ke, dear."

"I'll dry my socks every time I get my feet wet for fear of taking
cold," he laughed.

"But you will, won't you?"

"I'll be very careful, Helen," he promised more gravely.

Even then she could hardly let him go, clinging to him with a reluctance
to separate that was a new experience to her independent, vigorous
youth. In the end he unloosened her arm, kissed her once, and hurried
out of the room. In the hallway he met McWilliams, also hurryin out from
a tearful farewell on the part of Nora.

Bannister, the outlaw, already mounted, was waiting for them. "Y'u did
get through at last," he drawled insolently. "Well, if y'u'll kindly give
orders to your seven-foot dwarf to point the Winchester another way I'll
collect my men an we'll be moving."

For, though the outlaw had left his men in command of the ranch when he
went into the house, he found the situation reversed on his return.
With the arrival of reinforcements, in the persons of McWilliams and his
friend, it had been the turn of the raiders to turn over their weapons.

"All right, Denver," nodded the foreman.

The outlaw chief whistled for his men, and with their guests they rode
into the silent, desert night.

CHAPTER 22. EXIT THE "KING"

They bedded that night under the great vault-roof where twinkle a
million stars.

There were three of the outlaw's men with him, and both Mcwilliams and
his friend noticed that they slept a little apart from their chief.
There were other indications among the rustlers of a camp divided
against itself. Bannister's orders to them he contrived to make an
insult, and their obedience was as surly as possible compatible with
safety. For all of the men knew that he would not hesitate to shoot them
down in one of his violent rages should they anger him sufficiently.

Throughout the night there was no time that at least two men were not
awake in the camp. The foreman and the sheepman took turns keeping
vigil; and on the other side of the fire sat one of the rustlers in
silent watchfulness. To the man opposite him each of the sentinels were
outposts of the enemy, but they fraternized after the manner of army
sentries, exchanging tobacco and occasional casual conversation.

The foreman took the first turn, and opposite him sat a one-eyed old
scoundrel who had rustle calves from big outfits ever since Wyoming was
a territory and long before. Chalkeye Dave, he was called, and sometimes
merely Chalkeye. What his r