ins had some," suggested Yellin' Kid looking toward
Bud and his chums. Some one had thrown an armful of greasewood on the
fire, and it blazed up brightly, disclosing the countenances of the
Indian trailers.

"What would Rosemary and Floyd be doing with fireworks?" asked Bud.

"I didn't know but what they might be bringing some to Diamond X for a
celebration, and the Indians, having laid hands on the rockets as well
as on your cousins, might be setting 'em off--setting off the rockets I
mean--for a celebration over their victory," observed Yellin' Kid,
somewhat out of breath after this long oration.

"Nonsense!" asserted Snake. "The Indians wouldn't set off the rockets
on purpose. They'd be afraid. Though of course they may have done so
by accident."

"I don't believe Rosemary or Floyd would be bringing us fireworks,"
remarked Bud. "They're too old for such kid stuff."

"That's what I thought," said Snake.

"But who is shooting off the rockets?" asked Nort, as another brilliant
burst of fire, not unlike shooting stars, illuminated the dark northern
sky.

"Troopers," said the old cowboy.

"Troopers?" question Dick.

"Yes. United States cavalry. There are several companies stationed
out here, and they may be on a practice march, or having a sham battle,
as they sometimes do. These are signals from one post to another."

"Or maybe a signal about the Indians," suggested Bud.

"Yes," agreed Snake. "It may be the troopers are after the Yaquis. I
sure hope so, for the imps are going to be hard enough to nab once they
get up in the foothills and mountains. We'll need the help of the
troopers for sure!"

"Isn't there some way we could let them know we're coming?" asked Dick.

"Not very handy," the cowboy leader answered. "We haven't any
fireworks, and shooting off our guns would only waste good bullets that
we may need later. Besides, those shooting stars are farther off than
they look. We couldn't make our guns heard, and the flashes would be
so low down they couldn't be seen. All we can do is to wait until
morning. We're traveling in that direction anyhow, and we may come up
with the regulars."

"With their help we'll make short work of the Yaquis!" boasted Nort.

"Don't be so sure of that," warned Rolling Stone. "The Indians, while
nothing like the American redmen, are cute and foxy enough in their own
way. They probably know of nooks and hiding places in the mountains
where they could lay