Horace was on the point of mentioning the fact when the word was passed back to dismount, and, leading their horses, they were soon within the protection of the woods.

“Any of the ponies likely to whinny?” asked Lawrence as they halted in a glen.

“Yes, Blackhawk,” answered Horace.  “It was he that gave warning of Jeffreys’ approach.”

“Then we’ll take them all pretty well up into the woods.  He won’t be able to scent when he’s above where Megget and the others will enter the valley.”

“Which way will they come?” asked Mr. Wilder.

“The opposite end from the way we did,” responded the former raider.  “That’s why I’m taking our ponies to a place on this side.”

“Seems to me we’re leaving too much to this fellow who’s gone back on his former pals,” whispered the owner of the Three Stars to Mr. Wilder.  “It’s all right if he plays fair, but if he doesn’t we’ll be in a pretty mess.”

“I believe he is acting square with us.  Still it won’t do to take chances,” returned the other ranchman, and calling to Lawrence, he asked where the mine was.

“It’s about two hundred yards to the right, Mr. Wilder.  I’ll show you when we get up on top of the cliff.  There’s a big dead tree in front of it, so you can’t miss it, even in the night, for the bark has been peeled off it by lightning and the wind, so that it stands out like a white specter in the darkness.”

Deeming it inadvisable to unsaddle the horses, in case they should need them suddenly, the cowboys close-hobbled them on a plateau to which Lawrence guided them and then followed him to the ledge.

No need was there for the tree that marked the mine to be pointed out to them, for as the men looked down each one saw it.

To the east and to the west the ledge commanded a view of the trails, and as they gazed along them, the owner of the Half-Moon exclaimed: 

“I don’t wonder no one can surprise Megget with such a lookout.  Why, it’s practically impossible to approach without being seen by a man on guard.”

“The only time is at night,” returned Lawrence.  “And, thanks to the loneliness of the place and the stories of ghosts, no one has ever tried to pass through or even come in at night while I’ve been with the gang.”

“Don’t start talking about ghosts or you’ll get us all nervous,” said Mr. Wilder, fearing the effect on his men.  “Now that we’ve seen where the mine is, suppose you take us where you think we had better wait till we make the round-up.”

“That’s right here,” rejoined Lawrence.  “We can see Megget and the others when they arrive by being here.”

“True enough, but how about the guard they send up?”

“There won’t be any to-night, don’t worry about that.  They’ll be too busy celebrating your supposed loss in the fire last night.”

This grim reminder of their escape caused all of the ranchers to smile, and without further objection the men made themselves comfortable while they waited the arrival of the raiders.