“And means what?”
“That I have located the hostiles and my friends must join me with the least possible delay.”
“How will you know whether it is heard?”
“I will receive the same answer. The whole thing is understood by every one who left the post—halloo! do you hear that?”
The faint but distinct report of a rifle sounded in the distance, and all three listened for the sounds needed to complete the signal, but to their disappointment there was none.
“Now,” said the lieutenant, “since Geronimo may take it into his head to renew his acquaintance with us, it is best to call upon Mendez here to help us out.”
“The very suggestion I was about to make; how will he do it?”
Mendez and Lieutenant Decker had scouted so much together that they were familiar with each other’s signals, and no preliminary rehearsal, therefore, was necessary.
“The captain and I will go back to the stream,” he explained to the Apache, “and follow the bank some distance. When you have anything to communicate you will know where to find us. At any rate we will not be far off.”