ed of chasing me you should
be a pretty good man-hunter. But just now you lack finesse,
Cassidy--you lack finesse." And Jolly Roger's chuckle broke into
another laugh.

Cassidy heaved out a grunt.

"It's luck--just damned luck!" he growled.

"If it is, I hope it keeps up," said Jolly Roger. "Now, look here,
Cassidy! Let's make a man's bet of it. If you don't get me next
time--if you fail, and I turn the trick on you once more--will you
quit?"

Cassidy's eyes gleamed in the thickening dusk.

"If I don't get you next time--I'll hand in my resignation!"

The laughter went out of Jolly Roger's voice.

"I believe you, Cassidy. You've played square--always. And now--if I
free your hands--will you swear to give me a two hours' start before
you leave this cabin?"

"I'll give you the start," said Cassidy.

His lean face was growing indistinct in the gloom.

Jolly Roger came up behind him. There was the slash of a knife. Then he
picked up his shoulder-pack. At the door he paused.

"Look at your watch when I'm gone, Cassidy, and be sure you make it a
full two hours."

"I'll make it two hours and five minutes," said Cassidy. "Hittin' north
are you, Jolly Roger?"

"I'm hittin'--bushward," replied the outlaw. "I'm going where it's
plenty thick and hard to travel, Cassidy. Goodby--"

He was gone. He hit straight north, making noise as he went, but once
in the timber he swung southward, and plunged through the creek with
Peter under his arm. Not until they had traveled a good half mile over
the plain did Jolly Roger speak. Then he said, speaking directly at
Peter,

"Cassidy thinks I'll sure hit for the North country again, _Pied-Bot_.
But we're foolin' him. I've sort of planned on something like this
happening, and right now we're hittin' for the tail-end of Cragg's
Ridge where there's a mess of rock that the devil himself can hardly
get into. We've got to do it, boy. We can't leave the girl--just now.
We can't leave--her--"

Jolly Roger's voice choked. Then he paused for a moment, and bent over
to put his hand on Peter.

"If it hadn't been for you, Peter--Cassidy would have got me--sure. And
I'm wondering, Peter--I'm wondering--why did God forget to give a dog
speech?"

Peter whined in answer, and through the darkness of the night they went
on together.

CHAPTER VI

A frosty mist dulled the light of the stars, but this cleared away as
Jolly Roger and Peter crossed the plain between the creek and Cr