d for the ranch deflected from the main pike
Harrison drew rein.

"Too bad there isn't another ranch farther on. It's a little better than
six o'clock now. We'll lose a heap of time by stopping here. Soon the
moon will be out and we could keep going till we reach Lone Tree Spring.
Stopping there for two or three hours' rest, we could ride in to Noche
Buena by breakfast time. But I reckon you're tired, ain't you?"

"I'm not--not a bit," she answered eagerly. "Let's go on. It's cooler
traveling in the evening, anyhow."

He appeared to hesitate, then shook his head. "No--o, I expect that
wouldn't be proper. If you was a boy instead of a girl I'd say sure."

"Don't let's be silly, Chad," she pleaded. "We want to get there as soon
as we can. It makes no difference if I am a girl."

"I promised your maw I'd take good care of you. Would it be doing that
to let you stay up 'most all night?"

"Of course it would. We can sleep some at Lone Tree. I want to go on,
Chad."

"All right," he conceded with a manner of reluctance.

This was what Harrison desired. If Yeager reached Los Robles before
night a search party would be sent out. It would go straight toward the
Lazy B. Chad wanted to get across the line and put as many miles as
possible between him and the pursuit.

Deep into the desert they struck, keeping for the most part to a rapid
road gait. The dusty miles spun out behind them as they covered white
sunbaked levels, cut across rough hillsides of rubble, dipped into sandy
washes, and wound forward through wastes of cactus and zacaton.

By the time the moon was riding high in the heavens Ruth was very tired.
Her shoulders drooped and she clung to the pommel of the saddle. But she
did not ask Chad to stop and let her rest. She would rather have been
whipped than have confessed exhaustion. Whenever she thought he might be
looking at her, the weary shoulders straightened with a pathetic attempt
at jauntiness.

The man knew how completely fagged she was. Riding behind her through
the silver night, his greedy eyes noted her game struggle not to give
in. He saw the flowing lines of the girlish figure relax with fatigue.
No longer was the gallant little dusky head poised lightly above the
flat straight back. But he made no offer to rest. It was essential that
they should get beyond any chance of capture by her friends. Once he had
her safely in his hands she might sleep round the clock undisturbed.

It was midnight befo