VE got it."

"But not in the way he meant," returned Brice hurriedly. "This man's
death is the result of his attempting to escape from your uncle's guards
along the road; the merit of it belongs to them and your uncle. It would
be cowardly and mean of me to take advantage of it."

The girl looked at him with an expression of mingled admiration and
pity. "But the guards were placed there before he ever saw you," said
she impatiently. "And whatever uncle Harry may want to do, he must do
what the gang says. And with the money once in their possession, or
even in yours, if they knew it, I wouldn't give much for its chances--or
YOURS either--for gettin' out o' this hollow again."

"But if THEY are treacherous, that is no reason why I should be so,"
protested Brice stoutly.

"You've no right to say they were treacherous when they knew nothing of
your plans," said the girl sharply. "Your company would have more call
to say YOU were treacherous to it for making a plan without consultin'
them." Brice winced, for he had never thought of that before. "You can
offer that reward AFTER you get away from here with the greenbacks.
But," she added proudly, with a toss of her head, "go back if you want
to! Tell him all! Tell him where you found it--tell him I did not take
you through the canyon, but was showin' you a new trail I had never
shown to THEM! Tell him that I am a traitor, for I have given them and
him away to you, a stranger, and that you consider yourself the only
straight and honest one about here!"

Brice flushed with shame. "Forgive me," he said hurriedly; "you are
right and I am wrong again. I will do just what you say. I will first
place these greenbacks in a secure place--and then"--

"Get away first--that's your only holt," she interrupted him quickly,
her eyes still flashing through indignant tears. "Come quick, for I must
put you on the trail before they miss me."

She darted forward; he followed, but she kept the lead, as much, he
fancied, to evade his observation as to expedite his going. Presently
they stopped before the sloping trunk of a huge pine that had long since
fallen from the height above, but, although splintered where it had
broken ground, had preserved some fifty feet of its straight trunk erect
and leaning like a ladder against the mountain wall. "There," she
said, hurriedly pointing to its decaying but still projecting lateral
branches, "you climb it--I have. At the top you'll find it's stuck