d
been picked up. At the other extreme edge of this stony ground he found
crumpled bits of cedar and cedar berries scattered in one spot, as if
thrown there by some one who read their meaning.

This discovery unnerved Slone. It meant so much. And if Slone had any
hope or reason to doubt that these strangers had taken up the trail for
good, the next few miles dispelled it. They were trailing Creech.

Suddenly Slone gave a wild start, which made Wildfire plunge.

"CORDTS!" whispered Slone and the cold sweat oozed out of every pore.

These canyons were the hiding-places of the horse-thief. He and two of
his men had chanced upon Creech's trail; and perhaps their guess at its
meaning was like Slone's. If they had not guessed they would soon
learn. It magnified Slone's task a thousandfold. He had a moment of
bitter, almost hopeless realization before a more desperate spirit
awoke in him. He had only more men to kill--that was all. These upland
riders did not pack rifles, of that Slone was sure. And the sooner he
came up with Cordts the better. It was then he let Wildfire choose his
gait and the trail. Sunset, twilight, dusk, and darkness came with
Slone keeping on and on. As long as there were no intersecting canyons
or clefts or slopes by which Creech might have swerved from his course,
just so long Slone would travel. And it was late in the night when he
had to halt.

Early next day the trail led up out of the red and broken gulches to
the cedared uplands. Slone saw a black-rimmed, looming plateau in the
distance. All these winding canyons, and the necks of the high ridges
between, must run up to that great table-land.

That day he lost two of the horse tracks. He did not mark the change
for a long time after there had been a split in the party that had been
trailing Creech. Then it was too late for him to go back to
investigate, even if that had been wise. He kept on, pondering, trying
to decide whether or not he had been discovered and was now in danger
of ambush ahead and pursuit from behind. He thought that possibly
Cordts had split his party, one to trail along after Creech, the others
to work around to head him off. Undoubtedly Cordts knew this broken
canyon country and could tell where Creech was going, and knew how to
intercept him.

The uncertainty wore heavily upon Slone. He grew desperate. He had no
time to steal along cautiously. He must be the first to get to Creech.
So he held to the trail and went as