sniffed contemptuously: "I thought so, too, at first. But come
to think it over you can't tell me he ever let anyone else in on this!
That was a raw bluff to save his own hide. Why, his kind wouldn't trust
one another nowheres with nothin'!"

Cinnabar removed his hat and ran his fingers through his hair. "Women
ain't got no more education than what men has," he said, thoughtfully,
"but sure as hell they can out-think 'em. I hope you're right all down
the line--an' I guess you are. Anyhow, you better be, 'cause I'm goin'
to do it like you say." His eyes rested for a moment on the new cabin.
"But if you're wrong, an' back there in Wolf River they think the slate
ain't wiped clean, an' send me up, an' the little outfit goes to the
devil----"

His wife interrupted him: "Why, I'll get my old job back, an' wait for
you to git out, an' we'll start all over again."

Cinnabar reached out and gathered the girl into his arms: "Yes," he
answered, with his lips close to her ear, "an' either way, we'll know we
done the best we know'd how--an' that's all anyone can do."

CHAPTER XXIV

"ALL FRIENDS TOGETHER"

Old Bat, with Endicott following closely, led the way through the
darkness back along Timber City's main street. At the corner of the
livery stable he paused: "W'ere you hoss?"

"Why, I--wait, I'll step across to the hotel and borrow one of
Colston's." The half-breed nodded, and hurrying across the street
Endicott entered the office of the hostelry. His appearance was the
signal for a sudden awkward silence among the half-dozen men that
sprawled in the chairs or leaned against the cigar case. Endicott's
glance swept the faces of the men: "Where's Mr. Colston?" he asked.

The man with the long moustache, the one who had informed him that the
ferry-boat still floated, opened a door that gave into the rambling
interior: "Hey!" he called, loudly, "'s Y Bar went up?"

From the region beyond came an answer and the moustached one turned to
Endicott: "Yup, he's went up. Don't know what room's his'n, but jest
holler when you git to the top of the stairs, he ain't got to sleep
yet."

At the head of the stairs Endicott paused, a light showed through the
crack at the bottom of a door, and he knocked. The door opened and
Colston, in undershirt and trousers, bade him enter.

Endicott shook his head, "No I want to borrow a horse."

"Goin' after 'em?" asked Colston. "Well, help yourself. The Y Bar horses
are yours, now. But