he
himself was not about to follow the example of the rivers and disappear,
when the soft padding of their footfalls blurred under the whistling of
wind. Fine particles of sand stung him, a blast full against him
halted him for a second. But the rope pulled steadily and he went on,
half-dragged into starlight again.

They were in a canyon; deep, sombre in its night shadows, its width made
known to him by the strip of starlight overhead. Directly before them,
not more than a hundred yards, a light shone through a window.

The rope slackened in his hands, and Eddie slipped back to him shivering
a little as Bud discovered when he laid a hand on his arm.

"I guess I better tie yuh--but it won't be so yuh can't shoot. Get on,
and let me tie your feet into the stirrups. I--I guess maybe we can get
past, all right--I'll try--I want to go and take that job you said you'd
give me!"

"What's the matter, son? Is that where the Catrockers hang out?" Bud
swung into the saddle. "I trust you, kid. You're her brother."

"I--I want to live like Sis wants me to. But I've got to tie yuh, Mr.
Birnie, and that looks--But they'd k--you don't know how they kill
traitors. I saw one--" He leaned against Bud's leg, one hand reaching up
to the saddle horn and gripping it in a passing frenzy. "If you say so,"
he whispered rapidly, "we'll sneak up and shoot 'em through the window
before they get a chance--"

Bud reached out his hand and patted Eddie on the shoulder. "That job of
yours don't call for any killing we can avoid," he said. "Go ahead and
tie me. No use of wasting lead on two men when one will do. It's all
right. I trust you, pardner."

Eddie's shoulders stiffened. He stood up, looked toward the light and
gripped Bud's hand. "I thought they'd be asleep--what was home,"
he said. "We got to ride past the cabin to get out through another
water-wash. But you take your coat and tie your horse's feet, and I'll
tie mine. I--can't tie you, Mr. Birnie. We'll chance it together."

Bud did not say anything at all, for which Eddie seemed grateful. They
muffled eight hoofs, rode across the canyon's bottom and passed the
cabin so closely that the light of a smoky lantern on a table was
plainly visible to Bud, as was the shaggy profile of a man who sat with
his arms folded, glowering over a pipe. He heard nothing. Bud halted
Sunfish and looked again to make sure, while Eddie beckoned frantically.
They went on undisturbed--the Catrockers kept no