f a long and silent vigil,
rolled out of his blanket to save his life if he could. He lighted his
breakfast fire and fried his bacon unconcernedly. He could neither be
rushed nor potted and if there was a touch of insolent bravado in his
seeming carelessness he was well aware that while the appetizing odors
of a good breakfast would not tantalize an enemy believing himself
master of the situation, it would make him believe he had taken the
quarry unawares.

Below, he felt that all was safe--no one without passing him could
possibly reach his horse.

By the time the eastern sky warned him of the coming dawn he had
crawled to the edge of the abutment to look down and estimate his
chances for dropping to the narrow ledge on which it stood footed.
Then he crawled noiselessly toward the overhead break through which
Kate had plunged. The sky was alive with stars. Worming himself close
to the opening, he lay for a time patiently scrutinizing the rocks
commanding the abutment from above. One of these long vigils
disclosed, he fancied, against the sky the outline of a man's hat.

To satisfy himself if it were one, Laramie picked up a chip of rock and
flung it down the canyon wall. The suspicious object moved. Laramie
slowly took up his rifle and leaning forward raised it to his shoulder.
Against the eastern sky the man's head made a perfect target. It was
close range. Laramie covered the hat low. The bullet should penetrate
the brim just where it covered the forehead. His finger moved to press
the trigger before he thought further. Then he hesitated.

It seemed on reflection like murder, nothing less. He did not know the
man, though he was no doubt an enemy who had come either to kill him or
to help kill him. And to his natural repugnance to blowing off the top
of an unknown man's head even in constructive self-defense, there was
the thought of another's view of it. This might, after all, be merely
a Texan acting as a lookout. It was even possible, though improbable,
that it might be Barb himself. And if the man were not alone less
would be gained by killing him.

The rifle came down from Laramie's shoulder as slowly as it had gone
up. He made immediate disposition for his escape. Retreating
noiselessly from the opening, he found his blanket, cut from it four
strips, knotted these into a rope and creeping to the face of the
abutment, lowered his rifle, ammunition belt and revolver down to the
footing som