you."

"What's on my head?"

"Your life. Damn you, don't you see you're driving me too far?"

"How far?"

"I'm not going to let you get away to send us to prison. What do you
expect?"

Luck's frosty eyes did not release the other for a moment. "How are you
going to prevent it, Cass?"

"I'll find a way."

"Blackwell's way--the Devil's Slide?"

The puzzled look of the sheepman told Cullison that Blackwell's plan of
exit for him had not been submitted to the other.

"Your friend from Yuma has been explaining how he has arranged for me to
cross the divide," he went on. "I'm to be plugged full of lead, shot down
that rock, and landed in a prospect hole at the bottom."

"First I've heard of it." Fendrick wheeled upon his accomplice with angry
eyes. He was in general a dominant man, and not one who would stand much
initiative from his assistants.

"He's always deviling me," complained the convict surlily. Then, with a
flash of anger: "But I stand pat. He'll get his before I take chances of
getting caught. I'm nobody's fool."

Cass snapped him up. "You'll do as I say. You'll not lift a finger against
him unless he tries to escape."

"Have you seen the _Sentinel_? I tell you his friends know everything.
Someone's peached. They're hot on our trail. Bucky O'Connor is in the
hills. Think I'm going to be caught like a rat in a trap?"

"We'll talk of that later. Now you go look after my horse while I keep
guard here."

Blackwell went, protesting that he was no "nigger" to be ordered about on
errands. As soon, as he was out of hearing Fendrick turned his thin
lip-smile on the prisoner.

"It's up to you, Cullison. I saved your life once. I'm protecting you now.
But if your friends show up he'll do as he says. I won't be here to stop
him. Sign up and don't be a fool."

Luck's answer came easily and lightly. "My friend, we've already discussed
that point."

"You won't change your mind?"

"Your arguments don't justify it, Cass."

The sheepman looked at him with a sinister significance. "Good enough.
I'll bring you one that will justify it _muy pronto_."

"It will have to be a mighty powerful one. Sorry I can't oblige you and
your friend, the convict."

"It'll be powerful enough." Fendrick went to the door and called
Blackwell. "Bring back that horse. I'm going down to the valley."

CHAPTER X

CASS FENDRICK MAKES A CALL

Kate was in her rose garden superintending the stable boy as he loosened
the