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Totally exhausted, the two men dropped their heavy burden on the earth

Mason swore as the blood began dripping again from his wound, which had

been torn open afresh in his efforts to bear Haht sight of thenize his officer in the begrimed person before him,

until called to attention by the voice of command

"Sims, if there is any water in your canteen hand it over Good; here,

Marshal, use this Now, Sims, note what I say carefully, and don't

waste a eant to send a file of men up here

with some sort of litter, on the run Then you ride to the Herndon

house--the yellow house where the roads fork, you reet the name) that Mr Ha him to the hotel Can you

remember that?"

"Yes, sir"

"Then off with you, and don't spare the horse"

He was gone instantly, and Brant began bathing the pallid, upturned

face

"You'd better lie down, Marshal," he commanded "You're pretty weak

from loss of blood, and I can do all there is to be done until those

fellows get here"

In fifteen minutes they appeared, and fiveslowly down to the valley, Brant walking beside his still

unconscious rival Squads of troopers were scattered along the base of