more run right under me,
comin' from this side," replied Smith with beaming face. "Broomtails
an' willowtails they may be, as those boys call them, but I'll tell
you, son, some of them are mighty fine stock. The leader of this bunch
had a brand on his flank. He was white an' I saw it plain. I'd shore
like to own him."

"Dad, I'll bet we catch some good ones to take with us to Arizona. If
we only had more time!"

"Pan, it'd pay us to work here all winter."

"You bet. But Dad, I--I want to take Lucy away from Marco," replied
Pan hesitatingly. "When I let myself think, I'm worried. She's only a
kid, and she might be scared or driven."

"Right, son," said Smith, soberly. "Those Hardmans would try anythin'."

"We'll stick to the original plan, and that's to make a quick hard
drive--then rustle out of New Mexico."

When they rode into the gateway the day was far spent, and the west was
darkly ablaze with subdued fire.

Pan's father showed his unfamiliarity with long horseback rides and he
made sundry remarks, mirth provoking to his son.

"I'll make a cowboy and horse wrangler of you again," threatened Pan.

By the time Lying Juan had supper ready Blinky and Gus rode in camp.

"Hungrier'n a wolf," said Blinky.

"Well, what's the verdict?" asked Pan with a smile.

"Wuss an' more of it," drawled Blinky. "We seen most five thousand
hosses, an' I'll be doggoned if I don't believe we'll ketch them all."

"You found this side of the valley a regular hole-proof wing for our
trap, I'll bet," asserted Pan.

"Wal, there's places where hosses could climb out easy, but they won't
try it," replied Blinky. "The valley slopes up long an' easy to the
wall. But when we drive them hosses they'll keep down in the center,
between the risin' ground an' thet wash. They'll run far past them
places where they could climb out. I shore lose my breath whenever I
think of what's comin' off. I reckon the valley is a made-to-order
corral."

"Blink, you have some intelligence after all," replied Pan, chaffingly.
"Did you see any sign of Brown and Mac New?"

"Not after we separated this mawnin'," returned Blinky. "An' thet
reminds me, pard, I've got somethin' to tell you. This fellar Hurd--or
Mac New as you call him--has a pocketful of gold coin."

"How do you know?" queried Pan bluntly.

"Gus kicked his coat this mawnin', over there where Mac New had his
bed, an' a pile of gold eagles rolled out. Just by accident.