r had tired of exploring it from end to end and looking in on the huge engines which drove it with throbbing energy they spent most of their time on the deck watching the passing shore line, en

f many exciting voyages and some unusual storms. Nothing further was

ached the settlements they were almost sorry to leave the fruit steamer. At ten o'clock one bright morning they climb

start out the following morning they hunted up the driver, a Mexican, and arranged to drive with him. A small hotel provided them with a place to pu

to play on guitars at night. The population was composed of Spaniards, Mexicans, and a few Americans, whose interest seemed to be chiefly cent

ke pups, but I don't know as I do after seeing these. Guess I'll look un

eet. There were no lights along the streets, but the night was warm and bright, and the Americans had no difficulty in

six, and after a hearty breakfast went out and loaded their bags on the vehicle. The driver appeared s

I shall, but if I did I'd give a lot to be able to roll 'e

cigaret out of his mouth the driver yawned heartily, and the cigaret, clinging to his upper lip, simply hung suspended until he clo

Too lazy to do anything at all! Wonder wha

own and doesn't waste any time," chuckle

is to keep from doing any wo

t. The driver sat slumped forward on the front seat, smoking, yawning and dozing by turns, muttering in broken exclamations sometimes to the horses and sometim

on into the more open country. The soil was somewhat sandy, with an almost tropical vegetation, and small brooks spread like silver ribbons toward the sea. As they co

ting to the southwest. "He tells me that it is in a basin betwee

The driver immediately sat in the shade and proceeded to eat his lunch from a black box which he had, paying not the slightest attention to them. The boys, wishing to make some co

to the Spaniard, who accepted it with a

u," he said. "Too mu

cular occasion, however, the boys could not blame him very much. It was hot, so much so that they were glad to stretch out and nap themselves. A

building, a single story affair, constructed of plain boards that showed up gray and sordid against the declining sun. Two large barns flanked the house and an inclosed field with some scattered pat

w him swing carelessly onto the back of a horse and dash up, and Jim, who was used to riding a cavalry horse at school, admired

had lived in practically what was solitude, seeing a few white men from the mines and a good many halfbreeds and Mexican

re the boys alighted from the mine wagon, and paid the driver. The man took the mo

hey watched him drive of

that?" a

a splendid example. After seeing him I don't think

n and a number of small bedrooms, all on the one floor. There was a small loft above for storage purposes, but no real upper floor. After

orses and generally help about the place. There was also an Indian cook, who was blackened by the sun and wind un

that?"

mes and he is almost stately, and at other times he is just plain Indian, not much of anything. However, he has a passion for the h

led yellow, and dull black eyes. He bowed to them and passed on, apparently not at all curious. They inspe

fter a good sleep they were up, taking a trip with Ned to the mines. He led them through the tunnels and explained the complete work

e fellows who attacked you have probably thrown it awa

y lieutenant at Woodcrest, was somewhat better at it than the others were, but they soon got accust

and there is a lot more fun riding in the coolness of the night than i

ith a glowing moon and a sky splashed with stars and they rode for miles across the open country. The air was clear and cool, the

hill I'll show you the ranch of my n

s himself interested in looking at the place where she lived. He had not mentioned her name since they had been there, and Terry

all white ranch which gleamed brightly in the moonlight. The house itself was small, but the

ugh to keep her alive and eating regularl

oward this clump fixedly. He thought that he had detected some movement

had better be gett

ere are two men coming out of that clump of tree

the house, taking care to keep as much as possible in the shadows. Gaining the side of the ho

ows her ranchme

e library window they just opened. By Geo

at they are opening

" he shouted, as the first man slipped through the window. "W

ype="