y lad; that'll soon get better. I only wish, though, I had
come last night when that fellow was here. I don't believe my
conscience would ever have said anything if I had put a bullet through
him."

Abel lay silent near the fire, watching the dog thoughtfully while
stores were unpacked and preparations made for a meal; but at last he
spoke.

"Dal," he said, "give me that knife that you found."

"What for? You had better lie still, and don't worry about anything now
except trying to get well."

"Give me the knife. I've been thinking. That man who attacked me last
night was one of that gang."

"What!" cried Tregelly, stopping in his task of frying bacon.
"Nonsense! they daren't show their noses here now."

"I feel sure of it," said Abel excitedly. "Let me look at that knife.
I believe it's the one that was stolen from the man on the lake."

Dallas looked at him doubtingly, before picking up the knife and shaking
his head. "It might be, or it might not," he said dubiously, as he
passed it to his cousin.

"Well, at any rate, Dal, they have tracked us down, and that accounts
for the attack."

"It looks like it," said Dallas; "but don't get excited, old fellow. I
don't want you to turn worse."

"But they must be somewhere close at hand, Dal," cried Abel; "and we may
be attacked again at any moment."

"All right, then, we'll be ready for them," said Dallas soothingly.
"Forewarned is forearmed."

"You are saying that just to calm me," said Abel bitterly. "You do not
believe me, but it is a fact. I felt something of the kind last night
in those horrible moments when he held my throat in that peculiar way.
It was out of revenge for the past. They have dogged us all the time,
and been close at our heels. Ah, look out!" he cried wildly, as he
tried to spring up--"Listen! I can hear them outside plainly."

CHAPTER TWENTY SEVEN.

THE STARTING OF A BODYGUARD.

"Nay, nay, lad," said Tregelly soothingly; "there's no one here now.
That bag of gold was enough to bring one of the rowdies down upon you,
but those three chaps wouldn't risk a meeting with the judge again."

"I don't know," said Dallas thoughtfully; "there is plenty of room
hereabout for them to be in, hiding; and they must have gone somewhere."

"Not much chance for a man to keep himself alive in this country,
without tackle and stores, or a shanty of his own."

"Unless he has attacked and murdered some one," said Abel bitterly.
"But y