t an'
onobstrusive manner if we aim to preserve the continuity of Winthrup's
spinal column."

"Can't we go around?" queried the girl.

"No. The coulee is fenced clean acrost an' way up to where even a goat
couldn't edge past. We've got to slip through. Once we get past the
big reservoir we're all right. I'll scout on ahead."

The cowboy swung to the ground and threw open the barbed-wire gate.
"Keep straight on through, Bat, unless you hear from me. I'll be
waitin' by the bunk-house. Chances are, them salamanders will all be
poundin' their ear pretty heavy, bein' up all last night to the dance."
He galloped away and the others followed at a walk. For an hour no one
spoke.

"I thought that fence enclosed a pasture, not a county," growled
Endicott, as he clumsily shifted his weight to bear on a spot less sore.

"_Oui_, dat hoss pasture she 'bout seven mile long. Den we com' by de
ranch, an' den de reservoir, an' de hay fences." The half-breed opened
a gate and a short distance down the creek Alice made out the dark
buildings of the ranch. As they drew nearer the girl felt her heart
race madly, and the soft thud of the horse's feet on the sod sounded
like the thunder of a cavalry charge. Grim and forbidding loomed the
buildings. Not a light showed, and she pictured them peopled with
lurking forms that waited to leap out as they passed and throttle the
man who had rescued her from the brutish Purdy. She was sorry she had
been nasty to Endicott. She wanted to tell him so, but it was too
late. She thought of the revolver that Jennie had given her, and
slipping her hand into her pocket she grasped it by the butt. At
least, she could do for him what he had done for her. She could shoot
the first man to lay hands on him.

Suddenly her heart stood still and her lips pressed tight. A rider
emerged from the black shadow of the bunk-house.

"Hands up!" The girl's revolver was levelled at the man's head, and
the next instant she heard the Texan laugh softly.

"Just point it the other way, please, if it's loaded. A fellow shot me
with one of those once an' I had a headache all the rest of the
evenin'." His horse nosed in beside hers. "It's just as I thought,"
he explained. "Everyone around the outfit's dead to the world. Bein'
up all night dancin', an' most of the next day trailin' home, you
couldn't get 'em up for a poker game--let alone hangin' a pilgrim."

Alice's fear vanished the moment the Texan