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The girl turned back into the shelter to gather together a handful of wraps that

had been saved from the wreck.

Down by the salvage Theriere, Byrne, Bony Sawyer, Red Sanders, Blanco, and

Wison were selecting the goods that they wished to carry with them. It was found

that two trips would be necessary to carry off the bulk of the rations, so Theriere

sent the mucker to summon Miller and Swenson.

We'll carry all that eight of us can to the top of the cliffs," he said "hide it there

and then come back for the balance. We may be able to get it later if we are

unable to make two trips to the camp tonight."

While they were waiting for Byrne to return with the two recruits one of the

sleepers in Simms' camp stirred. Instantly the five marauders dropped stealthily

to the ground behind the boxes and casks. Only Theriere kept his eyes above the

level of the top of their shelter that he might watch the movements of the enemy.

The figure sat up and looked about. It was Ward. Slowly he arose and approached

the pile of salvage. Theriere drew his revolver, holding it in readiness for an

emergency. Should the first mate look in the direction of Barbara Harding's

shelter he must certainly see the four figures waiting there in the moonlight.

Theriere turned his own head in the direction of the shelter that he might see how

plainly the men there were visible. To his delight he saw that no one was in sight.

Either they had seen Ward, or for the sake of greater safety from detection had

moved to the opposite side of the shelter.

Ward was quite close to the boxes upon the other side of which crouched the

night raiders. Theriere's finger found the trigger of his revolver. He was convinced

that the mate had been disturbed by the movement in camp and was

investigating. The Frenchman knew that the search would not end upon the

opposite side of the salvage--in a moment Ward would be upon them. He was

sorry--not for Ward, but because he had planned to carry the work out quietly

and he hated to have to muss things up with a killing, especially on Barbara's

account.

Ward stopped at one of the water casks. He tipped it up, filling a tin cup with

water, took a long drink, set the cup back on top of the cask, and, turning,

retraced his steps to his blanket. Theriere could have hugged himself. The man

had suspected nothing. He merely had been thirsty and come over for a drink--in

another moment he would be fast asleep once more. Sure enough, before Byrne

returned with Miller and Swenson, Theriere could bear the snores of the first

mate.

The Mucker