Part 16 (1/2)

With Alverado at her side Peggy hastened toward the water hole. She could hardly repress an exclamation of alarm as she gazed at the hole. Bare six inches of muddy water was on the bottom, where the day before there had been a foot or more. All about were vague blotty-looking tracks which showed plainly enough the manner in which the marauders had concealed all noise of their movements. The m.u.f.fled hoofs would naturally give forth no sound.

”So Jess was right after all,” breathed Peggy softly; ”but who could have done such a thing? And why?”

But the latter question had not framed itself in her mind before it was answered. Without water they would not be able to exist at Steer Wells for twenty-four hours. A retreat would be equally impracticable. It was all horribly clear. The theft of the water was the first step in a deliberate plan to drive them out. The motive, too, was plain enough in the light of the overheard conversation at the National Hotel. The men who wanted Mr. Bell's mine had waited till he had located it before striking their first blow. What would their next be? Peggy's pulses throbbed and the grove seemed to blur for an instant. But the next moment she was mistress of herself again. Clearly there was only one thing to do.

Lay the whole matter before Mr. Bell.

”Alverado,” said Peggy quietly, ”after breakfast I am going to the range over yonder. You must guard the camp.”

”Yes, missee,” replied the Mexican; ”I take care of him with--with my life.”'

”I am sure you will,” said Peggy in her most matter-of-fact tones, ”and in the mean time say nothing to anyone else about what you have found. Bring up the water for breakfast yourself and don't let Mr.

Bell come near the water hole if you can help it.”

”It shall be as the senorita wishes,” rejoined Alverado in low tones; but there was a ring in his voice that told Peggy that she could trust the brown-skinned ”Mestizo” to the utmost.

CHAPTER XIII

DANGER THREATENS

Somewhat more than two hours later Peggy brought her aeroplane to the ground in the arroyo which had been the scene of the battle with the coyotes. The girl could not help giving an involuntary shudder as she thought of the narrow escape they had had on that occasion.

But in the light of the other and more serious menace which now hung over them like a storm cloud, the adventure with the wild beasts faded into insignificance. Human enemies, more deadly perhaps than any of the animal kingdom, threatened, and if signs counted for anything it would be no long time before they would strike.

Peggy had not been able to leave the camp without some resort to strategy. Naturally Jess had been anxious to come. But a quick flight had been imperative, and the presence of even one other person in the monoplane detracted somewhat from its speed. Then, too, Peggy had ached with her whole being to be alone--to think.

She wanted to reconstruct everything in her mind so that when she told all to Mr. Bell there would be no confusion, no hesitancy in her story.

Three sharp toots on the electric signaling horn the aeroplane carried--connected to a set of dry cells--resulted in an outpouring from the mine-hole of the three prospectors. Very business-like they looked, too, in khaki trousers, dust covered s.h.i.+rts and rolled up sleeves.

”Well, well! Early visitors,” exclaimed Mr. Bell jocularly, and then struck by Peggy's sober expression as she stepped from the car of the aeroplane he stopped short.

”My dear child, what is it?” he demanded. ”Where are the twin fairies of light that used to dance in your eyes?”

”My goodness, Mr. Bell, you ought to have been a poet like your brother,” laughed Roy coming forward with Jimsy to meet his sister.

And then, like his senior, he, too, was struck by Peggy's anxious look.

”What's the trouble, sis; bad news?” he asked.

”Anything happened?” demanded Jimsy.

”Oh, no, no; set your minds at rest on that,” responded Peggy.

”Everything is all right, at least--at least--”

Her voice wavered a bit and Mr. Bell gently led her to a stool in front of the rough camp they had set up in the arroyo.

”Now then, my dear,” he said, ”what is it?”