They rode so hard, only stopping at noon to water the ponies, that early in the afternoon they entered the mountains.
As they were going up the valley they saw the flying figure of a man on horseback coming toward them.
As he approached, they saw that he was a cavalryman.
"Hello, what's up?" said Bud. "I never see a sojer goin' so fast, except there was somethin' doin'."
A few minutes later the soldier rode up to them.
He proved to be a sergeant of cavalry.
"Where are you going?" he asked, pulling his horse to its haunches.
"What's that ter you?" asked Bud jovially.
"Just this: The Indians are threatening to rise, perhaps to-night, perhaps not until to-morrow. But when they do, this will be no place for white men."
"Where is the place called the Hole in the Wall?" asked Ted.