ithout a fight with the Indians. According to my
recollection, we shall strike a region to-morrow or on the next day,
where there will be the mischief to pay."

Two miles more of laborious work and another halt. For the first time
Parson Brush showed excitement.

"Do you know," he said, "that some one is following us? There may be
several, but I am sure of one at least and he is on a horse."

CHAPTER XVIII

A CLOSE CALL

Few situations are more trying than that of being followed at night by
what we suspect is an enemy. The furtive glances to the rear show the
foe too indistinctly for us to recognize him, and the imagination
pictures the swift, stealthy attack and the treacherous blow against
which it is impossible to guard.

There was little of this dread, however, in the case of our friends,
for they felt strong enough to take care of themselves. Moreover, all
three formed an instant suspicion of the identity of the man.

It was Felix Brush at the rear who first heard the faint footfalls,
and, peering into the gloom, saw the outlines of a man and beast a few
rods distant, coming steadily up the trail in the same direction with
himself. A few minutes later the halt was made and all eyes were
turned toward the point whence the man was approaching. He must have
noticed the stoppage, but he came straight on until he joined the
group.

"Howdy, pards," was his greeting.

"I thought it was you, Vose," said the captain, sharply; "what do you
mean by following us?"

"What right have you to get in front of me? Don't I have to make a
trip to Sacramento three or four times each year?"

"But you are not accustomed to start in the night time."

"And I never knowed it was your custom to leave New Constantinople in
the middle of the night; leastways I never knowed you to do it
afore."

"We have important business," added the captain brusquely, uncertain
as yet whether he ought to be displeased or angered by the intrusion
of Adams.

"So have I."

"What is it?"

"Your good."

"I don't understand you; explain yourself."

"There ain't one of you three that knows the way through the
mountains, and if you undertook it alone, it would take you three
months to reach Sacramento."

This was a new and striking view of the situation, but the parson
said:

"Each of us has been over it before."

"Sartinly, but one trip nor half a dozen ain't enough. You lost your
way the first hour in Dead Man's Gulch; if you