l ride off with the
girl," he said, eagerly.

"Where'd you go now?" queried Anson, curiously.

Riggs appeared at a loss for a quick answer; his wits were no more equal
to this predicament than his nerve.

"You're no woodsman. An' onless you're plumb locoed you'd never risk
goin' near Pine or Show Down. There'll be real trackers huntin' your
trail."

The listening girl suddenly appealed to Wilson.

"Don't let him take me off--alone--in the woods!" she faltered. That was
the first indication of her weakening.

Jim Wilson broke into gruff reply. "I'm not bossin' this gang."

"But you're a man!" she importuned.

"Riggs, you fetch along your precious firebrand an' come with us," said
Anson, craftily. "I'm particular curious to see her brand you."

"Snake, lemme take the girl back to Pine," said Jim Wilson.

Anson swore his amaze.

"It's sense," continued Wilson. "We've shore got our own troubles, an'
keepin' her 'll only add to them. I've a hunch. Now you know I ain't
often givin' to buckin' your say-so. But this deal ain't tastin' good to
me. Thet girl ought to be sent home."

"But mebbe there's somethin' in it for us. Her sister 'd pay to git her
back."

"Wal, I shore hope you'll recollect I offered--thet's all," concluded
Wilson.

"Jim, if we wanted to git rid of her we'd let Riggs take her off,"
remonstrated the outlaw leader. He was perturbed and undecided. Wilson
worried him.

The long Texan veered around full faced. What subtle transformation in
him!

"Like hell we would!" he said.

It could not have been the tone that caused Anson to quail. He might
have been leader here, but he was not the greater man. His face clouded.

"Break camp," he ordered.

Riggs had probably not heard that last exchange between Anson and
Wilson, for he had walked a few rods aside to get his horse.

In a few moments when they started off, Burt, Jones, and Moze were in
the lead driving the pack-horses, Anson rode next, the girl came between
him and Riggs, and significantly, it seemed, Jim Wilson brought up the
rear.

This start was made a little after the noon hour. They zigzagged up the
slope, took to a deep ravine, and followed it up to where it headed in
the level forest. From there travel was rapid, the pack-horses being
driven at a jogtrot. Once when a troop of deer burst out of a thicket
into a glade, to stand with ears high, young Burt halted the cavalcade.
His well-aimed shot brought down a deer. Then the m