not leave the canyon until the
return of their guide, and he did not mean to go back until the day
was so far spent that further delay was unavoidable.

"They will be mad when they see me," he said with a grin, "but it
won't do them any good and I'll fix up a yarn about gettin' on and
then off your trail agin, that they'll have to be satisfied with."

"That will serve for to-night, but you will all be astir at an early
hour to-morrow morning."

"They will still have to depend on me to guide 'em, and I rather think
I can steer 'em off the track, so as to give you plenty of time to get
out of the way."

"How?"

"As soon as they leave the kenyon, that is as soon as the way is
clear, you must ride back to it and put on all steam for Sacramento,
for I understand, leftenant, that you've give up your idee of finding
a new route through the mountains."

"I have."

"You've got two good animals and you'll gain a full day's start."

"You forget about poor Cap," said Nellie.

"So I did! if he can't go with you, you'll have to leave him behind
and ride double, but it will be rather tough on your horse,
leftenant."

"Nellie doesn't weigh enough to make any difference, and I expect to
walk most of the distance."

An unexpected piece of good fortune raised the spirits of the three.
To the amazement of all, Cap, the pony, was seen hunting for grass and
bearing upon the lame foot with little inconvenience. That which was
thought to be a bad sprain was only a wrench, from which he promised
speedily to recover.

"He'll be as well as ever by to-morrow mornin'," said Vose Adams;
"you'll need to humor him at first, but not for long."

As has been intimated, the guide remained with them through most of
the afternoon, for, if he had gone back to his friends earlier than he
did, he would not have dared to offer any excuse for not leading them
in the pursuit, and he meant to avert all possibility of that. The
reader understands by this time why the guide formulated such an
astounding fiction when attempting to explain the cause of his delay.
Had his listeners been in cooler mood, they might have tangled him up
with a few questions, but their exasperation and disgust prevented.

Before parting with the fugitives, Vose assured them that he was
confident their plans could not fail.

"All they've got to do," he reflected, "is to do nothing afore
to-morrow and then when the road is open, strike out over the main
trail as hard as