The Red Mustang

y camp on the black, Captain Moore

ipcord, but he'll be pretty well us

with their commander in all he had to

riat, to the same pin with a mean-looking, wiry little pack-mule, and

. There was moonlight enough to kick by, and it was not long before the red mustang was suddenly stirred up. He was not hurt, for that first kick had been seemingly experimental, as if the mule were getting the exact range of Dick's ribs. A low squeal expressed his satisfaction at his success, but it was followed by a disappointment, for his own lariat was several feet shorter than the brand-new one given to the red mustang, and the latter had stepped almost out of danger. It was almost, but not quite, and Dick

in, and it was getting loosened in the soft ground. Winding up the lariats, the game went on until both tethers were short indeed, and that of the mule was less than three yards long. The strain of it disgusted him, and he gave a plunge and pull against it just as Dick was drawing hard in the opposite direction. Up came the pin, but once more the mule was disappointed. The

d he

s of another kind. He preferred to gnaw a hide lariat around a horse's neck rather than the neck

ariats. It was remarkable how short a time elapsed bef

ch had seen his master ride away from it. Besides, it contained the tormenting mule

e her courageous appeal to her five servants. Four of these were evidently Mexicans, and

ons, and the big wash toob full of b'ilin' wather and the long butcher knife and the bro'd axe.

ery old woman spoken to as Carlotta, seemed at first disposed to call upon an immense list of saints rat

it was all told, "Oh, mother!" exclaimed Vi

ade a dash for the boiler, and heaped the stove wit

en regularly pierced for rifle practice. All that was needed there or in the adobe was a supply of riflemen

e end of about twenty min

Take your father's field-glass and go up to the roof. We

and she carried Cal's repeating rifle with her, as well as the

to her mother. "Guess Cal's safe, any

acienda and watching for him, the prudent leader of the now well-mounted Mescaleros was pushing steadily fo

poor Mescalero gun, horse, mule, blanket, knife, cartr

it by surprise, getting what he wanted without doing anything to pro

y that was very long to

om her station on the roof. "'Way off there, eas

Vic. Watch!" re

h," said Vic, "I'd fire

uickly hurried away as if they had an unexpected report to make concerning the state of thi

loud report which followed testified strong

; but the warning shot, long as was th

a great chief! Pale-f

r, but I didn't hit an

sly inquired Mrs. Evans.

other side. Key and Joaquin. Per

uld stop yo

delayed on the way, repeatedly, by the necessity of keeping out of sight of a dangerous-looking squ

one of these. "What'

ed to be an army officer in very full uniform, cocked hat, epaulets, sword, and all. Another flag fluttered at the gate, and in front of it paced up and down a sent

ding from the face of his employer. It did not return, even when a

olley and ride in. The drove is g

d. A whoop, a yell, and they wheeled away, for they had no idea of storming a stock

ep voice of the colonel

but at that instant the sentry at the gate th

nside the stockade dropped their muskets also, and their commander ceased a remarkable use she was making of an old drum. The garrison of Fort San

e doorway ready to meet her husband. Norah had dashed past her, exclaiming: "'Dade,

exchanged between the

u, Laura. You did the best thing, all around. Cal is safe, but if the cavalry

" she quiet

but I shall not take Major Victoria Evans along. I shall leave her here

boys brought in the stacks of

for something, after all.

e redskins may think they've

said Key, "and they may

won't be till about daylight to-morrow

Hilp me off wid the b'iler. It was put there to co

Norah, but she was no longer in uniform, and looked peaceful. She and her Mexican ass

ches. We're safe enough; even if they try a daylight attack, we can stand 'em off till help can get

kly away, seeming to hardly give a thought to

ight. The men slept fairly well, except the sentry whose turn it might be, but they were all dressed and had their weapons by them. It was nearly so with the female

st as the sun was rising, the gate in the stockade swung wide

. "I won't rouse the ranch, but it be

a pair of horses were plodding slowly along towards San

ng for an explanation, when there

nxious voice, "do

wasn't a pack on him, and a black hoss

am? I've not been

k? Is it Cal? Are

's Cal. I'm going t

sharp change of voice. "They'd b

t of which brought every soul in Santa Lucia bolt upright, and then h

. They stood stock-still, as if waiting for her, when she came near,

carri

Vic, but no answer came until Sam Herrick drew a long breath and responded: "Sound asleep! The boy's tired clean

rms around Dick's neck. Sam was just about to lift him off when the deep voice of Colonel Evans, behind h

moment that was done he accompanied a sharp whinny with a weary attempt to throw up his heels. Another pair of a

said Sam. "I guess he

f excitement, as well as of hard riding. Just as he was being carried through the

t sunrise." He saw his mother and Vic, and tried to say something, but he wa

d fatly around them all the way to the house, whispering remarkable exclamation

m any good, ma'am?" s

and by," said Mrs.

lonel, as he turned away from gazing down at C

en left to take care of themselves, for even Sam Herrick came pretty near to being excited

d the colonel, and he

with a look about his drooping head which seem

nd Dick, as if he also had an ide

father? Would some milk do him any good? Dick,

nd if rubbing, feeding, watering, and a careful inspection of every hoof and joint could