moved out of the deeper shadows of the
bunkhouse and turned the corner in the direction of the western group
of corrals.

Now he saw the foreman's hut beyond the dark outline of the great
implement shed, and a light was still shining in the window. Turning
away he passed to the left of the shed, and strolled leisurely on to
the corrals. He had no desire in the world to meet Jake Harnach; not
that he thought such a contingency likely, but still there was always
the chance if the man had not yet gone to bed. He had already decided
that the less he saw of Jake the better it would be for both of them.
He remained for some minutes seated on the top of the corral fence,
but the mosquitoes were too thick, and drove him to further
wanderings.

Just as he was about to move away, he saw the door of the foreman's
hut open, and in the light that shone behind, the small figure of the
choreman, Joe Nelson, come out. Then the light was shut out as the
great figure of Jake blocked the doorway. Now he distinctly heard them
speaking.

"I shall want it first thing in the morning," said the foreman, in his
great hoarse voice.

"Guess I'll see to it," replied Joe; "but 'tain't the saddle fer
anybody who ain't used to it."

"That's o' no consequence. Your business is to have it there."

Then Jake retired, and the door was shut. A moment later the waiting
man saw Joe emerge from the shadow and stump off in the direction of
the bunkhouse. A few yards from the foreman's hut he halted and turned
about. Then Tresler witnessed something that made him smile, while it
raised a lively feeling of satisfaction in his heart. Joe slowly
raised one arm in the direction of the hut, and, although the light
was insufficient for him to see it, and he could hear no words, he
felt sure that the fist was clenched, and a string of blasphemous
invective was desecrating the purity of the night air. A moment later
Joe passed leisurely on his way, and the light went out in Jake's
dwelling.

And now, without concerning himself with his direction, Tresler
continued his walk. He moved toward an open shed crowded with wagons.
This he skirted, intending to avoid the foreman's hut, but just as he
moved out from the shadow, he became aware that Jake's door had opened
again and some one was coming out. He waited for a moment listening.
He fancied he recognized the foreman's heavy tread. Curiosity
prompted him to inquire further, but he checked the impulse. After
a