“Ah! but, major, how about the Apaches in the Santa Maria?  We would get there, you know, just about daybreak.”

“By Jupiter!  I never thought of them.  You wouldn’t have your guard now that your father’s gone?”

“No.  We’ve simply got to stay here, major.  Personally, I’m only too glad to be here to help you out.  It cannot be long before the troops come hurrying back when they find they’ve been tricked.  Very probably they have found it out by this time.”  Then with quick decision he stepped back to the door of the Concord.  “Girls!  Paquita!  Ruthie! tumble out, both of you; we’re to stay here at Moreno’s to-night.”  And, the paymaster aiding, the silent, trembling sisters were lifted from the wagon and led away into the one guest-room, the east room, where, pistol in hand, still sat Dawes on the safe.  The wraps and pillows were quickly passed in.  The little hurricane-lamp was stood in one corner.  A bundle of cavalry blankets, left behind by the detachment when it took the trail, was spread out upon the earthen floor.  The safe was hauled into the empty bar-room, and, bidding his sisters lie down and fear nothing, assuring them of their perfect safety there and urging them to sleep all they could against their move at dawn, Edward Harvey, looking well to his arms and bidding his two men do likewise, came forth and joined his soldier friends.

“There are five of us now against Morales and his outfit, and I’ll just bet my horse we can thrash ’em.”

“Only eleven o’clock,” muttered old Plummer, as he struck a match and consulted his watch.  “It’s been the longest evening I ever spent; but, thank God, our worst fears are at an end.  I never doubted for a moment that your sisters were captives.  Who could the man have been who personated you?”

“I don’t know.  I’ve heard of him once before.  He is about my height and build, but darker they say, and with more of Mexico in his manner.  He has been to Tucson, but I never heard of his masquerading over my name until now, though I have heard of the resemblance.  He must have copied my writing, too, to so completely fool father.”

“Oh, that was a mere scrawl on soft paper with a broad-pointed pencil.  There was no time to scrutinize it closely,” explained the major.  “Now, Feeny, you’re officer of the guard.  How do you want to post us?”

“It’s what I’ve been thinking of, sir, ever since Mr. Harvey got in, and we’ve no time to lose.  We can’t loop-hole this adobe now, but we can barricade the door of these two rooms and stand off a good-sized gang.  Mr. Harvey will, of course, want to be where he can look after the ladies; but if I can put one of his men in the corral, one who can be relied upon to shoot down any of Moreno’s people who should try to come out, I think we can look out for the rest.  Any minute now they’ll be coming.  First thing, run these two wagons around to the corral, so as to clear the approaches.  There mustn’t be anything behind which they can hide or take shelter.”  And, laying hold of the pole while willing hands manned the spokes, Feeny soon had the Concord and the weather-beaten ambulance safely out of the way.  Then came a moment of consultation as to which of Harvey’s men would be best suited for the onerous post opposite the enemy’s door, and then a sudden and breathless silence.