rwin's neck and
insert his knuckles so that he could use them as a tourniquet if
necessary.

"Gather up the other end of the rope, loop it, and tie his feet
together," the nester ordered, getting his sentence out in fragmentary
jerks.

Phil did so, deftly and expertly, after which, in spite of renewed
struggles, they tied the hands of their prisoner behind his back.

"Looks like a cyclone had hit the room," said the boy, glancing at the
debris.

Larrabie laughed. "He's the most willing mixer I ever saw."

"What are you going to do with him?"

"We'll leave him tied right where he is. When we get down into the
settlement we'll notify his friends, though I reckon they'll find him
without any help from us."

In order to make sure they went over the knots again, tightening them
here and there. The revolver and the rifle of the bound man they
appropriated. The nester's horse was in a little corral back of the
house. He saddled, and shortly the two were on the back trail. Phil knew
the country as a golfer knows his links. To him Keller put the question
in his mind:

"How far is the Mimbres Pass from here, and in what direction?"

The younger man looked at him in surprise. "A dozen miles, I reckon. See
that cleft over there? That's the Mimbres."

His friend drew rein and looked with level eyes at him.

"Phil, it's come to a show-down! Are you for Brill Healy or are you for
me?"

"I'm through with Brill."

"Dead sure of that?"

"Dead sure. Why?"

"Because you've got to make your choice to-night whether you're going to
stand with honest men or thieves. Healy's gang is rustling a bunch of
cows gathered at the round-up. They're heading for Mimbres Pass. I'm
going to stop them if I can."

"I'm with you, Larry."

"Good! I was sure of you, Phil."

The boy flushed, but his eyes did not waver. "I want to tell you
something. That day we most caught you over the dead cow of the C.O.
outfit Brill was carrying Phyl's knife. I had lent it to him the night
before."

Keller nodded. "I had figured it out that way."

"But that ain't all. Once when I was cutting trail in the hills--must
have been about six months before that time--I happened on Brill driving
a calf still bleeding from the brand he had put on it.

"I didn't think anything of that, but I noticed he was anxious to have
me turn and join him. But I kept on the way I was going, and just by a
miracle my pony almost stumbled over a dead cow lying in the brus