s startled. It was the laugh of a beaten man who strives vainly to
hide his hurt. It was an expression of tense nerves, and told of the
agony of a heart laboring under its insufferable burden. It was the
sign of a man driven to the extremity of endurance, telling, only too
surely, of the thousand and one dangers threatening him. Peter
understood, and his own manner steadied into that calm strength which
was so much the man's real personality.

"I was just going over to my shack," he said. "You'd best walk your
horse over."

Jim shook his head.

"I'm getting back right away."

"Well, I won't press you," Peter went on, his mild eyes glancing
swiftly at the door of the Mission Room, where the villagers were
scrambling out with a great chattering and bustle. "Just bring your
plug out of the crowd, Jim," he went on. "I'd like a word before you
go." Without waiting for his friend's consent, he took the horse's
bridle and led the animal on one side. And, oddly enough, his
direction was toward the Mission Room door. Jim submitted without much
patience.

"What is it?" he demanded, as they halted within three yards of the
door. "Guess I haven't a heap of time. McLagan's busy breaking horses,
and he told me to get right out after the--ceremony."

"Sure," nodded Peter, "I won't keep you long. I'd heard there was
breaking on the 'AZ's.' That's just it. Now, I'm looking for a couple
of plugs. One for saddle, and the other to carry a pack. You see, I've
struck color in a curious place, and it promises good. But it's away
off, near twenty miles in the foot-hills. It's an outcrop I've been
tracing for quite a while, and if my calculations are right, the reef
comes right along down here through Barnriff. You see, I've been
working on those old Indian stories."

He paused, and his quick eyes saw that the crowd was lining the
doorway waiting for Eve and her husband to come out. Jim was
interested in his tale in spite of himself, yet fidgeting to get
away.

"Well?" he demanded.

"Well, I need two horses to carry myself and camp outfit. And---- Say,
here's Eve," he cried, his large hand suddenly gripping Jim's arm and
detaining him. The ranchman shook him off and made to mount his horse.
But Peter had no idea of letting him go.

"Jim," he said in a tone for the man's ear alone, "you can't go yet.
You can't push a horse through the crowd till she's gone. Say,
boy--you can't go. Here she is. Just look at her. Look at her sweet,