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"Wal, what 'd you make of these here tracks?" asked that worthy

"So here yesterday, an' to-day a single horse made, that fresh track"

"Wal, Milt, for a hunter you ain't so bad at hoss tracks," observed John, "But how many hosses went yesterday?"

"I couldn't make out--several--maybe four or five"

"Six hosses an' a colt or little , unshod, to be strict-correct Wal, supposin' they did What 's it ht anythin' unusual, if it hadn't been for that smokeoff the ri to-day Looks queer tohis head "Milt, I've a hunch, if he was, he'd foller them tracks"

"Maybe But we haven't tih, if they keep clear as they are here An' we'll not lose any tiht toward Pine, down to the edge of the cedars, where, aed rocks, evidences showed that men had camped there for days Here it ended as a broad trail But frole fresh track made that very day, and from the east, more in a line with Pine, came two tracksand little hoofs Manifestly these interested John more than they did Dale, who had to wait for his companion

"Milt, it ain't a colt's--thet little track," avowed John

"Why not--an' what if it isn't?" queried Dale

"Wal, it ain't, because a colt always straggles back, an' from one side to t'other This little track keeps close to the big one An', by George! it was "

John reseray eyes Dale's reply was to spur his horse into a trot and call sharply to the lagging cougar

When they turned into the broad, blossohfare of Pine the sun was setting red and gold behind the mountains The horses were too tired for any ht of Dale and Bee, called excitedly to one another A group of azed intently down the road, and soon ns of excitement Dale and his coe And Dale called as he strode up the little path Mrs Cass caht of her John Beeman drew a sharp breath