ring had come suddenly, and the frost-bleached sod was soft
with the thaw; and when he pulled up on the wooden bridge to wait until
Breckenridge, who appeared among the trees, should join him, the river
swirled and frothed beneath. It had lately burst its icy chains, and came
roaring down, seamed by lines of foam and strewn with great fragments of
half-melted snow-cake that burst against the quivering piles.

"Running strong!" said Breckenridge. "Still, the water has not risen much
yet, and as I crossed the big rise I saw two of Torrance's cow-boys
apparently screwing up their courage to try the ford."

"It might be done," said Larry. "We have one horse at Fremont that would
take me across. The snow on the ranges is not melting yet, and the ice
will be tolerably firm on the deep reaches; but it's scarcely likely that
we will want to swim the Cedar now."

"No," said Breckenridge, with a laugh, "the bridge is good enough for me.
By the way, I have a note for you."

"A note!" said Larry, with a slight hardening of his face, for of late
each communication that reached him had brought him fresh anxieties.

"Well," said Breckenridge drily, "I scarcely think this one should worry
you. From the fashion in which it reached me I have a notion it's from a
lady."

There was a little gleam in Larry's eyes when he took the note, and
Breckenridge noticed that he was very silent as they rode on. When they
reached Fremont he remained a while in the stable, and when at last he
entered the house Breckenridge glanced at him questioningly.

"You have something on your mind," he said. "What have you been doing,
Larry?"

Grant smiled curiously. "Giving the big bay a rub down. I'm riding to
Cedar Range to-night."

"Have you lost your head?" Breckenridge stared at him. "Muller saw the
Sheriff riding in this morning, and it's more than likely he is at the
Range. You are wanted rather more badly than ever just now, Larry."

Grant's face was quietly resolute as he took out the note and passed it to
his companion. "I have tried to do my duty by the boys; but I am going to
Cedar to-night."

Breckenridge opened the note, which had been written the previous day, and
read, "In haste. Come to the bluff beneath the Range--alone--nine
to-morrow night."

Then, he stared at the paper in silence until Grant, who watched him
almost jealously, took it from him. "Yes," he said, though his face was
thoughtful, "of course, you must go. You are quite