denness, they came upon peril. Just beyond the
nose of the sandstone promontory there was a bivouac of half naked,
dark-skinned horsemen, recognizable at a glance as Apaches. It was
undoubtedly the band of Delgadito.

The camp was half a mile distant. The Indians, evidently surprised at the
appearance of the train, were immediately in commotion. There was a rapid
mounting, and in five minutes they were all on horseback, curveting in
circles, and brandishing their lances, but without advancing.

"Manga Colorada hasn't reached here yet," observed Thurstane.

"That's so," assented Texas Smith. "They hain't heerd from the cuss, or
they'd a bushwhacked us somewhar. Seein' he dasn't follow our trail, he
had to make a big turn to git here. But he'll be droppin' along, an' then
we'll hev a fight. I reckon we'll hev one any way. Them cusses ain't
friendly. If they was, they'd a piled in helter-skelter to hev a talk an'
ask fur whiskey."

"We must keep them at a distance," said Thurstane.

"You bet! The first Injun that comes nigh us. I'll shute him. They mustn't
be 'lowed to git among us. First you know you'd hear a yell, an' find
yourself speared in the back. An' them that's speared right off is the
lucky ones."

"Not one of us must fall into their hands," muttered the officer, thinking
of Clara.

"Cap, that's so," returned Texas grimly. "When I fight Injuns, I never
empty my revolver. I keep one barl for myself. You'd better do the same.
Furthermore, thar oughter be somebody detailed to shute the women folks
when it comes to the last pinch. I say this as a friend."

As a friend! It was the utmost stretch of Texas Smith's humanity and
sympathy. Obviously the fellow had a soft side to him.

The fact is that he had taken a fancy to Thurstane since he had learned
his fighting qualities, and would rather have done him a favor than murder
him. At all events his hatred to "Injuns" was such that he wanted the
lieutenant to kill a great many of them before his own turn came.

"So you think we'll have a tough job of it?" inferred Ralph.

"Cap, we ain't so many as we was. An' if Manga Colorada comes up, thar'll
be a pile of red-skins. It may be they'll outlast us; an' so I say as a
friend, save one shot; save it for yourself, Cap."

But the Apaches did not advance. They watched the train steadily; they
held a long consultation which evidently referred to it; at last they
seemed to decide that it was in too good order to fall