at
they might turn into some byroad and give him the slip. Twice one of the
men turned in the saddle and looked behind him, probably more as the
result of habit than from any real fear that they might be followed, but
each time Bert had discounted the movement and was lying flat on the
ground.

As the latter had surmised, the most of the way lay through a genuine
wilderness, over mountain trails and through ravines that lent themselves
admirably to the lawless purposes of the outlaws. Probably since the old
Indian days, no human feet beside their own had trodden these wilds that
offered no temptations to the farmer or grazier.

Before long the sun had vanished over the western rim and twilight came
on rapidly. This rendered Bert's task, easier by diminishing the chances
of detection, and as the twilight deepened into dusk, he gradually
decreased the distance until, when it was fully dark, he had ventured
to draw so near that he could hear the jingle of their trappings and an
occasional monosyllable that passed between the riders.

Suddenly, as they rode into a little valley, a light gleamed out from a
shack half a mile distant. It was the first sign of a human habitation
Bert had seen. At the sight, an oath of satisfaction broke from the
leader, and the three urged on their horses, who responded willingly.
It was evident that they had reached the end of their journey.

As they dashed into the clearing in front of the house, the door was
thrown open and several men came out to greet the newcomers. The saddles
were taken from the horses' backs and they were turned loose to graze.
Then the party entered the house and the door was closed.

For a few minutes Bert remained perfectly motionless. There had been no
barking of dogs, and, after listening intently, he became convinced that
no living thing was out of doors in the vicinity of the shack. With
infinite caution he wormed his way along the ground and, reaching a
window in the rear of the house, drew himself to the sill and peered over
the edge.

There were six men gathered about a table in the center of the room, upon
which a seventh, who seemed to be the cook, was placing dishes of bacon
and beans. The chief, whose arm had been bathed and rebound in a cotton
bandage, was seated at the head of the table. A bottle of whiskey was
passing from hand to hand as a preliminary to the more substantial part
of the meal, and the men who had just arrived were evidently retail