ile the
rest half-nodded and grinned over the odd turn of affairs. Dawson,
Brush and Ruggles unbent sufficiently to respond, but kept their
places, side by side, and watched the curious procession until it
passed out of sight beyond a sweeping curve in the canyon.

"I wonder if we are likely to see any more of them," said the parson;
"they are an ugly lot and badly want our horses."

"Not badly enough to fight Corporal Parker and his two friends. The
corporal is the bravest man I ever saw. I know he was disappointed
when the colonel was so quick in backing down. He will go hungry for
two or three days, for the sake of a fight. It is he and not the
colonel or any one in the company that is spoiling for a row."

"And I picked him out as the first one to shoot," grimly remarked
Brush.

"The chances are ten to one that he would have dropped you first, but
it shows how easily one may be mistaken."

"I tell you," said Ruggles earnestly, "when that gang strikes New
Constantinople, there'll be trouble."

"There's no doubt of it," commented Brush; "the forces will be about
equal; if the boys at home could have warning of what is coming, they
would make it so hot for Colonel Briggs and his tramps that they would
be glad to camp somewhere else."

"That wouldn't improve matters, for of necessity there would be
passing back and forth, and there are some people at New Constantinople
who would welcome the change. That's the worst of it; a good deal of
this evil seed will fall on soil waiting for it."

"We may be back in time to take a hand in the business," said the
parson; "I don't know whether your friend, the corporal, can be
secured as an ally."

"It is doubtful, for about the only merits he has are his bravery and
his loyalty to his friends."

"In my 'pinion the same is considerable," commented Ruggles.

"He would be a powerful friend to Nellie, because she is a female and
because she is my daughter, but," added the father with a sigh, "I
have my doubts whether I shall ever take her to the settlement
again."

This announcement strangely affected the two who heard it, for the
dearest schemes which they secretly nourished included the spending
of their days in the mining settlement. The hope of each had flickered
into life once more with the prospect of recovering and punishing her
abductor. They knew that she would bitterly mourn his loss, and would
probably be inconsolable for a time, but the months and years woul