Page:Allan Dunn--Dead Man's Gold.djvu/248

234 was left of the wood and made a fire in the entrance, sitting there in the moonlight. Harvey insisted on keeping watch on the ledge, though there seemed little fear of an attack in the brightness.

"I slep' off my headache," he declared. "This old head of mine is too tough to be damaged easy. Some say it's wood, but wait till I find them diamonds."

The girls sang together in a low voice. Bye and bye Larkin essayed a solo:

"I don't like the rest of the song," he broke of. "Sort of sarcastic."

Peggy had been told that she was an heiress and Larkin reassured her as to any doubts she may have had as to his feeling for her. The rest of the world seemed very far away and not to matter much.

"They're slow in Verde," said Stone. "I'm afraid they won't come till morning. I hope we can save your horses and our good old burros."

A shot rang out, with a sharp slash of red from the top of the mesa ringing down the chute. Harvey dropped on one knee, raised his rifle, and returned the fire. "Are you hit?" asked Stone, anxiously.

"No, dern 'em! They clumb up the way Healy noticed. We've got an account to settle with that skunk! Bullet hit the rock. I'm comin' in."