n. "But whoever they are they
shall suffer if they harm a hair of her head!"

"That's what," said Sam, quietly. "But ain't you an idee who they be?"

"That fellow who took the old trunk away from Frances?"

"Might be. And he must have partners."

"So I've said right along," declared the ranchman, vigorously. "Where
did you leave Frances, Sam?"

"After the jack hunt? Right thar with Miz' Edwards and her crowd."

"Was young Pratt Sanderson with them?"

"Sure."

"That's it!" growled Captain Dan Rugley, smiting one palm with his other
fist. "She'd ride off with him. Thinks him all right----"

"Ye don't mean to say ye think he's in this mean mess?"

"I don't know. He's turned up whenever we've had trouble lately. If it
wasn't so far to Bill Edwards' I'd ride that way and find out if the
fellow is there, or what they know about him."

Silent Sam earned his nickname, if ever, during the next hour. He did
not say ten words; but his efficient management got a posse of the most
trustworthy men together, and they rode away from the ranch-house.

There was no use advising the Captain not to accompany the party. Nobody
dared thwart him after a glance into his grim face.

The hard-bitted Cherry which he always rode was held down to the pace of
the other horses with an iron hand. The Captain rode as securely in his
saddle as he had before rheumatism seized upon his limbs.

How long this false strength, inspired by his fear and indignation,
would remain with him the others did not know. Sam and his mates watched
"the Old Cap" with wonder.

Victorino's gaze was fixed upon the doughty ranchman's back with many
different emotions in his trouble-torn mind. He was wondering what would
happen to him if Captain Rugley ever learned that he had told a
falsehood about that note.

He was so scared that he dared not lead the party to a false trail. He
told them just where he had met Ratty M'Gill; but he stuck to his
imaginary description of the person who had entrusted the letter to him.

"Going, west, you say?" said Captain Rugley. "It might be to lead us off
the trail. And then again, he might be going right back to whatever
place they have Frances hidden.

"I fear we'll have a hard time following a trail to-night, anyway. But
Sam says he left the folks after the jack hunt over there by Cottonwood
Bottom. I think we'd better search the length of that stream first."

Sam spoke up suddenly: "Frances asked me if there were any