CONTENTSCHAPTER I. A Strange Guide II. Alone in the Gloom III. Strange Experiences IV. Sunlight and Hope V. Mining and Countermining VI. A Daring Exploit VII. Fishing for a Friend VIII. Fishing for a Prize IX. Groping in Darkness X. "Here We are Again!" XI. Through the Mountains XII. Through the Mountains--Continued XIII. In the Nick of Time XIV. Between Two Fires XV. On the Defensive XVI. Friend or Enemy? XVII. Fortunate Diversion XVIII. An Old Acquaintance XIX. How it was Done XX. Sut's Camp-Fire XXI. Safety and Sleep XXII. Two Old Acquaintances XXIII. Border Chivalry XXIV. Night Visitors XXV. Hunting a Steed XXVI. Lone Wolf's Tactics XXVII. The EndCHAPTER I.A STRANGE GUIDE."Well, if he doesn't beat any one I ever heard of!"Mickey O'Rooney and Fred Munson were stretched on the Apache blanket,carefully watching the eyes of the wild beast whenever they showedthemselves, and had been talking in guarded tones. The Irishman had beensilent for several minutes, when the lad asked him a question and receivedno answer. When the thing was repeated several times, he crawled over tohis friend, and, as he expected, found him sound asleep.This was not entirely involuntary upon the part of Mickey. He had shownhimself, on more than one occasion, to be a faithful sentinel, whenserious danger threatened; but he believed that there was nothing to befeared on the present occasion, and, as he was sorely in need of sleep, heconcluded to indulge while the opportunity was given him."Sleep away, old fellow," said Fred. "You seem to want it so bad that Iwon't wake you up again."The boy's curiosity having been thoroughly aroused, all tendency toslumber upon his part had departed, and he determined that if there wasany way by which he could profit any by that wolf, he would do it."He may hang around here for a day or two," he mused, as he heard thefaint tappings upon the sand, "thinking all the time that he'll get achance to make a meal off of us. So he will, if we don't keep a brightlook-out. It seems to me that he might be driven out."The more he reflected upon this suggestion of his own, the more reasonabledid it become. His plan was to drive out the wolf, to compel him to showup, as a card player might say. Considering the dread which all wildanimals have of fire, the plan was simple, and would have occurred toanyone.