ed to camping
in a hollow like this, for before this we have always selected a place
that we could defend, and though there is no particular danger from
outlaws or Indians in these mountains, we can't shake off our old
habits."

"I believe there is something in that," acquiesced Jo.

"It's that rat over there," said Juarez loudly.

The Mexican laughed coolly and insolently, and lighted another
cigarette. This would have maddened an excitable person, but Juarez was
in a stoical mood and he contented himself with flinging a bone that he
had been gnawing at, carelessly over his shoulder, almost striking the
Mexican in the face.

This set that peppery individual wild and he tore around considerably,
tearing his hair, stamping his feet and sputtering with maledictions at
the insult that had been offered him.

"I am no dog that you can throw a bone to," and he sizzled off into a
string of unpleasant remarks.

"Here you, Manuello," roared Jim, rising to his feet and standing over
the Mexican, "not another yelp out of you."

Manuello had a respect for this big American lad much as he despised his
simplicity and he sobered down. Besides he had not finished his work for
the night. He had failed to get the sleeping drug to the boys in the
coffee and now he must be ready to help his master, Captain Broom of the
Sea Eagle, in some other way.

There was a person whom he feared and admired absolutely and he had been
a most useful spy and agent for the Skipper in certain nefarious plots.
It was well for the little hunchback that no one knew of his share in
the betraying of old Juan Sebastian some years before.

"You will have the first watch, Jo," ordered Jim. "It is now nine
o'clock. I will relieve you at eleven and stand guard until two. Juarez
from two until five and Tom can have the short watch."

According to this arrangement, Jim and Juarez would be on guard during
the danger hours.

How many times in the past had the boys stood guard over their camp. Was
this to be the last guard? There were the old Kansas days, when they had
to be on the watch against horse thieves. Then came the dangerous crisis
in their Colorado experiences, when they had to guard against the wiles
of the Indians. And most exciting of all, perhaps, the night in old
Mexico when they camped on the trail of the outlaws. I wonder if Jo, the
first on duty, thought of these old times that night. Probably not, his
mind being fully occupied with the bus