a heap to say about it; and Abajo, after this,
won't take us for easy marks, will he?" Bob remarked, in a satisfied
tone.

A short time later they were in their room.

"You don't suppose now, Frank, that we'll be bothered to-night?" Bob
observed, as he stood there by the window looking out toward the Grand
Canyon.

At that the other laughed quite merrily.

"Don't give yourself any uneasiness about that, Bob," he remarked. "In
the first place nobody would bother trying to get up here, even if they
could, when so many better chances of reaching us will crop up after we
start into the canyon to-morrow. Then again, we haven't anything to be
stolen but our rifles, and what little cash we brought along for
expenses."

"Oh! I suppose I am silly thinking about it," admitted Bob, "but some
way that half-breed seems to be on my nerves. His face is so sly, and
his black eyes just glitter as I've seen those of a snake do when he's
going to strike. But, just as you say, it's foolish to borrow trouble,
and I must get those notions out of my head."

"That's the talk, Bob," his chum declared, heartily. "Morning will find
us in fine trim to make a start into this big ditch. And before another
night you'll be so filled with wonder over what you see that these other
things will take a back seat."

"But do you think we ever can find the hermit of Echo Cave?" asked Bob.

"I think we've got a pretty good chance, if we're left alone," came the
ready reply.

"Meaning if this Eugene Warringford keeps his hands off; and nothing
else turns up to balk us?" Bob asked.

"Yes, all of that, and more," Frank admitted.

"But already I find myself wishing we had somebody along with us, like
Old Hank Coombs for instance, Frank."

"Well, who knows what may happen?" said the other, a little
mysteriously. "D'ye know, Bob, I saw my dad winking at Hank when he
thought I wasn't looking; and on that account I've got half an idea he
meant to send the old man, perhaps with a second cowboy, along on our
trail. We may run across friends here when we least expect it."

"I hope it turns out that way," declared the Kentucky boy; "because Hank
is just what you might call a tower of strength when he's along.
Remember how fortunate it was he turned up when he did, at the time we
wanted to follow that plague of the cattle ranges, the wolf, Sallie? I
reckon we'd have had a much harder time bagging our game if Hank hadn't
been along."

"Well, get to bed no