n't quite
responsible last night. I wouldn't feel happy if we let him fall back
into the clutches of that cunning brute. Now we'll get breakfast;
you'll need it."

They made a hasty meal and during it Blake said, "If you don't mind
waiting, I'll follow him half way to Sweetwater if necessary. You see
I haven't much expectation of overtaking him before he leaves the
horse. It's the faster beast and we don't know when he started."

"That's so," said Harding. "Still, you're tough, and I guess the first
hard day's ride will be enough for your partner."

Five minutes later Blake was picking his way as fast as possible
through the wood. It was a cool morning, and when he had gone a few
miles the ground was fairly clear. By noon he was in more open
country, where there were long stretches of grass, and after a short
rest he pushed on fast. Bright sunshine flooded the waste that now
stretched back to the south, sprinkled with clumps of bush that showed
a shadowy blue in the distance. In those he passed the birch and
poplar leaves glowed in flecks of vivid lemon among the white stems,
but Blake rode hard, his eyes turned steadily on the misty skyline. It
was only broken by clusters of small trees; nothing moved on the
wilderness he pushed across.

He felt tired when evening came, but he must find water before he
camped, and he pressed on. Benson was a weak fool, who would, no
doubt, give them further trouble, but they had taken him in hand, and
Blake had made up his mind to save him from the rogue who preyed upon
his failings. It was getting late when he saw a faint trail of smoke
curl up against the sky from a distant bluff, and on approaching it he
checked the jaded pony. Later he dismounted and picketing the animal
moved cautiously round the edge of the wood. Passing a projecting
tongue of smaller brush, he saw, as he had expected, Benson sitting
beside a fire, and stopped a moment to watch him. The man's face was
weary, his pose was slack, and it was obvious that the life he had led
had unfitted him for a long, hard ride. He looked forlorn and
dejected, but he started as Blake moved forward and his eyes had an
angry gleam.

"So you have overtaken me; I thought myself safe from you," he said.

"You were wrong," Blake replied. "If it had been needful, I'd have
gone after you to Clarke's. But I'm hungry and I'll cook my supper at
your fire." He glanced at the provisions scattered about. "You
haven't