ents, and then
came down to the pony herd. They approached the boys, and one large
Indian, who appeared to be the chief, lifted the smaller boy out of
his saddle, and, swinging him to his shoulder, dashed around the herd
at full speed, and then set him back in his own saddle, and patted him
approvingly on the back.

The party next proceeded to exchange the ponies they were riding for
fresh ones from the herd, and then disappeared behind the trees which
bordered the brook to the west.

"The pony that small boy rides looks like Chiquita," remarked Frank;
"but the saddle and bridle are different. Senora Perea said that
Manuel was herding ponies for the Navajos, and that he was naked."

"Yes, I know; but the letter Vic brought from Henry made no mention of
another boy, and there are three with that herd. But let us make the
signal and see what will happen."

Standing up and advancing to the edge of the butte's top, I waved my
handkerchief from side to side, keeping my eyes fixed upon the three
boys. They formed in line, facing us, looked long in our direction,
and then, as if started by a spring, they flew down the plain, leaped
the brook, and galloped up the long ascent towards the concealed
cavalrymen.

X

THE CORPORALS ARE PROMOTED

The three Indian boys were doing their utmost to excite their ponies
to their greatest speed up the height. As they sped on they glanced
repeatedly backward, as if fearing pursuit. Higher and higher they
came up the steep until we could not doubt it was their intention to
reach the command.

"What does it mean? What does it mean?" exclaimed Frank. "Why are
those Navajo boys running their horses in this direction? It can't
be--"

"Never mind, Frank," I interrupted. "Let us get down to the men as
soon as we can. The Indian women are already riding after the
war-party."

At considerable risk to life and limb we slid down the ragged angle
which we had ascended, and hurried to where Baldwin and the soldiers
stood beside their saddled steeds.

We had barely reached the crest from which we could see the valley
when the three whitewashed boys appeared on their panting and foaming
animals, the little one on the buck-skin pony in the lead.

"What in the world is this?" exclaimed Baldwin. "Three whitewashed
young redskins! What do they want of us?"

"Here we are!" shouted a familiar voice, in excellent English. "Here
we are--Manuel, Sapoya, and I!"

Before we could sufficien