or him to ride away
without Fanny Harvey's knowing that something of a serious nature was
impending, and that he could not get away at all without their knowing
it. What he desired was to conceal from them that there was any danger
from Apaches.

Just as he expected, both girls were eagerly awaiting him at the
entrance to the cave. His revolvers were in there beside the rude
couch on which he had slept so peacefully.

"Now are you ready to return to hospital and proper subjection?" asked
Miss Harvey, laughingly. "It is high time. What could have tempted you
to climb to that high point?"

"Why, it's the first chance I've had of a look around," was the
answer. "This is an awfully strong spot for a place of refuge. You are
safe here, safer than anywhere between Yuma and Tucson, now that the
former possessors are scattered. But did you hear what took Wing off?"

"No, he didn't stop to explain matters. He simply dashed away without
even a saddle. 'Something I must look after,' was all he vouchsafed to
say."

"Well, the men just in tell me the paymaster's safe was spirited off.
Confound that little green box of greenbacks! Some shrewd packer among
Morales's people whisked it out of the wagon and onto a _burro_, and
now we are all keen to get it back. Of course I can't sleep again
until we know. Some of our people are coming slowly up the valley and
Wing went on down to meet them."

But all the time he talked so airily with the elder sister, Ruth stood
watching him with suspicious eyes.

"Mr. Drummond, please do not go," she broke forth. "You have no right
to--now." And James, the dissembler, found himself trapped.

"Go I must, Ruthie," he said, with sudden change of manner. "I know
you will not blame me or detain when I tell you, as I feel forced to
tell you now, that Sergeant Wing is hurt. His horse has fallen with
him far out on the desert. I'll be back and very soon."

Then with sudden impulsive movement he bent, kissed her forehead, and
turned as suddenly away.

When the sisters looked into each other's eyes a moment later one
face was blushing like the dawn, the other was pallid with a new and
deep anxiety.

And now we, too, must follow Wing. He was a total stranger, it is to
be remembered, to the regiment when, after its years of battling in
the Army of the Potomac, it was sent into exile on the far Pacific
coast and speedily lost to sight in the deserts of Arizona. The type
of non-commissioned officer mo