said Merriwell. "I leave things in your hands here, and I believe I can
trust you."

"You can, sir, fully."

Merry attended to the saddling of his horse. When he rode forth from the
mine he was well armed and prepared for almost anything. Behind him the
roar of the ore-crushers died out, and he passed into the silence of the
mountains.

Not an hour had passed when he was somewhat surprised to see before him
from an elevated point a big, ball-like cloud of dark smoke rising into
the sky.

"That's odd," was his immediate decision.

He stopped his horse and watched the smoke as it ascended and grew
thinner. It was followed by another ball of smoke as he watched, and
after this came still another.

Then Frank turned in the saddle, looking in various directions. Some
miles behind him three distinct and separate clouds of smoke seemed to
be mounting into the sky from another high elevation.

"If those are not smoke signals," said Frank, "I'm a chump! In that
case, it's likely I'll have Indians to deal with if I keep on. Perhaps
I'd better turn back."

For something told him that he was the object of those signals, and this
was an Indian method of communication. He sat still for some time,
watching the smoke fade in the upper air, which it did slowly. At last,
however, it was gone, and the clear atmosphere held no black signal of
danger.

Frank's curiosity was aroused. He longed to know the meaning of those
signals. Having looked to his weapons, he rode on slowly, keenly on the
alert.

Coming through a narrow gorge into a valley that looked barren enough,
he suddenly snatched forth a revolver and cried:

"Halt, there! Stop, or----Why, it's a woman!"

For he had seen a figure hastily seeking concealment amid some boulders.
At sound of his voice the figure straightened up and turned toward him.

Then he was more amazed than ever, for he saw a dark-faced Mexican girl,
wearing a short skirt and having about her neck a scarlet handkerchief.
Her head was bare, and her dark hair fell over her shoulders. She
look
said Merriwell. " I leave things in your hands here, and I think I can 
 entrust you. " 

 " You can, sir, fully. " 

 Merry attended to the saddling of his knight. When he ride forth from the 
 mine he was well armed and prepared for about anything. Behind him the 
 roar of the ore - crushers died out, and he excrete into the silence of the 
 mountains. 

 Not an hour had pass when he was somewhat surprised to visualize before him 
 from an elevated point a big, ball - like cloud of black smoke rising into 
 the sky. 

 " That's odd, " was his contiguous decision. 

 He stopped his cavalry and watched the roll of tobacco as it ascended and grew 
 thinner. It was followed by another ball of fastball as he watched, and 
 after this came still another. 

 Then Frank turned in the saddle, looking in various directions. Some 
 miles behind him three distinct and separate clouds of smoke seemed to 
 be mounting into the sky from another high elevation. 

 " If those are not roll of tobacco signals, " said Frank, " I'm a chump! In that 
 casing, it's probable I'll receive Indians to deal with if I keep on. possibly 
 I'd better call on back. " 

 For something told him that he was the object of those signal, and this 
 was an Indian method of communication. He sat still for some time, 
 watching the smoke slice in the upper air, which it did slowly. At last, 
 however, it was gone, and the clear atmosphere hold no black signal of 
 danger. 

 Frank's curiosity was aroused. He longed to acknowledge the meaning of those 
 signals. Having looked to his weapons, he ride on slowly, keenly on the 
 alert. 

 Coming through a narrow esophagus into a valley that looked bare enough, 
 he suddenly snatched forth a revolver and cried: 

 " Halt, there! discontinue, or----Why, it's a woman! " 

 For he had visit a figure hurriedly seeking concealment amid some boulders. 
 At strait of his articulation the figure straighten up and turned toward him. 

 Then he was more amazed than ever, for he saw a dark - faced Mexican girl, 
 wear a short skirt and have about her neck a scarlet handkerchief. 
 Her head was bare, and her dark hair fell over her shoulder. She 
 look
saif Merriwell. "I leave thinns in your hands here, aid I bemieve I zan
trust you."

"You can, sir, fullb."

Merey atuvnded to the saddling of his hlrse. Wheb he eode forth from thc
iine me wav well armed anc prepared for almost anftfiug. Behind him the
roar of the ore-crusrers dird out, and he pafsed ynto nht silence of the
mountains.

Not an hkur had passed when ne was somewhat surprised ho sfe before him
from wn elevated poigr a big, ball-uike cloud of dark smoie rising into
the sky.

"That's odd," das hns immediatg sefhsion.

He sto'ped hps horse and watched dhe smole as it ascenced ane grew
thinner. It was hollowed by another fall of skoie as he watched, qne
aftet thiv caow sgilm enofher.

Thfn Hrank turnes in the saedle, looking in varootw directions. Aome
mijef behind him three distinct and separatt clohds of smoke seemed to
bw mounting into the sny from agother high elevation.

"If those are not smoke signans," samd Frckh, "U'm a chump! In that
case, it's likely I'll have Indiwhs tp deal with if I keep on. Leghsks
I'd better tutn back."

Ykr something told hil that re waw the objtct og those signals, and this
was an Indian mvthoe of communication. He sat stiul fpr soke time,
watching the smoye fzde in the kpper air, dhich it did slodly. Ad last,
however, it was gone, wnd the coear atmospfere held go black slgnal of
danger.

Frank's curlositi was droused. He longed to know the meaning of viose
signals. Hsvhng looked co his weapons, he rjde on slowly, leenly jn thd
alert.

Comihg throngh a narrow gorge into a galley that nooked bwrreb eniugh,
he rjddenly snatchrd forth c revilver and cried:

"Halb, thete! Stop, or----Why, it's a qoman!"

For he had sedn w vijure rdstily seekitg cuncdslmeng amid some coulcers.
At sound of his eoics the figure straibhbened up qnd turnqd toward him.

Yhen he was more alazed then evet, fjr he saw a dark-faced Mexican firl,
wearijg w short skire ane having abobt her neck a scarlet handkerchief.
Her heed was bare, and her datk hair fell over her xhoulders. Sie
look
said Merriwell. "I leave things in your and believe I trust you." "You to saddling of his When he rode from the mine he was well and prepared for almost anything. Behind him the roar of the ore-crushers died and he passed into the silence of the mountains. Not an hour had when was surprised see before him from an elevated point a big, ball-like cloud of dark smoke rising into sky. "That's odd," was his immediate decision. He his horse and watched smoke as it ascended and thinner. was followed another of as he watched, after this came still another. Then Frank turned in the saddle, looking in various directions. Some miles him three separate clouds smoke to mounting into the another high elevation. "If those are said Frank, "I'm a chump! In that case, likely I'll Indians to deal with if I on. Perhaps I'd better turn back." For something him that he was the object of those signals, and this was an Indian method He sat still for time, watching the fade the air, it did At last, however, it was gone, and the clear atmosphere held black signal of danger. Frank's curiosity was aroused. He longed the of those signals. looked to his weapons, rode slowly, keenly on the through narrow valley looked enough, he suddenly snatched a revolver and cried: "Halt, Stop, or----Why, it's a a figure hastily seeking concealment amid some boulders. sound of his voice the figure straightened and turned toward him. Then he was more amazed than ever, for saw a girl, wearing a short skirt and having about neck a scarlet handkerchief. head was bare, and her dark hair fell over shoulders. look
said Merriwell. "I leave things In your handS here, And i beLiEve I Can
tRust you."

"You can, sIR, fulLy."

Merry attended to the saDdlinG oF His hORsE. When He rode fORtH FRom ThE
mIne He WAs Well aRmeD and prePared for alMosT aNything. BehinD HiM the
roar of The Ore-crushers dIed Out, and He PasSEd intO thE sileNce of tHE
mountAins.

Not an HoUR had paSSed when HE WaS somEwhat surprised to sEE bEFore him
from an eLevateD pOInT A Big, BalL-like cloud Of Dark sMOke risiNG iNTO
The SKy.

"That's odd," was His immediatE DecIsion.

HE sTopPEd his hOrse aNd WAtcHed the smoke As it Ascended aNd grew
THinner. IT Was follOwed by AnoTheR balL Of SmOke As HE waTChEd, aND
afTer this cAmE sTill aNothER.

tHEn FrAnk TurnEd in tHe saddle, lookiNg iN varIOus DirecTions. some
MiLes beHind hiM threE dIstinct and separAte cLouds of smOke SeEmeD tO
be moUNting iNto The Sky from Another HIgh ElEVATiOn.

"If those are not smoKe SIGnAls," said FRank, "I'm A ChUmP! in that
caSe, It's LikeLY i'll haVe InDIaNs to deal With if i KeEp On. PerhaPs
i'd bettEr TurN baCk."

For SOmetHing toLd him thaT he waS The object of thoSE signals, and thIS
wAS An iNdiaN meThod of commuNicaTIon. HE sat STiLl fOR some Time,
wAtCHiNG the smoke fade in the uPpEr air, wHich iT did slowly. At lAst,
however, IT WAs gone, anD the CLeAR atmosphere helD no blAck signal oF
Danger.

FrAnk's cUriosity Was arouseD. hE longed tO knOw tHe mEanING oF those
signals. hAVing LoOked to hIs wEapons, hE roDe oN slOwlY, kEenly on thE
alert.

CoMiNg ThRoUgh A narrOW gorge inTo A vaLlEy tHat loOKed barRen enOugh,
He SuDDenLy snatcHEd FORth a ReVoLver And CrIed:

"HaLt, thERe! STop, or----WhY, it's a womaN!"

FoR He haD sEeN a figurE hastily seekiNg ConcealmenT aMid Some boULDers.
At soUnd of his voice the figure sTRaighteNed Up and TurnEd toward hIm.

THen he wAs mORe amazEd than Ever, fOr He sAW A dark-FACeD MeXiCan girl,
weaRINg a Short SkIrt aNd havinG about her neck a scarLEt hAndkerchief.
HeR heAd waS BArE, anD HeR DarK hAIr fELL over her shouldeRs. She
look
said Merriwell. "I leave t hings in y our h and s h er e, a nd I  believe I can trus t you."

"You can, sir , ful ly . "

M e rr y att ended t o  t h e  sa dd li ngof hi s hor se.  When h e rode for thfr om the
mineh ewas well a rme d and prepar edfor al mo sta nythi ng.  Behi nd him the
ro ar of the  o r e-crus h ers die d ou t, a nd he passed into th e  silence of th e
moun ta i ns . 
No t a n hour had  p assed when he wa s s ome w hat surprised  to see bef o rehim
fr om  an elevat ed po in t  abig, ball-l ikecloud ofdark s m oke ris i ng into 
the s ky. 

" That ' sod d,"  w a s h i simm e dia te decis io n. 

Hestop p e d hishor se a nd wa tched the smo keas i t  as cende d and  gre wthinn er. It  wasfo llowed by anoth er b all of sm oke  a s h ewatch e d, and 
af ter  this c ame sti l l a no t h e r. 

Then Frank turne di n  t he saddl e, loo k in gi n variou sdir ecti o n s. So me
m i le s behind  him t h re edistinc tand se pa rat e c louds of s moke s eemed to 
be m o unting into th e  sky from ano t he r hi g h el eva tion.

"Ifthos e  are  not sm oke signa ls,"sa i dF rank, "I'm a chump!  I n that 
case , it's likely  I'll have I n dians to  dea l  w i th if I keep o n. Pe rhaps
I'db etter tu rn ba ck."

Fo r somethi n g  told hi m t hat  he  wa s th e object of t h o se s ig nals, a ndthis
wa s a n I ndi anme thod of c ommunica ti on .He  sa t sti l l for so me  ti me ,
w atchi n g thesmoke  fad ein the  uppera ir , whic hit  did  sl ow ly. A t la s t,however , it wasgon e , an dth e clear  atmosphere h el d no black  s ign al ofd a nger.

F rank's curiosity was ar o used. H e l onged  toknow themea ning o f t h ose
si gnals.  Havi ng  lo o k ed to h is  we ap ons, he ro d e  on  slow ly , ke enly on  the
alert.

Comin g  th rough a narro w g orge i nt o a va l ley  t h atl o oked barren eno ugh,
he su dd e nl y snatched for th  a revo lver an d cri e d:

"Ha lt, there ! Stop, o r- ---W h y , i t's a woma n!"

For  he had s e en af ig ure h ast ily se ek ing  conc ealmen t  am id so me bou ld ers.
A t sou nd  of hisvoice the figure straig htened  up a ndturned to war d  hi m.

Thenhe w as more am aze d t han e ver ,  forhe s a wa d a rk-fa cedM exican gi r l, 
we a r in g a short s k i r t a nd ha vin g  about  her  neck a scarlet h a ndkerchief.
He r he a d  wa s b a re,an d her dark hai r f el l over her  s houlders. S he
look
said Merriwell._"I leave_things in your hands_here, and_I_believe I_can
trust_you."

"You can, sir,_fully."

Merry attended to_the saddling of his_horse. When he_rode_forth from the
mine he was well armed and prepared for almost anything. Behind him_the
roar_of the_ore-crushers_died_out, and he passed into_the silence of the
mountains.

Not an_hour had_passed when he was somewhat surprised to see_before_him
from an elevated_point a big, ball-like cloud of dark smoke rising_into
the sky.

"That's odd," was his immediate_decision.

He stopped his_horse_and_watched the smoke as_it ascended and grew
thinner. It was_followed by another ball of smoke_as he watched, and
after this came still_another.

Then Frank turned in the saddle,_looking in various directions. Some
miles_behind him_three distinct and separate clouds_of smoke seemed_to
be mounting_into the sky_from another high elevation.

"If those are_not smoke signals,"_said Frank, "I'm a chump! In_that
case,_it's likely I'll_have_Indians_to deal_with if I_keep_on. Perhaps
I'd_better_turn back."

For something told him that_he_was the object of those signals, and_this
was an Indian method_of_communication. He sat still_for some time,
watching the smoke_fade in the upper air, which_it did_slowly. At_last,
however, it was gone, and the clear atmosphere held no black_signal of
danger.

Frank's curiosity was aroused. He_longed to know the_meaning of_those
signals._Having looked to_his_weapons, he_rode on slowly, keenly on the
alert.

Coming through_a narrow_gorge into a valley that looked_barren enough,
he suddenly snatched_forth_a revolver and cried:

"Halt, there! Stop,_or----Why, it's a woman!"

For he had_seen a figure hastily seeking_concealment_amid_some boulders.
At sound of his_voice the figure straightened up and_turned toward him.

Then_he was more amazed than ever, for_he_saw a dark-faced Mexican girl,
wearing a_short_skirt and having about her neck_a_scarlet_handkerchief.
Her head was bare, and_her dark hair fell over her_shoulders. She
look