arations had been made for an advance. The four dead or
badly wounded draft mules were disentangled from the harness, and their
places supplied with the four army mules, whose packs were thrown into the
wagons. These animals, by the way, had escaped injury, partly because they
had been tethered between the two lines of vehicles, and partly because
they had been well covered by their loads, which were plentifully
stuck-with arrows.

"We are ready to march," said Thurstane to Coronado. "I am sorry we can't
try to recover your men back there."

"No use," commented Texas Smith. "The Patchies have been at 'em. They're
chuck full of spear holes by this time."

Coronado shouted to the drivers to start. Commencing on the right, the
wagons filed off two by two toward the mouth of the canon, while the
Indians, gathered in a group half a mile away, looked on without a yell or
a movement. The instant that the vehicle which contained the ladies had
cleared itself of the others, Thurstane and Coronado rode alongside of it.

"So! you are safe!" said the former. "By Heavens, if they _had_ hurt you!"

"And you?" asked Clara, very quickly and eagerly, while scanning him from
head to foot.

Coronado saw that look, anxious for Thurstane alone; and, master of
dissimulation though he was, his face showed both pain and anger.

"Ah--oh--oh dear!" groaned Mrs. Stanley, as she made her appearance in the
front of the vehicle. "Well! this is rather more than I can bear. This is
just as much as a woman can put up with. Dear me! what is the matter with
your arm, Lieutenant?"

"Just a pin prick," said Thurstane.

Clara began to get out of the wagon, with the purpose of going to him, her
eyes staring and her face pale.

"Don't!" he protested, motioning her back. "It is nothing."

And, although the lacerated arm hurt him and was not easy to manage, he
raised it over his head to show that the damage was trifling.

"Do get in here and let us take care of you," begged Clara.

"Certainly!" echoed Aunt Maria, who was a compassionate woman at heart,
and who only lacked somewhat in quickness of sympathy, perhaps by reason
of her strong-minded notions.

"I will when I need it," said Ralph, flattered and gratified. "The arm
will do without dressing till we reach camp. There are other wounded.
Everybody has fought. Mr. Coronado here has done deeds worthy of his
ancestors."

"Ah, Mr. Coronado!" smiled Aunt Maria, delighted that her favorite had