proved unexpectedly easy. As they climbed in
steep zigzags from terrace to terrace Lennon trailed behind. Carmena
noticed his frequent glances down into the canon bottom.

"Don't worry," she said. "They didn't rush the canon mouth--they
crawled. If any circled and climbed the mesa, the side canons cut 'em
off from us. We'll beat 'em to the Hole."

"The Hole--we'll find help there?" queried Lennon.

"Slade is away. But I figure we'll be safe enough, once we get in.
There's Dad and--my sister."

"If they are at all like you, Carmena!"

The girl paused on a ledge to gaze down at him with a somber, clouded
look that brightened into a tender smile.

"Elsie is as much like me as a lily is like a cactus. No thorns about
_her_. She's cuddlier than a kitten. Eyes bluer than forget-me-nots,
Jack; hair yellow as corn silk. She's only eighteen and sweet as honey."

"I'm picturing an angel," bantered Lennon. "Your father must be a fine
man to have two such daughters."

The flush in the girl's tanned cheeks deepened. But the soft glow of her
eyes faded and left them dull and haggard.

"Dad's been unlucky all 'round," she murmured. "Not his fault, either.
He came West for his health--almost died--one lung gone."

"Hard lines," sympathized Lennon. "Ranch work can't be easy for a sick
man."

The girl climbed to another terrace before she replied:

"That's not the worst of it. Slade came six years ago--when we were
starving. Dad got in with him. He can't break loose. If only we could
get away, Dad would be all right."

"Yes?" said Lennon.

Carmena remained silent until he came panting up after her to the top of
the steepest ascent. While he paused to catch his breath she opened the
canteen. They were by now badly in need of a drink. Before starting on
up the ledges she met Lennon's smiling gaze with a look of tremulous
appeal.

"Dad used to be a lawyer," she faltered. "If only you'll try to like him
and--and help."

"Of course!" exclaimed Lennon. "Aren't we pals? You're pulling me
through this scrape. Perhaps I can pull him out of his hole. You called
it Dead Hole, didn't you?"

"Yes," murmured the girl. "That's the name and--it fits."

"You've stood by me. I'll stand by you," Lennon pledged himself. "We'll
look for that copper mine together. I'm working for a big copper
syndicate. If I relocate the mine I am to receive twenty thousand in
cash and ten per cent. of the stock. Your half of the cash should pull
your