and you've ever held. I know you'll
acquit yourself well, but trust a lot to your guides."

"I will, sir," said Dick earnestly. He felt the full weight of his
responsibility, but his courage rose to meet it. It was the largest
task yet confided to him, and he was resolved to make it a success. He
noticed also that fortune, as if determined to help the brave, was
already giving him aid. More stars were withdrawing into the void,
and the clouds were increasing. The night had grown much darker, and a
few flakes of snow wandered lazily down, messengers of the multitude that
might follow.

The increasing dusk did not diminish the activity of the brigands on the
slopes. It was obvious that they had an unlimited supply of ammunition,
as they sent an unbroken stream of bullets into the valley, and pink dots
ran like ribbons around its entire snowy rim. But in the valley itself
all the fires had been put out, and it was fairly dark there, enabling
Dick's command to gather unseen by the enemy.

"Now, Dick," said Colonel Winchester, "I trust you. Go, and may luck go
with you."

He led his men away, the three guides by his side, and they used every
particle of cover they could find, in order that the movement might
remain invisible until the last possible moment. They hugged the fringe
of forest, and when they reached the gorge he felt sure they were still
unseen, although it was only the easy part of their task that had yet
been done. But the lazy flakes had increased in number, and the canopy
of cloud was still being drawn across the heavens. He gave the word to
his men to be as silent as possible, not to let any weapon rattle or fall,
and then they entered the gorge in two files separated by the creek,
the narrow ledges affording room for only one man on either side.

Dick kept his outward calm, but the great pulses in his throat and
temples were beating hard. Reed was just ahead of him, and on the other
side of the creek the sergeant led, with Shepard following. Large
flakes of snow fell on his face and melted there, but they were welcome
messengers, telling him that the cloak for the movement would not only
remain, but would increase in extent.

After the first curve the stream took a sharp descent, but the land on
either side widened a little, permitting two to walk abreast. The valley
and the slopes encircling it were now entirely shut out from their view,
but they heard the crackling of the rifles in gr