that dow

all black object crawling painfully over the gl

d Jimsy had been left behind, for the former was anxious to "prospect" his mine as thoroughly as possible in order to ascertain if

ding the dull walls on which the torches had glowed unflatter

onded with a smile. At the same moment he had flak

he girl, "that is almost pure gold, and I am in h

nd enough not to lau

disco

k to camp with the joyful tidings that the missing adventurers had been found. They had been under way but a short time when Roy's a

black showed up as plainly as a blot of ink on a sheet of clean white blotti

man!" cried J

foot. What can he be doing out in

ggering along so painfully that it looks as if he couldn't go a s

and the big monoplane began to drop as swiftly as

the hot waste beneath them. He looked up, and then, extending his hands upward in a gesture of bewilder

shrilled Jess, c

grave reply, "but we must ge

the ground she leaped nimbly from the chassis and sped over the burning desert floor to the side of the recumbent wayfarer. A se

f the sun. His feet were encased in a kind of moccasins over which spurs were strapped. Evidently, then, he had been mounted at some time-presumably recently, but where was his horse? How did he come to be wandering under the maddening

ickered and a deep sigh escaped his lips. Before long they could press the wa

ow a man, dying of thirst, was killed outrig

had revived him, and he was able to sit up and gaze about bewilderedly. All at once his eyes rested on Peggy, and he seemed to reg

en. Me Alverado your servan

e made a conquest!" crie

She was not used to the exaggerated character of the Mexican. But if she feared another outburst it did no

, raising the half-conscious Mexican's head. "You girls take his fee

sual under its additional burden, but in the hearts of all three of its American o

or you," was Peggy's rather uncomplimentary greeting as the aeroplane ali

and old Mr. Peter Bell hastened

ied the New England lady, who looked very prim and un

ell, and help us get our sick man out and then we'll tell

"rather nurse than eat," ministered to him to such good effect that by nightfall he was able to sit up and tell his story. In the meantime

country!" and much mo

that worn by a faithful spaniel. At first this fixed gaze annoyed the young girl not a little, but soon she realized t

attacked by a band of highwaymen. They had wrecked his wagon and murdered his family, who were traveling with him. They had attacked him because of their impression that he was carrying much gold with him, w

reached a stage where he felt justified in returning to Nevada to try to find some trace of his wrongers, and demand justice. He had set out well equipped, but, a few days before the young aviators encountered him, his water burro had stumbled and fallen, and in the fall had broken the water kegs it carried. From that time on his trip across the alkali had been

you so cruelly?" asked Peggy, breaking the tense silence whi

ssed the man's

d, with a snarl which somehow reminde

is nam

eel So

hey all echoed, except

latter of whom had f

mblazoned in electric

William flashed ac

ate ruffian on t

share with grown women, Peggy sensed a vague connection between that sinister conversati