n
the tracks of the Yaqui.

They climbed up to the level of the rim and went along the edge. When
they reached the fissure and came upon its narrowest point, Yaqui
showed in his actions that he meant to leap it. Ladd restrained the
Indian. They then continued along the rim till they reached several
bridges of lava which crossed it. The fissures was deep in some parts,
choked in others. Evidently the crater had no direct outlet into the
arroyo below. Its bottom, however, must have been far beneath the
level of the waterhole.

After the fissure was crossed the trail was soon found. Here it ran
back from the rim. Yaqui waved his hand to the right, where along the
corrugated slope of the crater there were holes and crevices and
coverts for a hundred men. Yaqui strode on up the trail toward a
higher point, where presently his dark figure stood motionless against
the sky. The rangers and Thorne selected a deep depression, out of
which led several ruts deep enough for cover. According to Ladd it was
as good a place as any, perhaps not so hidden as others, but freer from
the dreaded choya. Here the men laid down rifles and guns, and,
removing their heavy cartridge belts, settled down to wait.

Their location was close to the rim wall and probably five hundred
yards from the opposite rim, which was now seen to be considerably
below them. The glaring red cliff presented a deceitful and baffling
appearance. It had a thousand ledges and holes in its surfaces, and
one moment it looked perpendicular and the next there seemed to be a
long slant. Thorne pointed out where he thought Mercedes was hidden;
Ladd selected another place, and Lash still another. Gale searched for
the bank of choya he had seen under the bench where Mercedes's retreat
lay, and when he found it the others disputed his opinion. Then Gale
brought his field glass into requisition, proving that he was right.
Once located and fixed in sight, the white patch of choya, the bench,
and the sheep eyrie stood out from the other features of that rugged
wall. But all the men were agreed that Yaqui had hidden Mercedes where
only the eyes of a vulture could have found her.

Jim Lash crawled into a little strip of shade and bided the time
tranquilly. Ladd was restless and impatient and watchful, every little
while rising to look up the far-reaching slope, and then to the right,
where Yaqui's dark figure stood out from a high point of the rim.
Thorne grew s