ing the horses so far. Know
anything about it, Johnny?"

"Yes, sir." Johnny's voice was apathetic. What did a little thing like a
stampede amount to, in the face of what Sudden had yet to hear?

"Oh, you do?" Sudden was plainly expectant. He did not, however, sound
particularly reassuring. "Where did that aeroplane come from? Do you
know?"

"Yes, sir. It's one I--salvaged from Mexico. I--was trying it out."

"Oh. You were? Trying it out on the stock. Well, I don't believe I care
to work my stock with flying machines. Aviators--come high. I prefer just
plain, old-fashioned riders."

He paused, quite evidently waiting to hear what Johnny had to say. But
Johnny did not seem to have anything at all to say, so Sudden spoke
again.

"How about the horses down at Sinkhole? Are they broken to aeroplane
herding, or have they all stampeded like these up here?"

Here was escape, reprieve, an excuse that might save him. Johnny
hesitated just long enough to draw his breath deeply, as a man does
before diving into cold water.

"They haven't stampeded. I never had the plane in the air till this
morning, and then I flew--toward the ranch. These horses down here have
been stolen. About half of them, I should say. I was gone for nearly
three days, getting that airplane from across the line. A greaser told me
about it, and took me where it was. And when I got back I didn't ride the
range the way I should have done--the way I did do, at first. I was
working on the airplane, all the time I possibly could. I ran across a
fellow that's been an aviator, and brought him down here, and he helped.
And so the horses were stolen--a few at a time, I think. I believe I'd
have missed them if they had gone all at once."

Johnny could feel the silence at the other end of the line. It lasted so
long that he wondered dully if Sudden were waiting for more, but Johnny
felt as though there was nothing more to add. Of what use would it be to
protest that he was sorry? Bad enough to rob a man, without insulting him
with puerile regrets.

"Now--let's get this thing straight." Sudden's voice when it came was
fuller than ever, smoother than ever. It was a bad sign. "You say--about
half of the horses on that range have been stolen? Have you counted
them?"

"No. I'm just guessing. I don't think I've lost more than half. I just
made a rough tally of what I found to-day."

"You say not _more_ than half, then. But you're guessing. Now, when did
you firs