ugher and the
mountains towered above them in jagged peaks of seemingly solid rock.
The day was nearly ended and Wellesly remembered enough of the
distances along the Las Plumas road to be sure that they ought to be
approaching Muletown. But in this stern wilderness of rock and sand,
human habitation did not seem possible. He looked back across the
desert at the Fernandez mountains, standing out sharply against the
red sunset clouds, and it suddenly flashed across his mind that if the
sun were setting there they must have been traveling in an easterly
direction all the afternoon, which meant that they had been getting
farther and farther away from Las Plumas. Enlightened by this idea, he
sent a quick, seeing glance along the range of mountains standing out
boldly and barrenly in front of them, and he knew it was not the
Hermosa range. Haney turned with a jovial remark on his lips and met
Wellesly's eyes, two narrow strips of pale gray shining brilliantly
from between half-closed lids, and saw that his game had played itself
smoothly as far as it would go.

Wellesly disregarded Haney's jest and looking him squarely in the eyes
said: "I suppose, Mr. Mullford, if we keep on in this direction a
matter of some twenty-five thousand miles we might reach Muletown. But
don't you think we would save time if we were to turn around and
travel the other way?"

Haney laughed good-naturedly and exclaimed: "You've not got that
notion out of your 'ead yet, 'ave you! Say, pard," he added to Jim,
"Mr. Wellesly is still turned around. 'E thinks we ought to right
about face and take the back track to get to Muletown. What can we do
to convince 'im 'e's all right?"

Wellesly was watching the two men narrowly, his suspicions aroused and
all his faculties alert. Haney's calm, solicitous tone for a moment
almost made him think he must be mistaken. But another glance at the
rocky, precipitous mountains reassured him that they were not the
Hermosas and settled the conviction in his mind that he had fallen
into the trap of a pair of very smooth rogues. A still, white rage
rose in his heart and mettled his nerves to his finger-tips, as he
thought of the plausible pretensions of good will with which they had
led him into this wilderness. He scarcely heard Jim's reply:

"I don't know what else he wants. We're going to Muletown, and if he
don't want to get lost out on this desert and have the coyotes pickin'
his bones inside of a week he'd better