afe in Holston. But he wouldn't go. He ran off from me
right here in this forest."

What could have been Dick's object in telling such a lie? It made me
wonder. Perhaps these lumbermen were more dangerous than I had supposed,
and Dick did not wish them to believe I had left Penetier. Maybe he was
playing for time, and did not want them to get alarmed and escape before
the officers came.

"Why did he run off?" asked Stockton.

"Because I meant to send him home, and he didn't want to go. He's crazy
to camp out, to hunt and ride."

"If that's true, Leslie, there's been no word sent to Washington."

"How could there be?"

"Well, I've got to hold you anyway till we see Buell. His orders were to
keep you and Ward prisoners till this lumber deal is pulled off. We're
not going to be stopped now."

Leslie turned crimson, and strained on the lasso that bound him to the
sapling. "Somebody is going to pay for this business!" he declared,
savagely. "You forget I'm an officer in this forest."

"I'll hold you, Leslie, whatever comes of it," answered the lumberman.
"I'd advise you to cool down."

"You and Buell have barked up the wrong tree, mind that, Stockton. Jim
Williams, my pardner, is wise. He expects me back tomorrow."

"See hyar, Stockton," put in Bill, "you're new in Arizona, an' I want to
give you a hunch. If Jim Williams hits this trail, you ain't goin' to be
well enough to care about any old lumber steal."

"Jim hit the trail all right," went on Dick. "He's after Greaser. It'd
go hard with you if Jim happened to walk in now."

"I don't want to buck against Williams, that's certain," replied
Stockton. "I know his record. But I'll take a chance--anyway, till Buell
knows. It's his game."

Dick made no answer, and sat there eyeing his captors. There was little
talk after this. Bud threw a log on the fire. Stockton told the Mexican
to take a look at the horses. Greaser walked within twenty feet of where
I lay, and I held my breath while he passed. The others rolled in their
blankets. It was now so dark that I could not distinguish anything
outside of the campfire circle. But I heard Greaser's soft, shuffling
footsteps as he returned. Then his dark, slim figure made a shadow
between me and the light. He sat down before the fire and began to roll
a cigarette. He did not seem sleepy.

A daring scheme flashed into my mind. I would crawl into camp and free
Dick. Not only would I outwit the lumber thieves, but also ma