r a mile in an effort to pick the horse up again.

"Remember," interposed Scott mildly, "he is riding Sassoon's
horse--the brute is naturally heading for home."

"Follow him home, then," said Lefever unhesitatingly.

Scott looked at his companion in surprise: "Near home, you mean,
John," he suggested inoffensively. "For three of us to ride into the
Gap this morning would be some excitement for the Morgans. I don't
think the excitement would last long--for us."

The three were agreed, however, to follow up to the mouth of the Gap
itself and did follow. Finding no trace of de Spain's movements in
this quest, they rode separately in wide circles to the north and
south, but without picking up a hoof-print that led anywhere or gave
them any clew to the whereabouts of the missing man.

"There is one consolation," muttered Lefever, as they held to what
each felt to be an almost hopeless search. "As long as Henry can
stick to a saddle he can shoot--and the Morgans after yesterday
afternoon will think twice before they close in on him, if they find
him."

Scott shook his head: "That brings us up against another proposition,
John. De Spain hasn't got any cartridges."

Lefever turned sharply: "What do you mean?"

"His belt is in the barn at Calabasas, hanging up with his coat."

"Why didn't you tell me that before," demanded Lefever indignantly.

"I've been hoping all the time we'd find Henry and I wouldn't have to
tell you."

In spite of the hope advanced by Lefever that de Spain might by some
chance have cartridges in his pocket, Scott's information was
disquieting. However, it meant for de Spain, they knew, only the
greater need of succor, and when the news of his plight was made known
later in the day to Jeffries, efforts to locate him were redoubled.

For a week the search continued day and night, but each day, even each
succeeding hour, reduced the expectation of ever seeing the hunted man
alive. Spies working at Calabasas, others sent in by Jeffries to Music
Mountain among the Morgans, and men from Medicine Bend haunting Sleepy
Cat could get no word of de Spain. Fairly accurate reports accounted
for Gale Morgan, nursing a wound at home, and for Sassoon, badly
wounded and under cover somewhere in the Gap. Beyond this, information
halted.

Toward the end of the week a Mexican sheep-herder brought word in to
Lefever that he had seen in Duke Morgan's stable, Sassoon's horse--the
one on which de Spain had escaped