, and he was ordered back.

"No use," he said on his return. "We'll have to wait until night."

But at night he succeeded no better, for though the ceremonies were kept
up by the light of many camp fires, the line of Indians on guard was
not broken, and it was impossible to get through it.

"We'll just have to stay," announced Baldy.

Ruth cried a little, and even Alice felt a bit gloomy as the shadows
settled down when the watch fires died out. But then their father was
with them, and he did not seem at all despondent, so their spirits rose.

"This experience will be something to talk about afterward," Mr. DeVere
told them.

During the night, when all seemed quiet, Baldy made another attempt,
hoping he and his friends could get away, by leaving their horses
behind. But the guards were on the alert.

The night was not a comfortable one, and no one slept much; but the huts
and blankets were a protection. The Indians did not come near their
prisoners, and in the morning they furnished them food.

Baldy tried again to argue with Jumping Horse and some of the others,
but it was useless. To all the cowboy's arguments, and even threats, the
reply was that if the prisoners left before the ceremonies were over all
the medicine and magic would be spoiled.

"We'll have to stay, then," sighed Mr. DeVere. "But it will be out of
the question to remain a week--and you say that it will take that
long?"

"Yes," answered Baldy.

"Help may come from the ranch before then," suggested Russ.

"It will if I can do what I have in mind," declared Baldy, as he watched
a column of smoke ascending from the fire he had made to cook food for
his friends. "I've just thought of something. I can send up a smoke
signal. If Bow Backus at the ranch sees it he will know it means we're
here, and in trouble."

"How can you make a smoke signal?" asked Alice.

"Well, you use wet wood, to make a black smoke, and then you hold a
blanket over the fire a moment. When you take it away up goes a single
puff of smoke. Then you swing the blanket over the fire again, and cut
off the smoke. In that way you can make a number of separate puffs.

"Bow and I have a signal code. If I can only get him to see this we'll
be all right."

"It's worth trying," said Paul.

That day the Indians went at their ceremonies harder than ever. They
were in a perfect frenzy, but the vigilance of the guards never relaxed.
There was no chance to escape.

Russ, having n