hedding a drop of blood. See, there is another
fire!"

Ted pointed to a blaze upon another peak, and this was followed by
others until there was a ring of fires on the crests of the mountains
for miles around.

"It is up to us to do a good thing here," he said. "Bud, take two or
three of the boys and go to Ben's assistance. Hold the mouth to the
entrance to the hole at all hazards. From what the sergeant said I have
no doubt but the troops will be here at least by daylight. We will keep
them busy down there from this place."

Bud hurried away with two of the boys, and Ted and the others composed
themselves to await developments. In the meantime, Stella told Ted the
details of her capture. Since she had been a prisoner she had been well
treated, so far as most of the men were concerned, although Shan Rhue
had insisted on seeing her every day, and had told her that he was going
to take her away to the North and make her marry him. She had defied
him, and had scorned him so scathingly that he had put many petty
persecutions on her, and had deprived her of her liberty for revenge.

"How did you happen to find me?" asked Stella, after she told all that
had happened to her.

"Little Dick was captured by an Indian, and while he was being brought
here the pony Spraddle stumbled and threw him. A small looking-glass
which was slung around his neck fell off, and Dick picked it up and
brought it to camp."

"The Indian was Pokopokowo," said Stella.

"That was his name."

"I tried in every way to get a message out to you, but it seemed
impossible. Then I hit upon the mirror, ripped the back off it, and made
my cryptogram on it with a pin. I let Pokopokowo see it, and when he saw
that there was a picture on it, and I told him it was good medicine, he
wanted it. Of course, I let him take it, hoping that it would be taken
outside, and that you would chance to see it, and so learn where I was."

"It was a very clever idea, and I doubt but for the mirror we should
have been able to get here in time. It was little Dick who saved you."

"Yes, little Dick and big Ted. Ted, you are wonderful!"

Below, in the hole, there were signs of activity. Men were rushing here
and there, saddling horses, packing mules, filling their cartridge
belts, and getting ready for some sort of action.

"They have seen the war fires on the hills," said Ted, "and are getting
ready for their raid upon the settlers. Evidently they do not know that
the g