the driver; "they'll want to surround us first,
an' they won't start to do that until after dark, 'cordin' to my way o'
thinkin'. What do you say, Sam?"

"Them's my sentiments exactly," answered that individual. "There ain't a
chance in the world o' their doin' anythin' before that."

As the opinions of these two veterans coincided the matter was regarded
as settled, and the boys commenced overhauling their pistols to make sure
they were in perfect shape.

There was no further movement on the part of their besiegers, but Buck
and Sam knew full well that the Indians were far from giving up their
attack. To them the respite was more ominous than an active sally, for
they knew that the braves were hatching some scheme for their
destruction.

"They're foxy as they make 'em," opined Sam grimly; "the critters are
cookin' up some deep plan to circumvent us, or I'm a Dutchman. Jest wait
an' see if they ain't."

"If anybody thinks them red devils ain't watching us closer than a cat
watches a mouse," said Buck, "I'll just prove it to 'em mighty pronto."

He snatched his sombrero from his head, and placing it on the muzzle of
the guard's rifle, held the piece up in the air so that the hat projected
above the edge of the over-turned coach. Instantly a sharp fusillade broke
from the Indian's position, and one bullet, better aimed than the
majority, passed clean through the sombrero, whirling it off the rifle.

"I reckon that shows they ain't asleep," remarked Buck grimly; "ef they
don't get our scalps it won't be from lack o' tryin'."

"We've got to figure out some way of getting word to town," exclaimed
Bert fiercely. "There must be some way, if we could only think of it.
I have it!" he shouted. "Listen! The new branch they've been putting
through from the railroad is almost completed, and a foreman I was
speaking to a few days ago said they had almost finished stringing the
telegraph wires. They're probably up by now, and if I could only get to
them I'd have help here in no time!"

"By all that's holy, the lad's right," exclaimed Buck, "an' it ain't far
from here neither, considerin' jest the distance."

"But the chances are you'd never reach the railroad, Bert," said Dick
anxiously; "they'd wing you before you got anywhere near it."

"I'll have to take a chance on that," responded Bert. "Besides, if I
don't go our condition is hopeless, anyhow, so I might as well attempt
it."

The two Westerners nodded their heads