l I show you."

"Pan, there's ten thousand wild horses in that one valley across the
mountain there. Hot Springs Valley they call it."

"Then, by George, we've got to take the risk," declared Pan decisively.

"Risk of what?"

"Trouble with that Hardman outfit. It can't be avoided. I'd have to
bluff them out or fight them down, right off. Dick is a yellow skunk.
Jard Hardman is a bad man in any pinch. But not on an even break. I
don't mean that. If _that_ were all. But he's treacherous. And his
henchman, this two bit of a sheriff, he's no man to face you on the
square. I'll swear he can be bluffed. Has he any reputation as a gun
thrower?"

"Matthews? I never heard of it, if he had. But he brags a lot. He's
been in several fracases here, with drunken miners an' Mexicans. He's
killed a couple of men since I've been here."

"Ah-huh, just what I thought," declared Pan, in cool contempt. "I'll
bet a hundred he elected himself town marshal, as he calls it. I'll
bet he hasn't any law papers from the territory, or government,
either.... Jard Hardman will be the hard nut to crack. Now, Dad, back
in Littleton I learned what he did to you. And Lucy's story gave me
another angle on that. It's pretty hard to overlook. I'm not swearing
I can do so. But I'd like to know how you feel about it."

"Son, I'd be scared to tell you," replied Smith in husky voice,
dropping his head.

"You needn't, Dad. We'll stay here till we catch and sell a bunch of
horses," said Pan curtly. "Can you quit your job at the wagon shop?"

"Any time--an' Lord, won't I be glad to do it," returned Smith
fervently.

"Well, you quit just then," remarked Pan dryly. "So much is
settled.... Dad, I've got to get Jim Blake out of that jail."

"I reckon so. It might be a job an' then again it mightn't. Depends
on Jim. An' between you an' me, Pan, I've no confidence in Jim."

"That doesn't make any difference. I've got to get him out and send
him away. Head him for Arizona where we're going.... Is it a real
jail?"

"Dobe mud an' stones," replied his father. "An Indian or a real man
could break out of there any night. There are three guards, who change
off every eight hours. One of them is a tough customer. Name's Hill.
He used to be an outlaw. The other two are lazy loafers round town.

"Anybody but Jim in just now?"

"I don't know. Matthews jailed a woman not long ago. He arrests
somebody every day or so."

"Whe