her going
often to the cave where he had stored his packs.

Upon the last of these trips, when he was some distance down the terrace
and out of sight of camp, he heard a scream, and then the sharp barking
of the dogs.

For an instant he straightened up, amazed. Danger for her had been
absolutely out of his mind. She had seen a rattlesnake--or a wildcat.
Still she would not have been likely to scream at sight of either; and
the barking of the dogs was ominous. Dropping his work, he dashed back
along the terrace. Upon breaking through a clump of aspens he saw the
dark form of a man in the camp. Cold, then hot, Venters burst into
frenzied speed to reach his guns. He was cursing himself for a
thoughtless fool when the man's tall form became familiar and he
recognized Lassiter. Then the reversal of emotions changed his run to
a walk; he tried to call out, but his voice refused to carry; when he
reached camp there was Lassiter staring at the white-faced girl. By that
time Ring and Whitie had recognized him.

"Hello, Venters! I'm makin' you a visit," said Lassiter, slowly. "An'
I'm some surprised to see you've a--a young feller for company."

One glance had sufficed for the keen rider to read Bess's real sex, and
for once his cool calm had deserted him. He stared till the white of
Bess's cheeks flared into crimson. That, if it were needed, was the
concluding evidence of her femininity, for it went fittingly with her
sun-tinted hair and darkened, dilated eyes, the sweetness of her mouth,
and the striking symmetry of her slender shape.

"Heavens! Lassiter!" panted Venters, when he caught his breath. "What
relief--it's only you! How--in the name of all that's wonderful--did you
ever get here?"

"I trailed you. We--I wanted to know where you was, if you had a safe
place. So I trailed you."

"Trailed me," cried Venters, bluntly.

"I reckon. It was some of a job after I got to them smooth rocks. I was
all day trackin' you up to them little cut steps in the rock. The rest
was easy."

"Where's your hoss? I hope you hid him."

"I tied him in them queer cedars down on the slope. He can't be seen
from the valley."

"That's good. Well, well! I'm completely dumfounded. It was my idea that
no man could track me in here."

"I reckon. But if there's a tracker in these uplands as good as me he
can find you."

"That's bad. That'll worry me. But, Lassiter, now you're here I'm glad
to see you. And--and my companion here is not