hearty slap on the shoulder, "so
you thought you would start down to see what kept your old boss so long.
Well, you can go back and go to sleep. It's all over."

This may have been reassuring to Coyote, but it was not the exact truth,
but I could not foresee that. I took my post again at the top of the
trail and waited for further developments. I began to think that it was
about time for Jim to come forward. At least I knew that I would not
have many more hours to wait.

The rain was now coming down less rapidly and there was promise of the
storm lifting. If I had not been so wet I might have dropped off to
sleep, but if I had done so I would have had a sudden awakening.

No sound came from the Indians below and I had relaxed my keen
attention, when I heard a noise that aroused me again. Something was
coming up the rock trail. It did not seem to be an Indian but some
animal.

It was coming quickly, then it saw me and crouched low with that intense
menace that shows in a wild beast before it springs. I raised my gun to
fire and something held me back. Then I saw what it was.

"Here, Santa," I cried, "come, old dog."

He stalked up to me as soon as he heard my voice. But he showed no
emotion. He was not one of those effusive dogs, who wag their tails and
jump around in delight.

"Where did you come from?" I asked, "where's Captain?"

Santa then began to trail around on top of the hill, and before I could
stop him he had jumped down and run under the rock where our camp was.

"Hello, what is this?" I heard Jim exclaim.

"It's Santa," I said.

"Where's the captain?" questioned Jim.

"He seemed to be looking for him," I replied. "Perhaps they are in
trouble too, or the captain may have sent him out to trail us. Anyway,
he adds one more to the garrison."

"Is my time up?" I asked.

"Yes," he replied, "I will stand guard now and have Santa to help me."

"All right," I said, "I wouldn't mind having a little sleep."

CHAPTER VI

WITHIN THE FORT

"Anything doing?" inquired Jim.

"I saw one Indian," I replied, "when I went down to the end of the rock
trail and I hit him with a stone."

"Struck him out the first thing," grinned Jim.

"Sure."

"Well, no stones for me," said Jim, "if I see one of those red beggars I
will give him the lead."

"How did you sleep?" I asked.

"Fine," he replied, "why not? That brush was soft and the fire kept me
comfortable."

"I'll try it myself," I said and cu