nd
blood-curdling. That it was the warwhoop of the Yaquis both boys were
beginning to believe, in spite of knowing that these Mexicans seldom if
ever used such romantic if terrible means of terrifying their enemies.

I say the boys were on the verge of accepting the noise as that, when
its character suddenly changed, and the stillness of the night was
fairly shattered by a loud:

"Hee-haw! Hee-haw! Hee-haw!"

The reaction was so great that Nort and Dick nearly dropped their guns,
and they turned to look one at the other with sheepish grins that would
have been visible had the light been stronger. And then, with one
voice the brothers exclaimed:

"Maud!"

It was one of the army transport mules, an animal that helped carry the
camp baggage! She had strayed.

Again rose the cry, not so weird now that its nature was known.

"Hee-haw! Hee-haw!"

And from the camp came a disgusted complaint from some sleepy trooper
as he shouted: "The chump who tied that mule so he could wander ought
to be made to go get him!"

There was laughter at this, for many had been awakened by the braying
of the animal. And then one of the men in charge of the animals came
out and managed to corral the wanderer.

"Gosh! I'm glad we didn't shoot!" exclaimed Nort, as their tour of
duty ended and their relief came.

"Same here!" added his brother. "How they would have laughed at us if
we had plugged old Maud!"

This was the only disturbing incident of the night, the remainder of
which passed quietly.

With the first streak of dawn the troopers were up, as were the
cowboys, for Rolling Stone had said, and Buck Tooth agreed with him,
that if the Yaquis did attack it would be at dawn, since they seldom
fought after nightfall.

But no attack came, and breakfast was served, with sentries on the
watch to guard against surprise. Some steaming hot coffee, crisp bacon
the odor of which was an aroma in the morning air, flapjacks and sour
dough bread for those who wanted it, made the meal, which well
fortified those who partook of it for the day's events, which were
destined to be strenuous.

Once again the order was:

"Forward--march!"

Again they were on the trail of the Yaquis.

As they advanced the "sign" became more pronounced that the band had
passed that way. Whether they had the captives with them could, of
course, only be guessed at.

But the trail had been carefully scanned, and there was no evidence
that Rosemary an