ition for our own lads."

"And it was done without a fight?" asked Kit. "I have heard that the
men picked for Soledad were not the gentlest band Senor Perez could
gather."

"We had their number," said Rotil placidly. "Good men enough, but with
their cartridges doctored what could they do? I sent in two machine
guns, and they were not needed. A signal smoke went up to show me all
was well, and in another minute I heard the horses of Marto and his
girl. He must have started an hour before Perez arrived. It is a trick
of Don Jose's that no one can count on his engagements, but this time
every hill had its sentinels for his trail, not anything was left to
chance."

"And your accident?" asked Kit politely.

"Oh, I was setting my own guards at every pass when the runaway woman
and men caught my ear and we took a short cut down the little canon to
head them off. I knew they would make for here, and that houses were
not plenty--" he smiled as if well satisfied with the knowledge. "So,
as this was a friendly house it would be a safe bet to keep on
coming." He blew rings of smoke from the cigarette, and chuckled.

"The boys will think a quicksand has swallowed us, and no one will be
sleeping there at Soledad."

"Is there anything I can do to be of service," asked Kit. "I have a
good room and a bed----"

But the chuckling of Rotil broke into a frank laugh.

"No, senor!" he said with humorous decision, watching Kit as he spoke,
"already I have been told of your great kindness in the giving of beds
and rooms of comfort. Why, with a house big enough, you could jail all
the district of Altar! Not my head for a noose!"

Kit laughed awkwardly at the jest which was based on fact, but he met
the keen eyes of Rotil very squarely.

"The Indians no doubt told you the reason the jail was needed?" he
said. "If a girl picks a man to take a trail with, that is her own
affair and not mine, but if a girl with chains on her wrists has to
watch men throwing dice for her, and is forced to go with the
winner--well--the man who would not help set her free needs a dose of
lead. That is our American way, and no doubt is yours, senor."

"Sure! Let a woman pick her own, if she can find him!" agreed Rotil,
and then he grinned again as he looked at Kit. "And, senor, it is a
safe bet that this time she'll find him!--you are a good big mark,
not easily hidden."

The other men smiled and nodded at the humor of their chief, and
regarded Kit with