ow completed the
wreath he placed all three weapons--he had made one for himself--in the
pan. The last thing I saw, as I started for the horses, was the three of
them standing about, looking down, and Aggie's face was full of misery.

I was gone for a half-hour. The horses had not wandered far, and having
mounted mine, although without a saddle, I copied as well as I could the
whoop Bill used to drive them in, and rounded them up. When I returned,
driving them before me, the pack was ready, and on Tish's face was a
look of intense satisfaction. I soon perceived the reason.

Lying on a stone by the fire were three of the shiniest black revolvers
any one could want. I eyed Tish and she explained.

"Stove polish," she said. "Like a fool I'd forgot it. Gives a true
metallic luster, as it says on the box."

Tish is very particular about a stove, and even on our camping-trips we
keep the portable stove shining and clean.

"Does it come off?"

"Well, more or less," she admitted. "We can keep the box out and renew
when necessary. It is a great comfort," she added, "to feel that we are
all armed. We shall need weapons."

"In an emergency," I observed rather tartly, "I hope you will not depend
on us too much. While I don't know what you intend to do, if it is
anything desperate, just remember that the only way Aggie or I can do
any damage with these things is to thrust them down somebody's throat
and strangle him to death."

She ignored my remark, however, and soon we were on our horses and
moving along the trail toward the pass.

II

It will be unnecessary to remind those familiar with Glacier Park of the
trail which hugs the mountain above timber-line, and extends toward the
pass for a mile or so, in a long semicircle which curves inward.

At the end it turns to the right and mounts to an acre or so of level
ground, with snow and rocks but no vegetation. This is the Piegan Pass.
Behind it is the Garden Wall, that stupendous mass of granite rising to
incredible heights. On the other side the trail drops abruptly, by means
of stepladders which I have explained.

Tish now told us of her plan.

"The unfortunate part is," she said, "that the Ostermaiers will not see
us. I tried to arrange it so they could, but it was impossible. We must
content ourselves with the knowledge of a good deed done."

Her plan, in brief, was this: The sham attacking party was to turn and
ride away down the far side of the pass, up