tcher. One minute he was shining with an
intolerable, feverish fervor, and the next he had vanished behind the
lofty ramparts of the plateau.

It was Sergeant Meyer's tour as officer of the day, and he had prepared
for the night with the thoroughness of an old soldier. The animals were
picketed in the innermost rooms of the Casa Grande, while the spare
baggage was neatly piled along the walls of the central apartment.
Thurstane's squad was quartered in one of the two outer rooms, and
Coronado's squad in the other, each man having his musket loaded and lying
beside him, with the butt at his feet and the muzzle pointing toward the
wall. One sentry was posted on the roof of the building, and one on the
ground twenty yards or so from its salient angle, while further away were
two fires which partially lighted up the great enclosure. The sergeant and
such of his men as were not on post slept or watched in the open air at
the corner of the Casa.

The night passed without attack or alarm. Apache scouts undoubtedly
prowled around the enclosure, and through its more distant shadows, noting
avenues and chances for forlorn hopes. But they were not ready as yet to
do any nocturnal spearing, and if ever Indians wanted a night's rest they
wanted it. The garrison was equally quiet. Texas Smith, too familiar with
ugly situations to lie awake when no good was to be got by it, chose his
corner, curled up in his blanket and slept the sleep of the just.
Overwhelming fatigue soon sent Coronado off in like manner. Clara, too;
she was querying how much she should tell Thurstane; all of a sudden she
was dreaming.

When broad daylight opened her eyes she was still lethargic and did not
know where she was. A stretch; a long wondering stare about her; then she
sprang up, ran to the edge of the roof, and looked over. There was
Thurstane, alive, taking off his hat to her and waving her back from the
brink. It was a second and more splendid sun-rising; and for a moment she
was full of happiness.

At dawn Meyer had turned out his squad, patrolled the enclosure, made sure
that no Indians were in or around it, and posted a single sentry on the
southeastern angle of the ruins, which commanded the whole of the little
plain. He discovered that the Apaches, fearful like all cavalry of a night
attack, had withdrawn to a spot more than a mile distant, and had taken
the precaution of securing their retreat by garrisoning the mouth of the
canon. Having mad