d Floyd had been put out of the way. As far as could
be told the captives were still the prisoners of the Indians. And
there were no marks to show that any smaller body had branched off from
this band of Yaquis that had the unfortunate youth and maiden in charge.

So it was with the hope of finding their cousins safe, though perhaps
in dire distress, that the boy ranchers pressed on with their friends
the troopers and the cowboys.

As the trail became more pronounced, greater precautions were taken
against a surprise. And a surprise in the rocky defiles through which
they were passing would have been well nigh fatal. So scouts were
constantly in the lead, ready at the first suspicious sign to send back
word to the main body to be on the alert.

The morning passed without incident, save for one or two false alarms,
and there was a sigh of relief when the midday meal was served without
interruption in the shape of hostile bullets. Then, after a brief rest
for the horses, the march was again taken up.

"I wonder when we'll find them?" asked Nort.

"It's been quite a while now," added Dick.

"Poor Rosemary," sighed Bud, trying to find an easy position for his
wounded hand. "She must have had a tough time."

"Yet she had a lot of grit to send that message the way she did,"
commented Nort.

"Yes, only for that we wouldn't have known about it for a long
time--maybe too late," agreed Bud.

It was but a few minutes after this talk that, suddenly, a shot rang
out well up ahead. Instantly every nerve tingled for it might mean the
beginning of the last fight. The shot was almost at once followed by
others, and then a scout came clattering back.

"We've found 'em!" he cried. "And it's going to be a dickens of a
fight! They're in a regular fort!"

The firing in front became more brisk. Clearly all the van guard was
now engaged, and quick orders were issued to send up a squad or two of
the troopers, while the main body prepared for what they hoped would be
the last battle.

Captain Marshall rapidly questioned the messenger who had come back.
The man told how he and his companions had been riding along when they
were suddenly fired upon. The shot came from a ledge at one side of
the defile through which the trail ran, and they had a glimpse of a
Yaqui warrior shaking his fist at them in defiance as he disappeared
amid the rocks after delivering his warning shot.

Then the shooting between the outposts of the