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Presently the hunter and his friend returned fro the horses, and beside the fire they conversed in low tones

"Wal, thet trail we made to-day will be hid, I reckon," said Roy, with satisfaction

"What wasn't sheeped over would be washed out We've had luck An' now I ain't worryin'," returned Dale

"Worryin'? Then it's the first I ever knowed you to do"

"Man, I never had a job like this," protested the hunter

"Wal, thet's so"

"Now, Roy, when old Al Auchincloss finds out about this deal, as he's bound to when you or the boys get back to Pine, he's goin' to roar"

"Do you reckon folks will side with hiainst Beasley?"

"Soo where it's hot He'll bunch his men an' strike for the ot to do is to keep the girls hid till I can guide hiirls down to Pine"

"No one but you an' your brothers ever seen ht blunder on it But thet ain't likely"

"Why ain't it?"

"Because I'll stick to thet sheep-thief's tracks like a wolf after a bleedin' deer An' if he ever gets near your camp I'll ride in ahead of hio down to Pine, sooner or later"

"Not unless Anson goes I told John thet in case there was no fight on the stage to make a bee-line back to Pine He was to tell Al an' offer his services along with Joe an' Hal"

"One way or another, then, there's bound to be blood spilled over this"

"Shore! An' high tiet a look down my old 'forty-four' at thet Beasley"

"In that case I hope you hold straighter than tiood shot," declared Roy, stoutly

"You're no good on ets"

"Wal, et when I meet up with Beasley I'm a hossman, not a hunter You're used to shootin' flies off deer's horns, jest for practice"

"Roy, can we ht?" queried Dale, more seriously