his trail--tricked a bunch of
Apache trailers--out-ran and out-thirsted you. Want me to tell that to
Slade?"

The taunt was followed by another prolonged silence. Carmena smiled and
tossed down first a bare corn cob and then a full ear.

"Which will you have?" she asked. "Your way, you'll get the cob. My way,
we'll all have a share of corn. A man who could fool and out-game you
wouldn't make a poor partner to take into our business. We'll wait for
Slade to decide."

"You give me my woman, I wait," bargained the unseen Cochise.

Carmena fairly blazed with anger. She hurled down another bare corncob.

"She's not your woman. You sha'n't have her! We'll see what Slade says
about that and about your running me across the Basin. You know you
can't scare me. Now, is it fight, or do you back up?"

The reply was a jabber of hissings and gutturals. Carmena jerked her
hand about in swift signs and cried back in uncouth thick-tongued Apache
words. The dispute at last ended in a sullen mutter from below and a
sudden thudding of hoofs. The Apaches dashed out from under the cliff,
loping their horses toward a corral over across to the left of the
cornfields.

Carmena drew back out of the deep doorway, with a look of profound
relief. At sight of Lennon she smiled and caught up his wounded hand.

"I've made Cochise back up," she said. "We're safe from the bunch till
Slade returns--only none of us can leave the Hole. How's your arm
feeling?"

The dark eyes were very clear and straightforward in their gaze. Lennon
flushed with shame over his black suspicions. These renegade Apaches,
and Slade as well, probably were bad men. Farley no doubt was in with
them. But he appeared to be an unwilling associate, barred from escape
by sickness, drink, and fear. Carmena had begged for help to get him and
Elsie out of the Hole.

Lennon permitted his hand to linger in her gentle clasp.

"It seems to be much better," he replied to her question.

"That's good. Let's hope it will be all right before Slade gets back.
You heard me bluff off Cochise with the partnership talk?"

Farley was backing across the room, gray-faced and trembling like a very
old man.

"Slade will be angered," he quavered. "I'll lose all--all!"

"Leave him to me. I'll handle him," promised Carmena. "Remember what you
agreed. Jack is to be a full partner."

Lennon felt a sudden rekindling of suspicion.

"May I ask you to explain all this about a partnership?" he qu