. Do I git 'em--or
does Mister High an' Mighty Rennie git him a son who ain't speakin' no
more?"

"Johnny? Is that you, Johnny?"

"It sure is! Me, Johnny Shannon! An' I'm ridin' outta here free'n clear or
else I'll do what I said. I mean that, Rennie! I surely do mean it. You
lose me an' you git your real son--good bargain, ain't it?"

"You won't ride free for long, Johnny. You know that."

"I can have me a pretty good try, Rennie. This here's my country an' I
know it well--better'n any but your men. Give me your word an' I'll go."

Drew tried to fight back the darkness which was closing in, a dark
stronger than mere night shadows.

"Give him what he wants." The words echoed hollowly.

Shannon drew a deep breath. He laughed softly. And Drew made a great
effort. He could see the bulk of the other's body poised between him and
an opening between the rocks which must give on the pocket in which the
outlaws had been surprised. Johnny was set like a runner ready on the
mark.

The Kentuckian could hear the scrape of horses' hoofs on stone. They must
be bringing out a mount, keeping Hunt's part of the bargain. Only, Drew
suddenly knew, Johnny was going to keep him. He saw the gun hand shift
against the rock--Johnny was taking aim into the pocket. Why? By trusting
to Rennie's word he would have a slim chance, so why spoil it by some
treachery?

"All right, Johnny, it's ready for you."

"Now you git them hands up, Rennie. Sorta guessed you'd come yourself. I'm
gittin' out, all right. Do I take you along there ain't goin' to be no
trailin', none 'tall--do they want _Don_ Cazar to keep on breathing
regular. Git them hands up, high!"

With all the force he could summon Drew kicked at Johnny's crouching body.
Shannon cried out--there was a shot. Then Johnny cried again, this time
with a choke cutting off the word as he arched convulsively against the
boulder. In the half light the arrow projecting from between his shoulder
blades stood out with unnatural clarity.

Arrow? Drew's wits worked slowly. The arrow must have come from one of the
Pimas--Rennie had been covered, after all. So he had not believed too much
in Johnny's promises....

"You there, kid?" Someone came through the rock gap. "Hey--he's here all
right, but he's hurt!" Nye's grasp on him brought the pain in Drew's side
to an agony he could no longer stand. He was crushed down into darkness.

"Ribs are cracked, not broken--that's something to be thankful