"Yes. They are going to have their snake dance in the Santa Catapinas. Every once in a while they break out and head for there. All the renegade Indian rascals for miles round join them, and besides the dance, which is a religious ceremony, they drink and gamble. Well, I must be getting on, and thank you for your information." With a wave of his hat, he dug his big blunt-rowelled spurs into his horse's sides and was off in a cloud of dust. "I'd like to help that fellow get his Indians rounded up," said Rob; "he seems the right sort of a chap." "Yes, his name is well known around here," rejoined Harry, as the wagon moved onward once more. "He is the best Indian agent that the Moquis have ever had, my father says. He knows them, and can handle them at all ordinary times. He dislikes fuss, however, and hates to see his name in the papers. Otherwise, I guess, he'd have had the soldiers after those fellows." "I wish we had the Eagle Patrol out here," said Merritt. "We'd soon get after that bunch of redskins." "Well, why not?" said Harry enigmatically. "Why not what?" "Why not form a patrol out here? You know we talked about it in the East in the brief time we had together." "Say, that's a great idea," assented Rob. "Who could we get to join, coyotes, rattlers, and jack-rabbits?" asked Tubby solemnly. "Say, Tubby, this is no joking matter," protested Merritt. "I'm not joking. Never more serious in my life. A coyote would make a fine scout." "Yes, to run away," laughed Rob. "But seriously, Harry, could we get enough fellows out here to form a patrol?" "Sure; I know of a dozen who would join. We could make it a mounted division, and maybe we could help Mr. Mayberry round up his Moquis." "Say, fellows!" exclaimed Rob, with shining face, "that would be splendid!" "Maybe we'd get our money back then," grunted Tubby. "Tell you what we'll do," said Harry. "To-morrow I'll take you with me, Rob, and we'll ride round all the ranches where I know some boys, and get them to sign up. We ought to have a patrol organized in a week at that rate." "Put me in as a commissariat officer, will you?" asked Tubby. "That goes without saying," laughed Rob. As the wagon jolted on over the road, which grew rapidly rougher and rougher, the boys eagerly discussed their great plan. The foothills were now passed, and they were forging ahead through a deep cañon, or gorge, well wooded on its rugged sides with dark trees and shrubs. Here and there great patches of slablike rock cropped through the soil and showed nakedly among the vegetation. All at once Rob gave a shout and pointed up the hillside at one of these "islands" of rock. "Look, look!" he shouted. "Something moved up there." "Something moved," echoed the rest, Indians being the "something" uppermost in every mind. "Indians?" gasped Tubby. "No; at least, I don't think so. It was some animal--a huge beast, it seemed to be."