ow the
edge. We crawled upon this, and looked cautiously through a fringe of
grass.

I could see a bunch of half a dozen antelope gently feeding on the level
plain. "Pick your antelope," whispered Jim to me.

"I'll take the young buck," I said. "You can have the rest."

Cautiously we shoved our rifles through the grass and kneeling on one
leg we drew a careful aim. "Now," exclaimed Jim.

There came two simultaneous reports and a couple of antelope dropped
flat and flaccid. We fired at the remainder as they jumped into the
distance. Our shots only made them go faster.

"Well," cried Jim, as we stood up, "two isn't so bad."

We got on our ponies and were obliged to ride down the gully for half a
mile before we could get out where there was a narrow wash down the
side.

We rode over, to where the two huddled heaps of grey laid on the plain.
I had got my young buck all right, while Jim had killed a good sized
doe.

"I tell you, Jim, let's take the two of them into the gully, where we
will be safe from the Apaches seeing us. Cut off the best parts, then
hunt back towards the camp."

"All right," Jim acquiesced, rather to my surprise.

He was likely to disregard any ordinary caution, but since his training
with the captain, he was more apt to be careful and to take fewer
chances.

So we flung the antelopes across the back of our saddles, tying them
securely with the long leather strings and started back for the arroyo.

We kept a sharp lookout in all directions over the plains, but saw no
indications of Indians, and reached our destination in safety.

"I believe that we are going to have a thunderstorm," Jim remarked.

"It certainly looks it," I replied.

Back of the range heavy thunder clouds were rolling, bringing the higher
peaks out with marked distinctness and the shadow was spreading over the
plains.

"It will be cooler for us, anyway," said Jim.

It certainly was a relief to have the sun obscured, and we set to work
with a will. In a little over a half hour we had the antelopes divided
off and securely fastened to the saddles. It did not increase the weight
we had to carry much.

"I am going to take a look around," said Jim, "before we ride out into
the open."

He crawled up the edge of the gully, barely raising his eyes above the
level. In a moment I knew that he had seen something of interest. There
was something about his figure as he crouched even lower than at first
with his gaze riveted