Los Angeles herald., 1907-04-14
CONTINUED FROM LAST SUNDAY
CHAPTER XII-Continued

anu buS plOBlC5S bhlOu6h ~ ''NS
necessarily slow.
They were three hours travelling as many
miles, and then it was easy to see the valley
on the opposite side, the silvery gleam OF a
broad stream causing the water in their can
teens to taste particularly warm and inspid.
Here's where we camp for the night,
Bart said, as he halted at the edge of the
pass. There's a chance here to put up the
tent, and we shall need it, for it'll be quite
cold before morning"
There was plenty of cactus in this rocky
place for the burros to feed upon, and in a
very short time after the animals had been
relieved of their burdens, the tent had been
set up, fire built, while Bart had taken
upon himself the duties of cook.
Although there was no special danger to
be feared, watch was to be kept on that as
well as all other nights while they were
across the divide, and after supper had been
eaten, Bart laid out the program which he
proposed to adhere to until they were again
at Silver Cliff, or some other place with cor
responding evidence Of civilization.
AT eight O'Clock Dory would go on watch
for two hours, then Kirk would relieve him
for two hours. Bart would come on at mid
night. for two hours; the Others following in
rotation.
est watch-that from eight to ten-and Kirk
the .shortest-from four till daylight. Bart
would be on duty only once; but as the boys
were, to call him whenever they saw, or heard
anything suspicious, it was quite likely that
he would do his full share of work.
There V as no fear of Indians, since no
outbreak had been reported from any quar-
ter nearer than the Mexican border, and as
wild beasts would probably be the only in-
truders it was thought best to keep the
the edge of the pass, where fuel could easily
be obtained from the woods short distance
below, and they had gathered plentiful
supply before supper.
Kirk and Bart remained awake, sitting in
front of the fire until Dorys watch began,
and then they went into the tent. leaving
the sentinel just outside.
At ten O clock Kirk was aroused to do his
share of the. lonely work, Dory reporting
that nothing had been seen or heard by him
himself close by the flap of the tent, think
ing that his duties on this night were hard
ly more than matter of form.
He did not even take the trouble to walk
was no, one near; but, with his gun resting
carelessly. between his knees, suffered his
head to, fall upon his breast and actually be-
gan to doze.
His gun slipping from its insecure position
to the ground caused him to awaken with
guilty start, and to look around as if to as
sure himself that no one had been a witness
to his gross neglect of duty.
In order to make amends for what he had
done, he was about to pace around the camp
ton.
He heard what sounded like the stealthy
footsteps of some person, and approaching
the camp. There was no question of his
being mistaken, for he could hear first
regular, but soft tread, as if the intruder was
walking over a cleared space, and then
confused sound, as if the person had stumbled
against a rock
For few moments the noise of these
footsteps ceased, while Kirk knew that the
one who made it was hardly more than fifty
feet away. Then similar sound was heard
some. distance off, and, little accustomed as
the boy was to such life, he knew that
second person was advancing to join the first
The manner in which these men, whoever
they might be, approached the camp showed
that they were enemies, and 1AIrK lost no
more time in telling Bart of the danger that
menaced.
Crawling into the tent softly, so that he
might not warn the intruders that their
proximity was known, he awakened Bart.
Il knew we were making a mistake when
we left the other sneak free" Bart muttered
half to himself. eve ought to have stayed
around the ledge till we caught him, if it had
taken a week" Then to Kirk he said '"You
stay right here till try to find out how
many we've got to deal with" and he glided
toward the opening of the tent as softly as
any Indian.
Dory was still asleep; but Kirk believed
that if Tom really was one of the men on
the outside, the danger was imminent, and
words as possible of what he had heard and
what Bart had said.
With their weapons ready for instant use
the boys crouched in the centre of the camp
hardly daring to breathe they awaited
the guides return.
He had been gone about ten minutes
and to the anxious boys the time seemed an
hour-when he entered the tent as noiseless