between the double row of
trestle beds. Arizona had just pointed out the dead man's disused
couch, all covered with gunny sacks.

"That's Dave's," he said. "I kind o' think you'll sleep easier right
here. Say, Tresler," he went on, with a serious light in his eyes,
"I'd jest like to say one thing to you, bein' an old hand round these
parts myself, an' that's this. When you git kind o' worried, use your
gun. Et's easy an' quick. Guess you've plenty o' time an' to spare
after fer sizin' things up. Ther' ain't a man big 'nough in this world
to lift a finger ef you sez 'no' and has got your gun pointin' right.
S'long."

But Tresler detained him. "Just one moment, Arizona," he said,
imitating the other's impressive manner. "I'd just like to say one
thing to you, being a new hand around these parts myself, and that's
this. You being about my size, I wonder if you could sell me a pair
of pants, such as you fellows ordinarily wear?"

The cowpuncher smiled a pallid, shadowy smile, and went over to his
kit-bag. He returned a moment later with a pair of new moleskin
trousers and threw them on the bunk.

"You ken have them, I guess. Kind o' remembrancer fer talkin' straight
to Jake. Say, that did me a power o' good."

"Thanks, but I'll pay----"

"Not on your life, mister."

"Then I'll remember your advice."

"Good. S'long."

CHAPTER IV

THE NIGHT-RIDERS

Tresler had not the smallest inclination for sleep. He was tired
enough physically, but his brain was still much too active. Besides,
the bunkhouse was uninviting to him as yet. The two lines of
trestle-beds, with their unkempt occupants, were suggestive of--well,
anything but congenial sleeping companions. The atmosphere was close
and stuffy, and the yellow glimmer of the two oil-lamps, one stationed
at each end of the room, gave the place a distasteful suggestion of
squalor.

He was not unduly squeamish--far from it; but, be it remembered, he
had only just left a world of ease and luxury, where snow-white linen
and tasteful surroundings were necessary adjuncts to existence.
Therefore these things came to him in the nature of a shock.

He looked at his blankets spread over the straw palliasse that
disguised the loose bed-boards underneath, and this drew his attention
to the mattress itself. It was well-worn and dusty, and as he moved it
he felt that the straw inside was crushed to the smallest chaff. He
laid it back carefully so as not to disturb the du