behind," Quest
replied. "They've had trouble with their horses."

"Don't get off," Laura continued quickly. "Craig has escaped, riding
towards the Mexican frontier. Lenora is following him. He's gone in that
direction," she added, pointing. "When you come to the river you'll have
to hunt for the bridge."

Quest frowned as he gathered up his reins.

"I was afraid they'd try something of the sort," he muttered. "Tell the
others where I've gone, Laura."

He galloped off into the darkness. Behind, there were some growls from the
little group of cowboys, none of whom, however, attempted to interfere
with him. Long Jim stood up and gazed sullenly southwards.

"Cookie'll make the bridge all right," he remarked. "If the girl catches
him, she can't do anything. And that last guy'll never make it. Whoop!
Here come the rest of them."

The Inspector, with two deputies, rode suddenly into the camp. The
Inspector paused to speak to Laura. Long Jim's eyes sparkled as he saw
them approach.

"It's old Harris and fat Andy," he whispered. "We'll have some fun with
them."

The older of the two deputies approached them frowning.

"Been at your games again, Long Jim?" he began. "I hear you declined to
hand over a criminal who's been sheltering on your ranch? You'll get into
trouble before you've finished."

"Got the warrant?" Jim asked.

The deputy produced it. Long Jim looked at it curiously and handed it
back.

"Guess the only other thing you want, then, is the man."

"Better produce him quickly," the deputy advised.

Jim turned away.

"Can't do it. He's beat it."

"You mean that you've let him go?"

"Let him go?" Jim repeated. "I ain't got no right to keep him. He took the
job on at a moment's notice and he left at a moment's notice. There's some
of your party after him, all right."

The deputies whispered to one another. The elder of the two turned around.

"Look here," he said to the cowboys, glancing around for Long Jim, who had
disappeared, "we've had about enough of your goings-on. I reckon we'll
take one of you back and see what seven days' bread and water will do
towards civilising you."

There was a little mutter. The deputies stood side by side. With an almost
simultaneous movement they had drawn their guns.

"Where's Long Jim?" the older one asked.

There was a sudden whirring about their heads. A lariat, thrown with
unerring accuracy, had gathered them both in its coil. With a jerk they
were drawn