hey know the limits of
the safety zone, and will keep there until just before daylight. That
is when they 'll try to creep up upon us. Have you got the time?"

She opened her watch, feeling for the hands with her fingers, wondering
vaguely at her own calmness. The cool resourcefulness of Hamlin was
like a tonic.

"It--it is a little after one o'clock," she said slowly, "although I am
not sure my watch is exactly right."

"Near enough; there are signs of daylight at four--three hours left;
that ought to be sufficient, but with no darkness to spare. Will you
go with me? Will you do exactly as I say?"

She drew a swift breath, holding her hand to her side.

"Oh, yes," her voice catching, "what--what else can I do? I cannot
stay here with those dead men!"

"But I want you to go because--well, because you trust me," he urged, a
new trace of tenderness in his lowered voice. "Because you know I
would give my life to defend you."

He was not sure, but he thought her face was suddenly uplifted, her
eyes seeking to see him in the darkness.

"I do," she answered gravely, "you must believe I do; but I have never
been in such peril before, in such a situation of horror, and I am all
unnerved. There doesn't seem to be anything left me but--to trust you."

"That is good; all I can ask. I know you are all right, but I want you
to keep your nerve. We are going to take a big chance; we 've got to
do it--a single misplay, a slip of the foot, an incautious breath may
cost our lives."

"Are you going to try to get away? To elude the Indians?"

"Yes, and there is but one possibility of success--to creep the length
of the gully there, and so reach the river. Here is Gonzales' belt.
Don't be afraid of it; it is not dead men who are going to hurt us.
Swing the strap over your shoulder this way, and slip the revolver into
the holster. That's right; we'll carry as little as we can, and leave
our hands free." He hesitated, staring about in the darkness, swiftly
deciding what to take. "Do you happen to know if either of the
passengers carried any grub?"

"Grub?"

"Plains' term for food," impatiently, "rations; something for lunch _en
route_."

"Oh, yes, Mr. Moylan did; said he never took chances on having to go
hungry. It was in a flat leather pouch."

"Haversack. I have it. That will be enough to carry, with the
canteen. Now there is only one thing more before we leave. We must
impress those fellows with the