is mind to
acquaint the range boss with his suspicions concerning Dorgan's
expression, and he got up, after a while, and took a turn around the
campfire in the hope of attracting Randerson's attention.

Randerson paid no attention to him. But through the corners of his eyes,
as he passed Dorgan, Owen noted that the man flashed a quick, speculative
glance at him. But Owen's determination had not lessened. "If he's
suspicious of me, he's figgerin' on doin' some dog's trick to Wrecks. I'm
puttin' Wrecks wise a few, an' if Dorgan don't like it, he c'n go to
blazes!"

He walked to the rear of the chuck box and stood within half a dozen feet
of Randerson.

"Figger we've got 'em all out of the timber?" he asked.

There was no answer from Randerson. He seemed absorbed in contemplation
of the fire.

"W-r-e-c-k-s!" bawled Owen, in a voice that brought every man of the
circle upright, to look wildly around. Taylor was on his feet, his hair
bristling, the pallor of mingled fear, astonishment, and disgust on his
face. Owen grinned sardonically at him. "Lay down an' turn over, you
wall-eyed gorilla!" admonished Owen. He turned his grin on the others.
"Can't a man gas to the boss without all you yaps buttin' in?" he
demanded.

"What for are you-all a-yowlin' that-a-way for?" questioned a
gentle-voiced Southerner reproachfully. "I was just a-dreamin' of rakin'
in a big pot in a cyard game. An' now you've done busted it up." He sank
disgustedly to his blanket.

"He thinks he's a damned coyote," said a voice.

"You're thinkin' it's a yowl," said another. "But you've got him wrong.
He's a jackass, come a-courtin'."

"A man can't get no sleep at all, scarcely," grumbled another.

But Owen had accomplished his purpose. For during the exchange of
amenities Randerson had answered him--without turning, though:

"What you wantin', Red?" he said.

"You figger we've got 'em all out of the timber?" repeated Owen.

"Shucks." Randerson's voice was rich with mirth. "Why, I reckon. Unless
you was figgerin' to use a fine-toothed comb. Why, the boys was all
a-nappin', Red," he added gently.

He did not look around, so that Owen might give him the warning wink that
would have put him on his guard. Owen would have tapped him on the
shoulder, but glancing sidelong, he saw Dorgan watching him, and he did
not. A ripple of scornful laughter greeted Randerson's reply, and with a
sneering glance around, Owen again sought his blanket.

The re