med so
debonair a dare-devil as Dingwell had the reputation of being. He had
the fellow so meek that he would eat out of his hand.

Chapter II

Dave Caches a Gunnysack

Fox rode about ten yards behind his prisoner, who plodded without
spirit up the creek trail that led from the basin.

"You're certainly an accommodating fellow, Dave," he jeered. "I've
seen them as would have grumbled a heap at digging up that sack, and
then loaning me their horse to carry it whilst they walked. But you're
that cheerful. My own brother wouldn't have been so kind."

Dingwell grunted sulkily. He may have felt cheerful, but he did not
look it. The pudgy round body of Fox shook with silent laughter.

"Kind is the word, Dave. Honest, I hate to put myself under
obligations to you like this. If I hadn't seen with my own eyes how
you was feeling the need of them health exercises, I couldn't let you
force your bronc on me. But this little walk will do you a lot of
good. It ain't far. My horse is up there in the pines."

"What are you going to do with me?" growled the defeated man over his
shoulder.

"Do with you?" The voice of Fox registered amiable surprise. "Why, I
am going to ask you to go up to the horse ranch with me so that the
boys can thank you proper for digging up the gold."

Directly in front of them a spur of the range jutted out to meet the
brown foothills. Back of this, forty miles as the crow flies, nestled
a mountain park surrounded by peaks. In it was the Rutherford horse
ranch. Few men traveled to it, and these by little-used trails. Of
those who frequented them, some were night riders. They carried a
price on their heads, fugitives from localities where the arm of the
law reached more surely.

Through the dry brittle grass the man on horseback followed Dingwell to
the scant pines where his cowpony was tethered. Fox dismounted and
stood over his captive while the latter transferred the gunnysack and
its contents to the other saddle. Never for an instant did the little
spy let the other man close enough to pounce upon him. Even though
Dingwell was cowed, Chet proposed to play it safe. Not till he was in
the saddle himself did he let his prisoner mount.

Instantly Dave's cowpony went into the air.

"Whoa, you Teddy! What's the matter with you?" cried the owner of the
horse angrily. "Quit your two-stepping, can't you?"

The animal had been gentle enough all day, but now a devil of unres