"None better than Bland here, sir," was the half-hesitant reply.

"W-e-l-l, I need Bland just now. Put some of the old hands and older
heads on, and don't let anything escape their notice."

"Beg pardon, lieutenant, but what's to be the line of direction? When
we started it was understood that we were to take the shortest cut for
Ceralvo's, and now we're heading for the Picatch."

"No, we make for the pass first; that's the quickest way to reach the
signal-station, then we learn where to strike for the Indians. Did
you ever hear of their being as far west as the Maricopa range
before?"

"Never, sir, in the whole time we've been here, and since the
lieutenant joined they've never been heard of crossing the Santa Maria
valley."

"What on earth could tempt them out so far? There's nothing to be
gained and every chance of being cut off by troops from Grant and
Bowie, even if they do succeed in slipping by us."

"That's more than I can tell, sir. The men say the paymaster's coming
along this week; they heard it from the quartermaster's train we
passed at the Cienega three days ago."

Trooper Bland was riding in silence on the left of the detachment
commander as he had been directed. The sergeant had come up on the
other flank.