se flowers.... And to think!
Oh, it's horrible for her! You must save her. If you get her away there
never will be anything come of it. The Mormons will hush it up."

"Ruth, time is flying," rejoined Shefford, hurriedly. "I must go back
to Joe. You be ready for us when we come. Wear something loose, easily
thrown off, and don't forget the long hood."

"I'll be ready and watching," she said. "The sooner the better, I'd
say."

He left her and returned toward camp in the same circling route by which
he had come. The Indian had disappeared and so had his mustang. This
significant fact augmented Shefford's hurried, thrilling excitement.
But one glance at Joe's face changed all that to a sudden numbness, a
sinking of his heart.

"What is it?" he queried.

"Look there!" exclaimed the Mormon.

Shefford's quick eye caught sight of horses and men down the valley. He
saw several Indians and three or four white men. They were making camp.

"Who are they?" demanded Shefford.

"Shadd and some of his gang. Reckon that Piute told the news. By
to-morrow the valley will be full as a horse-wrangler's corral.... Lucky
Nas Ta Bega got away before that gang rode in. Now things won't look
as queer as they might have looked. The Indian took a pack of grub, six
mustangs, and my guns. Then there was your rifle in your saddle-sheath.
So you'll be well heeled in case you come to close quarters. Reckon
you can look for a running fight. For now, as soon as your flight is
discovered, Shadd will hit your trail. He's in with the Mormons. You
know him--what you'll have to deal with. But the advantage will all be
yours. You can ambush the trail."

"We're in for it. And the sooner we're off the better," replied
Shefford, grimly.

"Reckon that's gospel. Well--come on!"

The Mormon strode off, and Shefford, catching up with him, kept at his
side. Shefford's mind was full, but Joe's dark and gloomy face did not
invite communication. They entered the pinyon grove and passed the
cabin where the tragedy had been enacted. A tarpaulin had been stretched
across the front porch. Beal was not in sight, nor were any of the
women.

"I forgot," said Shefford, suddenly. "Where am I to meet the Indian?"

"Climb the west wall, back of camp," replied Joe. "Nas Ta Bega took the
Stonebridge trail. But he'll leave that, climb the rocks, then hide the
outfit and come back to watch for you. Reckon he'll see you when you top
the wall."

They passed on into the