acrost the Misszoo. Even if it don't leak out, an'
any one should happen to spot the pilgrim, that would start a posse,
_pronto_, an' we'd get ours for helpin' him to elope."

"'Spose dey git de pilgrim," persisted the half-breed, "de, w'at you
call, de jury, dey say 'turn 'um loose' 'cause he keel dat Purdy for
try to----"

Tex hurled his cigarette into the blaze. "You're a damn smart Injun,
ain't you? Well, you just listen to me. I'm runnin' this here little
outfit, an' there's reasons over an' above what I've orated, why the
pilgrim is goin' to be treated to a good lib'ral dose of the rough
stuff. If he comes through, he'll stack up pretty close to a top hand,
an' if he don't--" The Texan paused and scowled into the fire. "An'
if he don't it's his own damn fault, anyhow--an' there you are."

The half-breed nodded, and in the dark eyes the Texan noted a
half-humorous, half-ominous gleam; "Dat, w'at you call, '_reason over
an' 'bove_', she damn fine 'oman. A'm t'ink she lak' de pilgrim more'n
you. But mebbe-so you show heem up for w'at you call, de yellow, you
git her 'way, but--me, A'm no lak' I see her git harm." With which
declaration the half-breed rose abruptly and busied himself with the
horses, while the Texan, without bothering to spread his blankets,
pulled his hat over his face and stretched out beside the fire.

CHAPTER XI

A RESCUE

When Alice Marcum opened her eyes the timber was in darkness. The moon
had not yet topped the divide and through an opening in the trees the
girl could see the dim outlines of an endless sea of peaks and ridges
that stretched away to the eastward. The voice of the Texan sounded in
her ears: "Come alive, now! We got to eat an' pull out of here in an
hour's time if we're goin' to fetch the bad lands by daylight."

Peering around the edge of her shelter tent she could see him,
coffee-pot in hand, standing beside the tiny flame that licked at the
dry pine shavings of a newly kindled fire.

He turned and made his way to the creek that burbled over the rocks a
short way down the ravine and Alice drew on her riding-boots and joined
Endicott who had made his way painfully toward the fire where he stood
gazing ruefully at the begrimed wreck of a white collar which he held
in his hand. The Texan returned and placed the coffee-pot close
against the tiny blaze.

"When you get through invoicin' yer trooso, Winthrup, it wouldn't delay
us none if you'd grasp that