talkin' ter yer as Dan Brennan--I'm the law."

The boy, for he was scarcely more than that in years, shuffled his feet
uneasily, and his eyes wandered from Brennan to Westcott. The look of
sullen defiance had vanished.

"Whar is Lacy?" he asked.

"Back in town, but he will be at Badger Springs about dark. We've got
him corralled this time. Yer better climb inter the band-wagon, son;
it's the last call."

"Wotcher wanter ask?"

"Who was with you the out-trip, along with Miss Donovan?"

"Joe Sikes."

"And yer left him back there, guarding the girl?"

"He stayed; them was the orders, while I was to bring back the team;
but I reckon he won't need to do no guardin' to speak of, fer we run
inter a bunch o' fellows."

"Mendez's outfit?"

"You got the right dope, marshal, so I reckon I ain't spillin' no
beans. It was the Mex all right, an' some o' his bunch."

"And Lacy didn't know they were there?"

"I reckon not; leastways he never said so, an' they'd only come a few
days."

"How many are they?"

"Maybe a dozen; I don't just know. I saw eight, or ten, round the
bunk-house, besides ol' Mendez an' that dude lieutenant of his, Juan
Cateras. I ain't got no use fer that duck; I allers did want ter soak
him. Then ther' was others out with the cow herd."

"They had a bunch o' cattle?"

"Maybe three hundred head, run in from Arizona. I heard that much, but
I don't talk their lingo."

"What was done with the young lady?"

Moore spat vindictively into the sand, digging a hole with his heel.
He had talked already more than he intended, but what was the
difference?

"Cateras took her," he admitted, "but I don't know whar. I rather
liked that girl; she's got a hell ov a lot o' sand, an' never put up a
whimper. I tried ter find out whar she was, but nobody'd tell me.
Then I had ter pull out."

Westcott interjected a question.

"Did you learn if there was any other prisoner there?"

"Not that I heard of. Who do yer mean?"

"A man named Cavendish."

"No, I reckon not." He turned back to the marshal.

"What are you guys goin' ter do with me?"

"That depends, Matt. When a lad is straight with me, I generally play
square with him. All this took place in Sunken Valley?"

"Yep; whar'd you hear it called that?"

"Oh, I know more'n some ov you boys think I do. That name's been
floatin' 'bout fer some time. I've even got the spot located--it's
straight south thar a ways. But you've been in it,