hests. The secret
of the second chest was known only to Frances herself and the two
Chinamen. Anybody who entered the great hall of the _hacienda_ saw
that one, as Ratty had, standing ready for removal. The one in Captain
Rugley's room was covered by the blanket and looked like an ordinary
divan.

Frances believed San Soo and Ming were to be trusted. But to Silent Sam
she left the guarding of the ranch-house during her absence.

Day was just beginning to announce itself by faint streaks of pink and
salmon color along the eastern horizon, when the four-mule wagon and
Frances' pony arrived at the gate of the compound. The two Chinamen, Sam
himself, and Mack Hinkman, the driver, had all they could do to carry
the chest out to the wagon.

Frances came out, pulling on her gantlets. She had kissed her father
good-bye the evening before, and he was sleeping peacefully at this
hour.

"Have a good journey, Miss Frances," said Sam, yawning. "Look out for
that off mule, Mack. _Adios._"

The Chinamen had scuttled back to the house. Frances was mounted on
Molly, and the heavy wagon lurched forward, the mules straining in the
collars under the admonition of Mack's voice and the snap of his
bullwhip.

The wagon had a top, and the flap at the back was laced down. No casual
passer-by could see what was in the vehicle.

Frances rode ahead, for Molly was fresh and was anxious to gallop. She
allowed the pinto to have her head for the first few miles, as she rode
straight away into the path of the sun that rose, red and
jovial-looking, above the edge of the plain.

A lone coyote, hungry after a fruitless night of wandering, sat upon its
haunches not far from the trail, and yelped at her as she passed. The
morning air was as invigorating as new wine, and her cares and troubles
seemed to be lightened already.

She rode some distance ahead of the wagon; but at the line of the Bar-T
she picketed Molly and built a little fire. She carried at her saddle
the means and material for breakfast. When the slower moving mule team
came up with her there was an appetizing odor of coffee and bacon in the
air.

"That sure does smell good, Ma'am!" declared Mack. "And it's
on-expected. I only got a cold bite yere."

"We'll have that at noon," said Frances, brightly. "But the morning air
is bound to make one hungry for a hot drink and a rasher of bacon."

In twenty minutes they were on the trail again. Frances now kept close
to the wagon. Once