Roger. "High treason, arson, murder are nothing to stand
between me and that cache of oil."

"You'd better swipe two teams of horses, Rog, on one of your predatory
expeditions," exclaimed Ernest. "Dick may need his own horses
occasionally this spring."

Roger rose and knocked the ashes out of his pipe. "I'd like to swipe
that gas producer engine up there," he replied and went to bed.

CHAPTER IX

GUSTAV

It was late the next afternoon when Dick drove slowly along the trail.
The three men were flat on their backs under the absorber, patching
leaks, when they heard the squeak of the wagon and the soft tread of
horses' hoofs in the sand. They made no attempt to greet him.

The next morning, however, Roger plodded up to the ranch house to
consult with Dick about the moving of the oil. Although it was close to
eight o'clock, Dick was just finishing breakfast. He was cheerful and
talkative.

"Don't try to use horses," he urged. "There's old Rabbit Tail lives ten
miles over the range. He's got a bunch of little wild burros and he does
packing for the miners when there is any. He'll pack that oil for you."

Roger brightened up, then shook his head. "I can't pay him. The
Smithsonian folks aren't coming up to the scratch and I've got to finish
this job without funds. I've about twenty-five dollars in hand and two
hundred more in sight. I thought perhaps I could exchange work with you.
Help you to re-seed and then to increase your irrigating capacity here."

"Gosh, that's hard luck!" exclaimed Dick. "Did you hear that, Charley,
about Roger's money?"

Charley, who had been busy in the kitchen, came in now with a fresh cup
of coffee for Roger in one hand and an extra chair in the other. Had
Roger's mind been less concentrated on the problem in hand he might have
noted the fine ease with which she swung the chair up to the table for
him before either he or Dick could proffer help. Charley was so slender
that one did not easily recognize the splendid strength she sometimes
displayed.

"Yes, I heard," said Charley with a look of sympathy at the restless
fire in Roger's deep gray eyes. "I guess we're all up against it and
will have to cultivate patience. Perhaps Rabbit Tail will trust you,
Roger."

"I call him Roger dear, and he likes it. Why don't you too, Charley?"
interrupted Felicia, coming in from the porch where she had been
building an adobe doll house.

The abstracted look left Roger's face for a moment.