hought you dead. It can all be explained. It was only last week
that the mystery of your disappearance was solved."

"Then why didn't he come himself? It was to save his little girl I got
myself into this place. If I had been in his shoes I would have come if
I'd had to crawl on my hands and knees."

"He doesn't know yet you are here. I wrote him simply that I knew where
you were, and then I came at once." Bucky glanced round warily at the
fat colonel gazing placidly out of the barred window. "I mean to
rescue you, and I knew if he were here his impulsiveness would ruin
everything."

"Do you mean it? For God's sake! don't lie to me. If there's no hope
for me, don't say there is." The prisoner's voice shook and his hands
trembled. He was only the husk of the man he had been, but it did
Bucky's heart good to see that the germ of life was still in him. Back
in Arizona, on the Rocking Chair Ranch, with the free winds of the
plains beating on his face, he would pick up again the old strands of
his broken life, would again learn to love the lowing of cattle and the
early morning call of the hooter to his mate.

"I mean it. As sure as I stand here I'll get you out, or, if I don't,
Webb Mackenzie will. We're calling the matter to the attention of the
United States Government, but we are not going to wait till that time to
free you. Keep up your courage, man. It is only for a little time now."

Tears leaped to the prisoner's eyes. He had been a game man in the dead
years that were past, none gamer in Texas, and he could still face his
jailers with an impassive face; but this first kindly word from his
native land in fifteen years to the man buried alive touched the fount
of his emotions. He turned away and leaned against the grating of his
cell, his head resting on his forearm. "My God! man, you don't know what
it means to me. Sometimes I think I shall go mad and rave. After all
these years But I know you'll fail--It's too good to be true," he
finished quietly.

"I'll not fail, though I may be delayed. But I can't say more. Gabilonda
is coming back. Next time I see you it will be to take you out to
freedom. Think of that always, and believe it."

Gabilonda bowed urbanely. "If the senor has seen all he cares to of this
department we will return to the office," he suggested suavely.

"Certainly, colonel. I can't appreciate too much your kindness in
allowing me to study your system so carefully."

"Any friend of my friend