ect. He always was that bull-headed."

"Firm--I call it," smiled Gordon.

"I ask you to remember that he has had his warning," the girl called to
Steve.

"I've had several," acknowledged Dick, his eyes again on the hat. "There
won't be anybody to blame but myself."

"You know who shot at you. I saw it in your face. Tell me, and I will
see that he is punished," she urged.

Dick shook his head imperturbably.

"No; I reckon that wouldn't do. I'm playing a lone hand. You're on the
other side. How can I come and ask you to fight my battles for me? That
wouldn't be playing the game. I'll attend to the young man that mistook
me for a rabbit."

"Very well. As you like. But you are quite mistaken if you think I asked
on your account. He had disobeyed my orders, and he deserved to pay for
it. I have no further interest in the matter."

"Certainly. I understand that. What interest could Miss Valdes have in a
spy and a cheat?" he drawled negligently.

The young woman flushed, made as if to speak, then turned away abruptly.

She touched her pony with the spur, and as it took the outside of the
slanting, narrow trail, its hoof slipped on loose gravel and went over
the edge. Dick's arm went out like a streak of lightning and caught the
rein.

For an instant the issue hung in doubt whether he could hold the bronco
and save her a nasty fall. The taut muscles of his lean arm and body
grew rigid with the strain before the animal found its feet and the
path.

"Thank you," the young woman said quietly, and at once disengaged the
rein from his fingers by a turn of the pony's head.

Yet a moment, and she had disappeared round a bend in the trail. Gordon
had observed with satisfaction that there had been no sign of fear in
her eyes at the danger she faced, no screaming or wild clutching at his
arm for help. Her word of thanks to him had been as cool and low as the
rest of her talk.

"She's that game. Ain't she a thoroughbred, Steve?" demanded Dick, with
deep delight in his fair foe.

"You bet she is. It's a shame for you to be annoying her this way. Why
don't you come to an agreement with her?"

"She ain't ready for that yet. When the time comes I'll dictate the
terms of the treaty. Don't you think it's about time for us to be
heading back home?"

"Then we'll meet your lady of the ranch quicker, won't we?" chuckled
Davis. "Funny you didn't think about going back till after she had
passed."

But if Dick had hoped to see