e dim recesses
of the crooked gorge, the blue-coats were following in hot pursuit.
Who could have dreamed that a band of Apaches, cut off from their
native wilds by detachments from Bowie, Lowell, and Crittenden, and
forced to make a wide _detour_ to the southwest, had sought refuge in
the very gorge of the Cababi whither Pasqual with all speed was urging
his men?

"We rest when we reach the cave."

Ah, even the torment of his wound could not have wrung from the robber
chief this longed-for order had he dreamed what was coming at his
back.

"How are the girls getting on?" he asked of his hot and wearied aide.
"Are they tranquil now?"

"They have to be," was the grim reply. "The little one dare not open
her eyes, and Sanchez has his knife at the elder's throat."

And the sunrise had brought with it new inspiration,--new purpose to
those who came trotting to the rescue. Just as the cliffs on the
western side were tipped and fringed with rose and gold, Sergeant Lee,
riding rapidly far ahead from point to point, always carefully peering
around each bend before signalling "come on," was seen suddenly to
halt and throw himself from his horse. The next instant he stood
erect, waving some white object high in air. Spurring forward,
Drummond joined him.

"A lady's handkerchief, lieutenant," he quietly said. "They seem to
have halted here a moment: you can tell by the hoof-prints. One of
their number rode over towards that high point yonder and rejoined
them here. I don't believe they are more than half an hour ahead."

Drummond reverently took the dainty kerchief, hurriedly searched for
an initial or a name, and found the letters "R. H." in monogram in one
corner.

"Push on, then, Lee! Here, one more of you,--you, Bennet, join the
sergeant. Look alive now, but do not let yourselves be seen from the
front."

Then as they hastened away he stowed the filmy trifle in the pocket of
his blouse, and, drawing his Colt from the holster, closely inspected
its loaded chambers. Only a boy, barely twenty-three, yet rich in
soldierly experience already was Drummond. He had entered the Point
when just seventeen. His father's death, occurring immediately before
the memorable summer of their first class camp, had thrown him
perforce into the society of the so-called bachelor club, and he was
graduated in the June of the following year with a heart as whole as
his physique was fine. But there were some cares to cloud his young
life