e get closer, but I
shouldn't be 'sprised if it belong to the folks you're looking for."

The same thought had come to each. There was a compression of lips, a
flashing of eyes and an expression of resolution that boded ill for
him who was the cause of it all.

In the early morning at this elevation, the air was raw and chilling.
The wind which blew fitfully brought an icy touch from the peaks of
the snow-clad Sierras. The party had ridden nearly all night, with
only comparatively slight pauses, so that the men would have welcomed
a good long rest but for the startling discovery just made.

Over the eastern cliffs the sky was rapidly assuming a rosy tinge. Day
was breaking and soon the wild region would be flooded with sunshine.
Already the gigantic masses of stone and rock were assuming grotesque
form in the receding gloom. The dismal night was at an end.

The twinkling light which had caught the eye of Felix Brush appeared
to be directly ahead and near the trail which they were traveling.
This fact strengthened the belief that the fire had been kindled by
the fugitives. The illumination paled as the sun climbed the sky,
until it was absorbed by the overwhelming radiance that was
everywhere.

The pursuers felt well rewarded for the energy they had displayed in
the face of discouragement and danger. Valuable ground had been
gained, and even now when they had supposed they were fully a dozen
miles behind the fugitives, it looked as if they had really caught up
to them, or at least were within hailing distance.

Every eye was fixed on the point which held so intense an interest for
them. As the day grew, a thin, wavy column of smoke was observed
ascending from the camp fire, which was partly hidden among a growth
of scrub cedars, some distance to the right of the trail, whither it
must have been difficult for the couple to force their horses.

"That leftenant ought to have knowed better than to do that," remarked
Vose Adams, "his fire can be seen a long way off."

"What else could they do?" asked the captain.

"The rocks give all the cover he needs."

"But they could have no idea that we were so near," suggested the
parson.

"It isn't that, but the leftenant had 'nough 'sperience with Injins on
his way through here before to know he's liable to run agin them at
any time. I never dared to do a thing like that on my trips."

"Let's push on," said the captain, who saw no reason for tarrying now
that they had l