"Captain Smythe, you will pick thirty-men and stay here, camped about the opening to this Cave, until you either starve Rogers out or to death."
CHAPTER XI.
THE OUTLAW BECOMES SUSPICIOUS OF ROSE.
After the captain had selected the troopers whom he wished to keep with him, all of whom were chosen because of their fearlessness and deadly marksmanship, the colonel gave the command for the rest of the men to return to the base of the mountain and camp for the night.
"Shall you want Alkali?" he asked, as he prepared to follow them.
"No, sir. That is, I don't think so. You said there was no other entrance to the Cave, didn't you, Alkali?" the captain asked, turning to the half-breed.
"None as I knows of," repeated the scout.
"Then I don't see how Alkali can be of any use to me, Colonel Edwards."
But the officer was soon to regret his decision to dispense with the services of the half-breed.