n shut off, and presently
came out upon the rim of a high wall. Beneath, like a green gulf seen
through blue haze, lay an amphitheater walled in on the two sides he
could see. It lay perhaps a thousand feet below him; and, plain as all
the other features of that wild environment, there shone out a big red
stone or adobe cabin, white water shining away between great borders,
and horses and cattle dotting the levels. It was a peaceful, beautiful
scene. Duane could not help grinding his teeth at the thought of
rustlers living there in quiet and ease.

Duane worked half-way down to the level, and, well hidden in a niche,
he settled himself to watch both trail and valley. He made note of the
position of the sun and saw that if anything developed or if he decided
to descend any farther there was small likelihood of his getting back to
his camp before dark. To try that after nightfall he imagined would be
vain effort.

Then he bent his keen eyes downward. The cabin appeared to be a crude
structure. Though large in size, it had, of course, been built by
outlaws.

There was no garden, no cultivated field, no corral. Excepting for the
rude pile of stones and logs plastered together with mud, the valley was
as wild, probably, as on the day of discovery. Duane seemed to have been
watching for a long time before he saw any sign of man, and this one
apparently went to the stream for water and returned to the cabin.

The sun went down behind the wall, and shadows were born in the darker
places of the valley. Duane began to want to get closer to that cabin.
What had he taken this arduous climb for? He held back, however, trying
to evolve further plans.

While he was pondering the shadows quickly gathered and darkened. If he
was to go back to camp he must set out at once. Still he lingered. And
suddenly his wide-roving eye caught sight of two horsemen riding up the
valley. The must have entered at a point below, round the huge abutment
of rock, beyond Duane's range of sight. Their horses were tired and
stopped at the stream for a long drink.

Duane left his perch, took to the steep trail, and descended as fast
as he could without making noise. It did not take him long to reach the
valley floor. It was almost level, with deep grass, and here and there
clumps of bushes. Twilight was already thick down there. Duane marked
the location of the trail, and then began to slip like a shadow through
the grass and from bush to bush. He saw