-his bright dream dissipated--suddenly,
as when a cloud drifts over the disc of the sun.

And it is the sun which causes the change, or rather the reflection of
its rays from something seen afar off, over the plain. Several points
sparkle, appearing and disappearing through a semi-opaque mass, whose
dun colour shows it to be dust.

Experienced in prairie-sign he can interpret this; and does easily, but
with a heaviness at his heart. The things that sparkle are guns,
pistols, knives, belt-buckles, bitts, and stirrups; while that through
which they intermittingly shine is the stoor tossed up by the hooves of
horses. It is a body of mounted men in march across the steppe.

Continuing to scan the dust-cloud, he perceives inside it a darker
nucleus, evidently horses and men, though he is unable to trace the
individual forms, or make out their number. No mattes for that; there
is enough to identify them without. They are coming from the side of
the Colorado--from Coyote Creek. Beyond doubt the desperadoes!

CHAPTER EIGHTY SEVEN.

HOSTILE COHORTS.

Perfectly sure that the band is that of Borlasse, which he almost
instantly is, Clancy draws his horse behind the rock, directing Jupiter
to do likewise. Thus screened, they can command a view of the horsemen,
without danger of being themselves seen.

For greater security both dismount; the mulatto holding the horses,
while his master sets himself to observe the movements of the
approaching troop. Is it approaching?

Yes; but not direct for the rock. Its head is towards the tree, and the
robbers are evidently making to reach this. As already said, the
topography of the place is peculiar; the lone cottonwood standing on the
crest of a _couteau de prairie_, whose sides slope east and west. It
resembles the roof of a house, but with gentler declination. Similarly
situated on the summit of the ridge, is the boulder, but with nearly a
league's length between it and the tree.

Soon as assured that the horsemen are heading for the latter, Clancy
breathes freer breath. But without being satisfied he is safe. He
knows they will not stay there; and where next? He reflects what might
have been his fate were he still in the _prairie stocks_. Borlasse will
be sure to pay that place a visit. Not finding the victim of his
cruelty, he will seek elsewhere. Will it occur to him to come on to the
rock?

Clancy so interrogates, with more coolness, and less fear, than m