is eyes once more and
now his faculties were clear. Urrea had moved again and now he was
facing the sleepers. He regarded them attentively, one by one, and in
the dusk he could not see that Ned's eyelids were not closed. The boy
did not stir, but a cold shiver ran down his spine. He felt with all the
power of second sight that something extraordinary was going to happen.

Urrea walked to the smoldering fire, and now Ned dropped his eyelids,
until he looked only through a space as narrow as the edge of a knife
blade. Urrea stooped and took from the dying heap a long stick, still
burning at the end. Then he took another look at the three and suddenly
disappeared among the bushes, carrying with him the burning stick. He
was so light upon his feet that he made no sound as he went.

Ned was startled beyond measure, but he was like a spring released by a
key. He felt that the need of instant action was great, and, as light of
foot as Urrea himself, he sprang up, rifle in hand, and followed the
young Mexican. He was thankful for the wilderness training that he had
been compelled to acquire. He caught sight of Urrea about twenty yards
ahead, still moving swiftly on soundless feet. He moved thus a hundred
yards or more, with Ned, as his shadow, as dark and silent as he, and
then he stopped by the side of a great tree.

Ned felt instinctively, when Urrea halted that he would look back to see
if by chance he were followed, and he sank down in the bushes before the
Mexican turned. Urrea gave only a glance or two in that direction and,
satisfied, began to examine the tree which was certainly worthy of
attention, as it rose to an uncommon height, much above its fellows.

Ned's amazement grew. Why should Urrea be so particular about the size
or height of a tree? It grew still further, when he saw Urrea lay his
rifle down at the foot of the tree, spring up, grasp the lowest branch
with one hand, and then deftly draw himself up, taking with him the
burning stick. He paused a moment on the bough, looked again toward the
little camp and then climbed upward with a speed and dexterity worthy of
a great monkey.

Ned saw the Mexican's figure going up and up, a dark blur against the
stem of the tree, and it was hard to persuade himself that it was
reality. He saw also the bright spark on the end of the stick that he
carried with him. The tree rose to a height of nearly 150 feet, and when
Urrea passed above the others that surrounded it, th