had much of a meal."

"It's a long drink I want," said Benson, looking steadily at him.

Blake, who let this pass, prepared his supper and offered the other a
portion.

"Try some of that," he said, indicating the light flapjacks fizzling
among the pork in the frying-pan. "It strikes me as a good deal more
tempting than the stuff you have been eating."

Benson thrust the food aside, and Blake finished it before he took out
his pipe. "Now," he said, "you can go to sleep when you wish. I
expect you're tired, and it's a long ride back to camp."

"You seem to count upon my going back with you," Benson remarked
mockingly.

"I do; don't you mean to come?"

"Do you suppose it's likely after I've ridden all this way?"

Blake laid down his pipe and looked hard at the man. "You force me to
take a line I'm not cut out for. Think a moment! You have land and
stock worth a good deal of money which my partner believes can be saved
from the rogue who's stealing it from you. You are a young man, and if
you pull yourself together and pay off his claims, you can sell out and
look for another opening wherever you like, but you know what will
happen if you go on as you are doing a year or two longer. Have you no
friends and relatives in England you owe something to? Is your life
worth nothing, that you're willing to throw it away?"

"It's all true," Benson admitted moodily. "Do you think I can't see
where I'm drifting? The trouble is that I've gone too far to stop."

"Try," said Blake. "It's very well worth while."

Benson was silent for a few moments, and then looked up with a curious
expression. "You're wasting time, Dick. I've sunk too far. Go back
in the morning and leave me to my fate."

"When I go back you are coming with me."

Benson's nerves were on edge and his self-control broke down.
"Confound you!" he cried; "let me alone! You have reached the limit;
once for all, I'll stand no more meddling."

"Very well," Blake answered quietly, "You have left me only one
recourse, and you can't blame me for taking it."

"What's that?"

"Superior strength. You're a heavier man than I am and ought to be a
match for me, but you have lost your nerve and grown soft and flabby
with drink. It's your own doing, and now you have to take the
consequences. If you compel me, I'll drag you back to camp with the
pack lariat."

"Do you mean that?" Benson's face grew flushed and his eyes glittered.

"Try me and see."