n righter than I reck'n he thort o'. Stead o' your
bones thar's yur body, wi' as much beef on't as ever. Now I've told our
story, we want yourn, the which appears to be a darned deal more o' a
unexplainable mistry than ourn. So open yur head, ole hoss, and let's
have it."

Brief and graphic as is Cully's narrative, it takes Walt still less time
to put his former associates in possession of what has happened to
himself and Hamersley, whom he introduces to them as the companion of
his perilous adventures--the second of the two believed to have been
buried alive!

CHAPTER FIFTY NINE.

MUTUAL EXPLANATIONS.

The arrival of the Rangers at that particular time is certainly a
contingency of the strangest kind. Ten minutes later, and they would
have found the jacal deserted; for Hamersley and Wilder had made up
their minds to set off, taking the traitor along with them. The Texans
would have discovered signs to tell of the place having been recently
occupied by a large body of men, and from the tracks of shod horses
these skilled trailers would have known the riders were not Indians.
Still, they would have made delay around the ranche and encamped in the
valley for that night. This had been their intention, their horses
being jaded and themselves wearied making their way up the canon.
Though but ten miles in a direct line, it was well nigh twenty by the
winding of the stream--a good, even difficult, day's journey.

On going out above they would have seen the trail of Uraga's party, and
known it to be made by Mexican soldiers. But, though these were their
sworn foemen, they might not have been tempted to follow them. The
start of several hours, their own animals in poor condition, the
likelihood of a larger force of the enemy being near--all this would
have weighed with them, and they would have continued on to the cave
whither the renegade was guiding them--a direction altogether different.
A very singular coincidence, then, their coming up at that exact
instant. It seemed the hand of Providence opportunely extended; and in
this light Hamersley looked upon it, as also the ex-Ranger.

Briefly as may be they make known to the new-comers all that had
transpired, or as much as for the time needs to be told. Then appeal to
them for assistance.

By the Texans their cause is instantly espoused--unanimously, without
one dissenting voice. On the contrary, all are uttered with an energy
and warmth that give Hamersl