ed.

"'It's the captain,' I replied promptly.

"'I thought it was you, but I wasn't sure,' said Tom. 'I'm mighty glad
to see you back again.'

"'It's a privilege to be here safely,' I admitted. 'I have discovered
where Jim and Jo are.'

"'Where?' exclaimed Tom.

"'They are on a high hill in the middle of the valley on the other side
of the ridge, surrounded by Apaches.'

"'Can they hold out?' inquired Tom anxiously.

"'As far as I can judge they can stand them off as long as the water and
food hold out. I guess they haven't lost their spunk either. I heard Jim
yell for them to go home and go to sleep after they had made a
demonstration on one side and he had given them a salute of three shots,
driving them to cover.'

"'That's just like Jim,' exclaimed Tom in admiration. 'He's the lad with
the nerve all right. But what are you going to do to rescue them,
captain?'

"'We will have to study the situation by daylight to-morrow, and then we
will know better what to do.'

"'How many Apaches were they, captain?' asked Tom.

"'There was enough to go round, but don't you worry, Tom. Get a good
night's sleep and then you will be ready for whatever comes.'

"I guess Tom took my advice to heart, for in a few minutes I heard a
heavy breathing from his roll of blankets. It was very comfortable in
our sheltered camp with the big granite boulders back of us and the
screen of trees and bushes in front.

"There is something mysterious and wonderful about night in the
mountains and though I have lived for years in their presence, this has
never become common to me. There is the dim bulk of the mountains all
around, the moaning and moving of the mysterious winds through pines and
aspens, and overhead the wondrous clearness of the innumerable stars.

"I did not pretend to sleep as I lay there in my blankets, but kept
turning over in my mind different plans for the morrow. It would do no
good to try and join forces, for if by a determined rush we could break
through their lines and get into the fort, there would be just two more
to feed.

"Was there any way in which I could get food and water to them? This was
the first idea that I wrestled with. Perhaps with my craft I might be
able to get through on an overcast night with provisions and water.

"Another idea came to me. I might get the help of the U. S. soldiers
from the nearest fort in New Mexico, but that was one hundred and fifty
miles distant and time was precious