knew we weren't well heeled for a shooting scrape."

"Pard, are you goin' to let them ride right into camp?" queried Blinky,
hard faced and keen.

"I guess not," replied Pan bluntly. "Rifle shot is near enough. They
might pretend to be friendly till they got to us. But we'll sure fool
them."

Not much more was spoken until the approaching horsemen emerged from
the cedars at the foot of the slope. They rode straight toward the
camp.

"How many?" asked Pan. "I count six riders."

"Seven fer me, an' aboot as many pack horses.... Wal, I'll be damned!
Thet's all of them."

"Mebbe there's a bunch up on the slope," suggested Charley Brown.

After a long interval fraught with anxiety and suspense, during which
the horsemen approached steadily, growing more distinct, Blinky
suddenly burst out: "Fellars, shore as you're born it's Wiggate."

"The horse dealer from St. Louis!" ejaculated Pan in tremendous relief.
"Blink, I believe you're right. I never saw one of those men before,
or the horses either."

"It's Wiggate, son," corroborated Pan's father. "I met him once. He's
a broad heavy man with a thin gray chin beard. That's him."

"Aw, hell!" exclaimed Blinky, regretfully. "There won't be any fight
after all."

The approaching horsemen halted within earshot.

"Hi, there, camp," called the leader, whose appearance tallied with
Smith's description.

"Hello," replied Pan, striding out.

"Who's boss here?"

"Reckon I am."

"My name's Wiggate," replied the other loudly.

"All right, Mr. Wiggate," returned Pan just as loud voiced. "What's
your business?"

"Friendly. Give my word. I want to talk horses."

"Come on up, then."

Whereupon the group of horsemen advanced, and presently rode in under
the trees into camp. The foremost was a large man, rather florid, with
deep-set eyes and scant gray beard. His skin, sunburned red instead of
brown, did not suggest the westerner.

"Are you the younger Smith?" he asked, rather nervously eyeing Pan.

"Yes, sir."

"And you're in charge here?"

Pan nodded shortly. He sensed antagonism at least, in this man's bluff
front, but it might not have been animosity.

"Word come to me this morning that you'd trapped a large number of
horses," went on Wiggate. "I see that's a fact. It's a wonderful
sight. Of course you expect to make a deal for them?"

"Yes. No trading. No percentage. I want cash. They're a shade
better stock than you've been buying