They rode so hard, only stopping at noon to water the ponies, that early in the afternoon they entered the mountains.

As they were going up the valley they saw the flying figure of a man on horseback coming toward them.

As he approached, they saw that he was a cavalryman.

“Hello, what’s up?” said Bud.  “I never see a sojer goin’ so fast, except there was somethin’ doin’.”

A few minutes later the soldier rode up to them.

He proved to be a sergeant of cavalry.

“Where are you going?” he asked, pulling his horse to its haunches.

“What’s that ter you?” asked Bud jovially.

“Just this:  The Indians are threatening to rise, perhaps to-night, perhaps not until to-morrow.  But when they do, this will be no place for white men.”

“Where is the place called the Hole in the Wall?” asked Ted.

“Do you want to go there, or do you want to avoid it?” asked the sergeant.

“We want to go there as soon as we can.”

“I’d advise you to keep away until the troops get there and clean things up.”

“Why?”

“That is where the dissatisfied Indians are camped.  I do not know it officially, but I understand that Flatnose and Moonface, the two chiefs, are there now, and that the orders from Washington are to send us in to drive them out.”

“When is this to take place?”

“The Indians have made no open declaration of war as yet, but it is looked for at any time.”

“How will it be announced?”

“By the signal fires on the hills.  A detachment of our men picked up early this morning a wounded Indian, named Pokopokowo.  He was wounded, and was taken to the post surgeon to be cared for.  He has just confessed that it is the intention of the Indians to rise and kill all the white settlers they can lay their hands on.  I am on my way to send out the alarm.”

“And you say the Indians are camped at the Hole in the Wall?”

“Yes, the detachment sent out early this morning were on a scouting expedition when they picked up Pokopokowo.”

“Where is this Hole in the Wall, and how do you get there?”

“You are bound to go there?  I would advise you not to.”

“We must go.  A young lady belonging to our party has been captured and taken there.  We did not know there were any Indians there, but only white outlaws.”

“That is different.  I suppose you must go.  But why don’t you wait and go in with the troops?  The Hole in the Wall is the rendezvous for all the white outlaws in this part of the country, and they are believed to be in league with the Indians, and will use the uprising of the Indians as a cover under which to run off all the stock in the country.”

“There is no use of our waiting for the troops when the young lady is in there, we don’t know under what indignities.  The troops put off attacking the Indians as long as they can for the sake of policy.  We are all deputy United States marshals, and we get quicker action.  Tell us where the Hole in the Wall is, and we will go in and get our own.  The troops can do what they please later.”