startling the inmates into crossing themselves violently. "Make the poor
thing a decent bed, an' we'll hev a doctor here pretty soon."

[Illustration: SUDDENLY, BY THE GLARE OF A FRESH LIGHT, THE BOYS SAW THE
FACE OF A RATHER DIRTY, LARGE-EYED, BROWN SKINNED MEXICAN BABY.]

Mississip had barely vanished, when a light scratching was heard on the
door.

A Mexican opened it, and saw Nappy Boney, with extended hand and bottle.

"It is the _eau-de-vie_ of _la belle France_," he whispered. "Tenderly
I have cherished, but it is at the lady's service."

Chagres Charley, Lynn Taps and Bracelets were composing their nerves
with pipes about the fire they had surrounded early in the morning. Lynn
Taps had just declared his disbelief of a soul inside of the Mexican
frame, when the door was thrown open and an excited Mexican appeared.

"Her tongue come back!" he cried. "She say she come over mountain--she
bring little boy--she no eat, it was long time. Soon she must die, boy
must die. What she do? She put round boy her cloak, an' leave him by
rock, an' hurry to tell. Maybe coyote get him. What can do?"

"What can we do?" echoed Lynn Taps; "turn out every galoot in camp, and
foller her tracks till we find it. Souls or no souls, don't make no
diff'rence. I'll tramp my legs off, 'fore that child shall be left out
in the snow in them mountains."

Within five minutes every man in camp had been aroused.