the slowly moving animals loomed up through the
gloom, and came to a halt directly in front of me. I saw nothing of
Rale until he spoke.

"That yer, Moffett?"

"Yes; whar's yer party?"

I caught view of his dim outlines, as he stepped slightly forward,
reassured by my voice.

"They'll be yere; thar's a bit o' time ter spare yit. I aimed not ter
keep 'em waitin'. Here, this is yer hoss, an' yere's the leadin' strap
fer the others. Better tie it ter yer pommel, I reckon, so's ter leave
both yer hands free--yer might hav' need fer 'em. We'll tend ter
mountin' the gurls, an' then all ye'll hav' ter do will be ter lead
off. Thar won't be no talkin' done yere. Better walk the hosses till
yer git crost the crick, so the sojers won't hear yer. Got that?"

"I reckon I hav', an' sense 'nough ter know it without bein' told. Did
yer think I wanted ter be catched on this job?"

"All right, but thar's no harm a tellin' yer. Don't be so damn touchy.
Eneyboddy in the shack?"

"No; only the woman, asleep on a stool."

"Whar's Tim gone to?"

"I reckon he don't even know hisself; he's sure sum drunk."

Rale chuckled, patting the side of the horse next him. "Whole caboodle
workin' like a charm," he said, good humoredly. "Thought onct the
deputy might show up ugly, but a quart o' red-eye sure fixed
him--thar's our party a comin' now. Ye're ter stay right whar ye are."

They were advancing toward us up the bank which sloped down toward the
creek. It occurred to me they must be following some well-worn path,
from the silence of their approach--the only sound being a faint
rustling of dead leaves. Rale moved forward to meet them across the
little open space, and a moment later, from my hiding place among the
motionless horses, I became able to distinguish the slowly approaching
figures. There were four in the party, apparently from their garb two
men and two women. The second man might be the preacher, but if so,
why should he be there? Why should his presence at this time be
necessary? Unless the two main conspirators had special need for his
services, I could conceive no reason for his having any part in the
action that night. Had I been deceived in their plans? The horror of
the dawning conception that possibly I had waited too long, and that
the deed I sought to prevent had already been consummated, left me
trembling like an aspen. Even as this fear overwhelmed me with
consternation, I was compelled to n