But the trail was broad and good, and they made good time as compared with a slow cattle drive. Early in the afternoon Ted became conscious, in that remarkable way of his, that not far ahead some one was on the trail. Stella was riding behind him, for the boys had taken turns in carrying her so as not to burden any one horse too much, and he transferred her to Kit's pony, and, telling the boys to move forward slowly, rode on ahead to scout. Ted wanted to see for himself this wonderful Silver Face, who was impervious to bullets, and who could fire them from his chest with no apparent effort on his own part. Ted was also affected as the others had been who had seen him; that is, by the mystery of the creature. He had ridden quite a distance ahead of the party, and had just entered into the pass of a canon which seemed to broaden out into a respectable valley farther on, when he was brought to a halt by the scream of a rifle ball close to his head. This was warning enough, and he scurried into the shelter of a huge rock that jutted from the canon wall. In a few minutes he emerged from it and rode back over the trail. When the party came up with him he told them of the shot. "It's my opinion," he said, "that Silver Face and his men and our cattle are in that canon or valley, but how to reach them I don't know." "S'pose we go scoutin' on ther hills above, an' take a look," said Bud. "Stella an' ther boys can cache ther hosses an' hide, er come erlong with us." "Very well," said Ted. And so they did. Hiding their horses in a thick glade of cedar trees, they climbed in single file up the side of the mountain, and were soon in an advantageous position, from which they had a good view up and down the valley. A curious sight met their sight. In the center of the valley they saw their bunch of steers close herded by several cowboys, while not far away two men were butchering one of the steers. "They're going to have beef for dinner," said Ted, with a grin. "I hope it chokes 'em," growled Bud. "Or that they never get a chance to eat it at all," said Stella. Lounging around the fire were a party of Indians, but, though Ted could not see from that distance whether or not they were the followers of Crazy Cow, he thought most likely they were. The great figure of Silver Face could easily be picked out from among his followers, even were it not from the reflected light from his silver mask whenever the rays of the sun smote it. Close to the west wall of the valley, and huddled under its shelter, were a number of Indian tepees, while farther on were several white canvas tents. "Boys, we've stumbled upon the permanent camp or rendezvous of the outlaw Indians, and the members of the Whipple gang," said Ted. As they were looking they saw a young woman, dressed as cowgirl, and with long, blond hair hanging down her back, come out of one of the tents, and look over the scene.