bed.

"That'll leave you comfortable, and put the knots out of temptation," he
remarked. "Also, if you start any wriggling this old shake-down of mine
will act as watch-dog. It squeaks if you look at it. And I'm a powerful
light snoozer, and powerful quick with the gun when it's necessary," he
added, with an emphasis which Alex could not doubt.

Nevertheless, when presently the cowman blew out the light, and retired,
Alex only waited until a steady, deep snore announced that the man was
asleep. Cautiously he sat up, and reached toward his encircled ankle.

The knots had been secured cleverly and tightly. Pry and pull as he
could, they gave no more than if they had been made of wire.

Working lower, Alex sought to reach the cot leg, to see whether it was
fixed to the floor. With some difficulty, because of the sitting position
made necessary, he was straining toward it, when suddenly the bound foot
lunged from him, the rope tightened, and from the cot opposite came a
squeak. The snoring instantly ceased, and Alex sat motionless, holding
his breath. The ominous silence continued, and finally he lay back with a
movement as though turning in his sleep.

Minute after minute passed, and still the breathing of the man across the
room did not resume.

Then suddenly, it seemed, Alex found himself sitting upright, and
daylight flooding the room. He had fallen asleep.

The second cot was empty, but a moment after the door opened and the
cowman appeared.

"How did you sleep, stranger?" he inquired. "I thought for a spell last
night you were trying some funny business."

Alex laughed. "I slept like a log," he declared truthfully, ignoring the
last remark. "Are you going to keep me tied up here all day?"

"Until after breakfast anyway," responded his host, proceeding to start a
fire in the stove. "Suppose you'll have some bacon and coffee?"

"Thank you, yes. I'm more than hollow, after that Marathon run you gave
me last night."

As the cowman turned to the cupboard Alex seized the opportunity to
examine the leg of the cot about which the lassoo was passed. With
disappointment he discovered it to be a stout post driven into the floor.

Despite the discomfort of his position Alex enjoyed the simple breakfast
of biscuits and bacon. He was passing his cup for a third filling of the
fragrant coffee, when his host abruptly sat the coffee-pot down and
listened. "Someone coming," he remarked. Alex also heard the hoofbeats.
Th