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The girl refused to take food proffered her by Riggs, but she ate and drank a little that Wilson brought her, then she disappeared in the spruce lean-to

Whatever loquacity and co were not manifest in this ca the dawn in his mind of an ill omen not clear to him yet and not yet dreamed of by his fellows They all sht of the fire, but it was a dull gaht his blanket first, and the fact was significant that he lay down some distance from the spruce shelter which contained Bo Rayner Presently young Burt went off gru afterward the card-players did likewise

Snake Anson and Ji ca A fitful wind h the spruce An occasional thump of hoof sounded froave reality to the wildness of forest-land

By and by thosedeep and slow in heavy slus has queered our deal," said Snake Anson, in low voice

"I reckon," replied Wilson

"An' I'm feared he's queered this hyar White Mountain country fer us"

"Shore I 'ain't got so far as thet What d' ye loorouss Last fall--an' winter--an' now it's near April We've got no outfit tois thet Beasley down in the settle as he bluffs"

"Me, too I got thet idee yesterday He was scared of the kid--when she fired up an' sent thet hot-shot about her cowboy sweetheart killin' hidalena soster But, ! Mebbe he wasn't bad after toyin' with a little red liquor"

"Shore He was from Texas, she said"

"Jim, I savvied your feelin's was hurt--by thet talk about Texas--an' when she up an' asked you"

Wilson had no rejoinder for this remark

"Wal, Lord knows, I ain't wonderin' You wasn't a hunted outlaw all your life An' neither was I Wilson, I never was keen on this girl deal--noas I?"