the Hole, saw the men
preparing to retire for the night, he returned with seven of the boys.

"Now, fellows," said Ted, "I'm going down into the hole to send Stella
up on the rope."

"Jeering jackals!" exclaimed Bud. "Don't you ever do that. It means sure
death ter you, an' p'r'aps ter Stella, too."

"No, I don't think so. At any rate, I'm going to take a chance. It will
be up to you fellows to keep the bunch down there busy while I'm at
work. Three of you will stay on this side of the hole, and four on the
other. If you do your firing right, you will keep those fellows jumping
from side to side so fast that they won't have any time for me."

"I see yer scheme, but I wouldn't like ter undertake it myself."

"Did you bring the rope?"

"Here it is," said Bud, unwinding it from around his waist.

Ted took it from him while the boys distributed themselves in their
firing positions as he had directed.

Ted looped the rope under his arms. "You'll lower me down, Bud," he
said. "Maybe I'll come up hand over hand if I can, and you will pull
away when I give the rope two jerks."

He took another look over the edge. All the men were rolled up in their
blankets asleep, except an old Indian who sat crouched over the fire.

Ted carefully lowered himself over the edge for the descent.

Down he went slowly and quietly, and soon his feet touched the ground
just back of Stella's tent.

"Hiss-t!" He gave a low, sibilant warning of his presence, and in a
moment the co