got to do is to strike
for the Mexican line."

That was all, and yet at least half of them had something to urge in
favor of a night prowl around the Apache village, to see if they could
not steal a few ponies.

"My load's gettin' powerful heavy, Cap," said one.

"We want pack ponies for our provisions," said another.

"After we get some."

"Boys," said Captain Skinner, "if that band of Apaches once gets on our
track we won't need many more provisions. I'm going to give 'em as
wide a berth as ever I can."

Again the Captain showed his superior wisdom, and he hardly permitted
them to halt until the sun was rising. Just then the foremost man sent
back a loud shout of,

"Here's another river!"

"That's all right," said Captain Skinner. "Now I know where we are."

"Where is it, then?" said Bill.

"The first river we forded was the north fork of the Yaqui, and this is
the other fork. When we're on the other bank of that, we're in Mexico.
We can go in any line we please then."

The whole band broke out into a chorus of cheers.

Whatever may have been their reason for wishing to get out of the
United States, particularly that part of it, it must have been strong
enough to make them anxious. They were not contented for a moment
until this second "fork" was also forded.

"Cap," asked Bill, "is this Mexico, all around here?"

"I believe it is."

"Then don't you think we'd better go for a few Mexican deer? It's nigh
breakfast time."

It would be necessary to hunt for something unless they were to starve.
A good place for a camp was selected, the weary horses were unsaddled,
all but the half dozen ridden by the hunters, and then the hungry
miners could at last find time to "wonder if the Lipans are looking
round that prairie after us."

"They won't find us," said Captain Skinner. "Start your fires, boys, I
heard a rifle. One of them has struck his game quick."

So he had, but it was a queer kind of "Mexican deer." It had long,
smooth, sharp horns and a long tail, and when the miners came to carve
that venison one of them said,

"Boys, it's the first beef we've had in two months."

"Cap," said another, "do you reckon thar's a cattle ranch around here?"

"Not so near the Apache range as this is."

"How came this critter here, then?"

"I kin tell you," said the miner who had shot that tall, long-legged,
long-horned Mexican steer. "Thar was more of 'em. Wild as buffler.
This one wasn't even bra