se an' 'tend to yore own
knittin'. I've heard about enough from you."

He swung her round by the shoulders and gave a push.

Lee did not go to her room and fling herself upon the bed in an impotent
storm of tears. She stood thinking, her little fists clenched and her
eyes flashing. Civilization has trained women to feebleness of purpose,
but this girl stood outside of conventional viewpoints. It was her habit
to move directly to the thing she wanted. Her decision was swift, the
action following upon it immediate.

She lifted her rifle down from the deer-horn rack where it rested and
buckled the ammunition belt around her waist. Swiftly she ran to the
corral, roped her bronco, saddled it, and cinched. As she galloped away
she saw her father striding toward the stable. His shout reached her, but
she did not wait to hear what he wanted.

The hoofs of her pony drummed down the street. She flew across the desert
and struck the river just below town. The quirt attached to her wrist
rose and fell. She made no allowance for prairie-dog holes, but went at
racing speed through the rabbit weed and over the slippery salt-grass
bumps.

In front of the cave she jerked the horse to a halt.

"Hello, in there!"

The tumble weeds moved and the head of Prince appeared. He pushed the
brush aside and came out.

"Buenos tardes, senorita. Didn't know you were comin' back again to-day."

"You've been seen," she told him hurriedly as she dismounted. "Dad's
gathering his men. He means to make you trouble."

Billie looked away in the direction of the town. A mile or more away he
saw a cloud of dust. It was moving toward them.

"I see he does," he answered quietly.

"Quick! Get your friend out. Take my horse."

He shook his head slowly. "No use. They would see us an' run us down.
We'll make a stand here."

"But you can't do that. They'll surround you. They'll send for more men
if they need 'em."

"Likely. But Jim couldn't stand such a ride even if there was a
chance--and there isn't, not with yore horse carryin' double. We'll
hold the fort, Miss Lee, while you make yore get-away into the hills.
An' thank you for comin'. We'll never forget all you've done for us
these days."

"I'm not going."

"Not goin'?"

"I'm going to stay right here. They won't dare to shoot at you if I'm
here."

"I never did see such a girl as you," admitted Prince, smiling at her.
"You take the cake. But we can't let you do that for us. We can't skul