not
hesitate to cut out and abandon all weak animals on a long drive. It is a
loss credited to the ultimate good of the business, but Bud had not
consented to this sacrifice if it meant also the sacrifice of the herder.

Pedro had, however, with many winks and glintings of teeth, made it clear
that he did not expect to depart this life yet a while, hinting
mysteriously at certain charms, amulets and saints that made it a business
to keep him among the living.

Pedro, to Bud's knowledge, had been in numerous seamy affairs before, and
had always reappeared, rather the worse for wear, but perfectly sound in
all respects. He did not doubt but what the Spaniard would turn up at the
cook wagon for breakfast.

The sounds of distant conflict continued for perhaps five or ten minutes,
at the end of which time perfect silence reigned again. Larkin wondered
how many of the animals had been killed, or whether they had been merely
scattered--the equivalent of death, for a sheep is unable to find water,
and if frightened, will back against a face of rock and starve to death.

Another half-hour passed, and now Larkin could see the dim white backs of
the herd rising before him as they climbed the steep watercourse. He
judged that more than half the flock must be down the precipitous other
side, and his heart beat with exultation at the success of Sim's strategy.
The plan was to hide the sheep in some little green valley during the day
and march them at night until discovered or until the upper range was
reached.

Suddenly, just as the last of the flock was mounting the ascent, Larkin
drew Pinte up short and listened intently. Then he quickly dismounted and
placed his ear to the ground only to leap into the saddle again, swing his
horse quickly and ride back along the trail.

He had heard the unmistakable pounding of feet, and an instant's sickening
fear flashed before him the possibility that the Bar T cowboys had
discovered the ruse after all; either that or they had extorted the secret
of it from Pedro.

Larkin loosened the pistol in his holster, one of those big, single-action
wooden-handled forty-fives that have settled so many unrecorded disputes,
and prepared to cover the rear of the herd until it had safely crossed the
hogback.

Pinte's ears twitched forward. The sound of galloping feet was nearer now.
Larkin clapped on spurs and trotted to meet it.

Closer and closer it came, a mingled clatter of hoofs. Then suddenly