ng; he wanted to know why the band had
left Bernalillo; also why it had attacked his train. The boy explained
that the raiders had been driven off the southern route by a party of
United States cavalry, and that, having lost a number of their braves in
the fight, they had sworn vengeance on Americans.

"Did you hear them say whose train this was?" demanded Coronado.

"No, Senor."

"Do you think they knew?"

"Senor, I think not."

"Whose band was this?"

"Manga Colorada's."

"Where is Delgadito?"

"Delgadito went the other side of the mountain. They were both going to
fight the Moquis."

"So we shall find Delgadito in the Moqui valley?"

"I think so, Senor."

After a moment of reflection Coronado added, "You will stay with us and
take care of mules. I will do well by you."

"Thanks, Senor. Many thanks."

Coronado rejoined Thurstane and told his news. The officer looked grave;
there might be another combat in store for the train; it might be an
affair with both bands of the Apaches.

"Well," he said, "we must keep our eyes open. Every one of us must do his
very utmost. On the whole, I can't believe they can beat us."

"Nombre de Dios!" thought Coronado. "How will this accursed job end? I
wish I were out of it."

They were now traversing the canon from which they had been so long
debarred. It was a peaceful solitude; no life but their own stirred within
its sandstone ramparts; and its windings soon carried them out of sight of
their late assailants. For four hours they slowly threaded it, and when
night came on they were still in it, miles away from their expected
camping ground. No water and no grass; the animals were drooping with
hunger, and all suffered with thirst; the worst was that the hurts of the
wounded could not be properly dressed. But progress through this labyrinth
of stones in the darkness was impossible, and the weary, anxious, fevered
travellers bivouacked as well as might be.

Starting at dawn, they finished the canon in about an hour, traversed an
uneven plateau which stretched beyond its final sinuous branch gullies,
and found themselves on the brow of a lofty terrace, overlooking a sublime
panorama. There was an immense valley, not smooth and verdurous, but a
gigantic nest of savage buttes and crags and hills, only to be called a
valley because it was enclosed by what seemed a continuous line of
eminences. On the north and east rose long ranges and elevated
table-lands; on the we