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"I'm a blamed double-action jackass, with a peanut for aon myself to lead this hunt when I don't sabe frijoles! We take a sleep now"

DeWitt ju, but Jack and Billy laid a hand on either of his shoulders and forced him to lie down on his blanket There nature claimed her own and in a short time the poor felloas in the slumber of exhaustion

"Poor old chap!" said Jack as he spread his own blanket "I can't help thinking all the time 'What if it were Katherine!' Dear old Rhoda! Why, Billy, we used to play together as kids! She's slapped my face, many a time!"

"Probably you deserved it!" answered Billy in an uncertain voice "By the lilad I ain't her financier I'm most crazy, as it is!"

The sheep herder woke the sleepers at noon After a bath at the spring, and dinner, the trio felt as if reborn They left the herder with minute directions as to what he was to do in case he heard of Rhoda Then they rode out of the cañon into the burning desert

And now for several days they lost all clues They beat up and down the ranges like tired hunting-dogs, all their efforts fruitless Little by little, panic and excitement left the and serious one as Porter told of the fearful chases the Apaches had led the whites, tian to realize that to keep alive in the terrible region through which the hunt was set he ies To this end they ate and slept as regularly as they could

Occasionally they met other parties of searchers, but this was only when they beat to the eastward toward the ranch, for most of the searchers were now convinced that Kut-le hadthe border But Billy insisted that Kut-le wasfor some eerie that he knew and would ensconce hiiven up Then and then only would he ree with Billy

"He'll keep her up in soain, "until he's worn her into consenting to marry him And before that happens, if I know old Rhoda, we'll find them"

"He's mine e do find hih his teeth at this point in the discussion