e could graze close beside it.

"Why, I've ridden through that place at least twice," asserted Pete
as he recognized Lawrence's description of the spot, "but never a
sign of cattle or mine have I seen."

"You noticed there was heavy woods on both sides, didn't you?"
returned the former raider, smiling.

"Yes."

"Well, that explains why you didn't learn anything, though of
course it might be that no cattle were in the valley when you
struck it."

This explanation only served to arouse the curiosity of the hearers
the more.

"The woods are the thing," he continued. "Every time any one comes
along, we drive the cattle into them and no one would think to look
for the entrance to a mine among the trees."

"But how does it happen you have never been taken by surprise?"
queried Mr. Wilder.

"Because when we had steers in the valley we always kept a lookout.
There's a cliff just above the mine from which a man can see the
trail for at least two miles."

"Then won't some one discover us?" asked Bill.

"Not if we hurry. Every man jack of Megget's gang is out on this
raid. All we need to do is to get there first."

"How about that fellow who was with you?" Bill inquired. "Won't he
be on the lookout?"

"Who, Red Ike? Not much. He'll be too anxious to tell Gus about
me. He knows his chief was going to cut across to join Vasquez and
the others, and he'll follow. They'll be so tickled at the thought
you all were lost in the fire they won't hurry much. Still, if
we're going to round them up, we must get there before dark
to-night. There's a spot just before you enter the valley where we
can lie in wait and get them all."

"No, that won't do," declared Mr. Wilder. "I want to capture them
without resorting to firearms, if possible. While, of course, if
it should be necessary, I would sanction shooting, I much prefer to
take the men prisoners and turn them over to the sheriff and the
law."

At first Lawrence could scarcely believe his ears. His creed had
been force, supported by quick use of weapons, not law, and it
seemed incredible to him that a man who had suffered from the raids
of the cattle thieves should not take justice in his own hands when
opportunity presented. But he suddenly realized that he was
dealing with a new kind of man that he had never been brought in
contact with, an honorable man, and his admiration for the owner of
the Half-Moon increased a hundredfold.

Some time, however, was