life but knowing that
it was of the highest importance now to preserve it he did not take any
risks through false pride. Besides Dick he kept Reed, Shepard and the
sergeant with him.

The ring of fire on the slopes had been increasing fast, and the
assailants found much shelter there among the dwarf pines and cedars.
Bullets were pattering all over the valley. Several of the Winchesters
had been slain in the early firing, and they lay where they had fallen.
Others were wounded, but they bound up their own hurts and used their
rifles, whenever they could pick out a figure on the slopes.

"You spoke of traitors, Mr. Reed," said the colonel. "Did you know well
all the men who came to help in the preparations for us?"

"All but two," replied the mountaineer. "One was named Leonard and the
other Bosley. They come from the other side uv the mounting with some uv
the boys an' we thought they wuz all right, but I reckon they must be the
traitors, an' I reckon too they must hev helped some uv the gorillers
into the camp. I ain't seed a sign uv either sence them hosses wuz
headed back. I guess we wuz took in, an' I'm pow'ful sorry, colonel."

"You're not to blame, Mr. Reed. It's not always possible to guard
against treachery, but since we've defeated their attempt to stampede
our horses we'll defeat all other efforts of theirs."

"Colonel, would you mind lendin' me them glasses uv yourn fur a look?
The night's so bright I guess I kin use 'em nigh ez well ez in the day."

"Certainly you can have them, Mr. Reed. Here they are."

The mountaineer took a long look through them, and when he handed them
back he uttered a clucking sound, significant of satisfaction.

"I 'lowed it was him, when I saw him crawlin' behind that bush," he said,
"an' now I know."

"Who is who?" said Dick.

"It's that feller Bosley what came with the rest uv the boys. I know
that gray comfort what's tied 'roun' his neck, an' the 'coonskin cap
what's on his head. He jest crawled behind that little twisted pine up
thar, an' took a pot shot at some uv us down here."

"I wish I could reach him," said Shepard.

"Ef you could I wouldn't let you," said the mountaineer grimly.

"Why?"

"'Cause he's my meat. He come here with my people, an' played a trick
on us, a trick that might hev wiped out all uv Colonel Winchester's men.
No man kin do that with me an git away. He's piled up a pow'ful big
score an' I'm goin' to settle it myself."

"Ho