With Gun Rod in Canada 



won't keep you more than an hour longer. Keep 'em 

 up, though !" 



Jumping on the back of the third horse and leading 

 the others, he went scrambling up the rock slide to Mat. 



" Got the coin the greenbacks were in the safe 

 Didn't know the combination Blew it open with that 

 bottle of nitre Start them phonographs working 

 It'll keep them coons quiet for a while Better be mov- 

 ing," said Butch, all in one breath, forestalling any 

 question that Mat might ask. Mat picked up the 

 megaphone and told the soldiers below that they could 

 move when " the fellows in the rocks " said so, and to the 

 Lieutenant he said: 



" Hard luck, old chap. Glad we didn't have to kill 

 you. The wound in the leg was necessary to keep you 

 quiet. So long !" 



" Come on, pard," said Butch, grinning. " Stop 

 your jawing and hit the trail." 



Suiting action to words, they scrambled to the mesa 

 above, mounted their own waiting saddle-horses, and 

 leading the Government horses, hit the trail at a gallop. 



" For the Hole," said Mat. Butch nodded and dug 

 in his spurs. 



Meanwhile, the poor soldiers were sitting with their 

 aching arms over their heads, casting furtive glances at 

 the menacing red sandstone ledges, and listening with 

 shivers to the jabbering voices still repeating: 



" Blow up the damned niggers !" 



" Blow 'em to Hell !" 



" Kill the black sons o' guns !" 



Suddenly the Lieutenant, whom Butch had compelled 

 to limp over and sit down with the others, dropped his 

 benumbed arms with a curse: 



" Well, damn it ! blow us up if you are going to, and 

 don't keep us sitting here all night." 



194 



