and
finger. In the distance a pony whinnied. Was it Molly?

"You just keep still, you little nuisance!" whispered Pratt to his
mount. "Don't want you whinnying to any strange horse."

He got out of the saddle and led his pony for some rods. The brush was
thick and there was no bridle-path. He feared to go farther without
knowing what and who was ahead, and he tied the grey--taking pattern by
Frances and tying his head up-wind.

The young fellow hesitated about taking the shotgun he had used in the
jack-rabbit hunt. There was a sheath fastened to his saddle for the
weapon, and he finally left it therein.

Pratt really thought that nothing of a serious nature had happened to
his girl friend. Seeing Ratty M'Gill had reminded him that the
cowpuncher had once troubled Frances, and Pratt had ridden down this way
to offer his escort to the old ranchman's daughter.

He had no thought of the man who had held them up at the lower ford,
toward Peckham's, the evening of the prairie fire; nor did he connect
the cowpuncher and that ruffian in his mind.

"If I take that gun, the muzzle will make a noise in the bushes, or the
hammer will catch on something," thought Pratt.

So he left the shotgun behind and went on unarmed toward the place where
Frances was even then sitting under the keen eye of Pete.

"You keep where ye are, Miss," growled that worthy when Ratty rode away.
"I will sure tie ye if ye make an attempt to get away. You have fell
right into my han's, and I vow you'll make me some money. Your father's
got a plenty----"

"You mean to make him ransom me?" asked Frances, quietly.

"That's the ticket," said Pete, nodding, and searching his ragged
clothing for a pipe, which he finally drew out and filled. "He's got
money. I've spent what I brought up yere to the Panhandle with me. And I
b'lieve you made me lose my wagon and that other horse."

Frances made no rejoinder to this last, but she said:

"Father may be willing to pay something for my release. But you and
Ratty will suffer in the end."

"We'll risk that," said the man, puffing at his pipe, and nodding
thoughtfully.

"You'd better let me go now," said the girl, with no display of fear.
"And you'd better give up any further attempt to get at the old chest
that Mr. Lonergan talked about."

"Hey!" exclaimed the man, startled. "What d'ye know about Lonergan?"

"He will be at the ranch in a few days, and if there is any more
treasure than you found in that