f Cap?"

"We must leave him behind."

"What will happen to him?"

"Some one will pick him up, or, after his leg recovers, he may find
his way back to the settlement."

The impulsive girl flung her arms about the animal's neck and touched
her lips to the silken nose.

"They shall not part us, Cap," she exclaimed with tears in her eyes.

The lieutenant watched this by-play, full of sympathy for the girl,
but he was in a quandary. Prudence seemed to demand that everything
should be sacrificed to speed by abandoning the pony. In all
probability, the latter would serve as a dinner for some of the bears,
wolves or other denizens of the mountains, who would quickly harry him
to death. To wait where they were until the animal was able to travel
rendered certain a speedy meeting with their pursuers. The woodcraft
of Vose Adams would enable him to discover with slight delay the point
where the fugitives had left the canyon, and he would guide his
companions with the skill of one of the mountain Indians themselves.

On the other hand, the plan he had in view imposed prodigious work
upon his own animal. Between the halting place and Sacramento were
many miles of easy traveling, over which he could walk, but for long
distances the beast would be compelled to carry double. In the event
of close pursuit, this must prove a fatal handicap.

In his perplexity, the lieutenant again examined the hurt of the
pony.

"It would be cruel to make him take a single step, but he may soon
recover. I am afraid to leave him behind and to continue our flight
with only my horse. You know how dangerous it is to linger, Nellie,
when it is certain _they_ are not far off----"

She caught his arm and whispered:

"Look at Timon! he has discovered something!"

The dog was standing a few paces in front of them, with his nose
pointed toward the canyon. He emitted several growls and pricked up his
ears in a way that left no doubt that he was angered. The lieutenant
had hardly time to place himself in an attitude of defence with his
Winchester, when a soft footfall was heard, and the next moment Vose
Adams emerged from behind the pile of rocks and approached them.

It was proof of the guide's woodcraft that he was able to come thus
close before being detected by Timon, who advanced threateningly
toward him. A word, however, from the lieutenant stayed the dog.

"Well, Vose," said the young man, "this is unexpected."

"So I jedge and I've a 'spic