hours. As is the rule at
such times, their ill-humor deepened.

"Why didn't you wait till morning?" was the question of the captain.

"I was afraid I would have to do so," replied the guide, whose flushed
face and agitated manner proved that he brought important news; "but I
didn't have to, and got away in time to reach you afore night."

"Not much before," commented the parson; "you must have had a
remarkable experience to detain you so long."

"Rather, but I'm starving, give me something to eat, while I talk."

The lunch was produced, and he fell to with avidity, but he saw they
were in no mood for frivolity, and he did not presume upon their
indulgence.

"Wal, pards, after leaving you, I picked my way as best I could up the
gorge, which runs back, with the bottom rising more or less all the
way, for 'bout two hundred yards when you reach level ground. That is
to say, the gorge ends, but the ground is anything but level."

"And they went all that distance ahead of you with their animals?"
asked Brush.

"That's what they done; the tracks of the horses were so plain there
couldn't be any mistake 'bout it. At the top of the gorge, the trail
slanted off to the right, toward a big pile of rocks, caves and
gullies, where it didn't look as if a goat could travel. There was so
much stone that it was mighty hard to keep on the trail and I lost
it."

"And didn't you find it again?" demanded the captain.

"Yes, but it took a good deal of time; that's one reason why I was
gone so long, but it wasn't the only reason by a jug full. When I
struck it agin, it led straight toward a high rocky place to the left,
where I made up my mind the two were hidin'."

"That would imply that they knew we were close behind them."

"There can't be any doubt of that. What bothered me was to learn what
they had done with their horses, fur the prints that I followed was
made by the folks' feet. I couldn't figger out what they had done with
the animals, and I spent some more time in trying to larn, but it was
no use.

"Bime by I struck better ground, where the trail was so clear I could
have trotted over it."

"Why didn't you do it?" asked Ruggles.

Adams shook his head.

"It wouldn't have done; as I said they must have found out, purty
early in the day, that we was after them, for if they didn't, why did
they turn off the reg'lar track?"

"Never mind asking questions," replied the captain; "go on with your
story."

"Wal, pards