d antagonism had returned even stronger.

"That feller's liable to pick up somethin' and make off with it," he
mused as the stranger obeyed without further urging. "I shore have saw
them quare eyes of his somewhur. Maybe it'll come to me if I keep on
thinkin'."

In the meanwhile the visitor dragged Bowers's saddle blanket into the
shade of the wagon and stretched himself upon it. Pulling his hat over
his eyes he soon was dozing.

Bowers, rattling the plates and pans inside the wagon, suddenly
bethought himself of Mary. What was the lamb doing not to be about his
feet begging for the condensed milk which he always prepared for it when
his own meal was finished? He flirted the water from his hands and hung
out of the doorway.

Mary, a few feet from the unconscious stranger, was regarding him with
the gentle speculative look which Bowers knew to presage mischief. It
was not difficult to interpret Mary's intentions, and Bowers was fully
aware that it was his duty either to warn the sleeper or reprimand Mary.
His eyes, however, had the fondness of a doting parent who takes a
secret pride in his offspring's naughtiness as he watched Mary. He did
not like the stranger, anyhow, and the incident of the photograph still
rankled.

"The Smart Alec," he muttered, grinning, "it won't hurt him."

The lamb backed off a little, made a run, and with its four feet
bunched, landed in the pit of the stranger's stomach.

With an explosive grunt, the stranger's knees and chin came together
like the sudden closing of a large pocket knife.

In spite of himself, Bowers snickered, but his grin faded at the
expression which came to the stranger's face when he realized the cause
of his painful awakening. It was devilish, nothing less than appalling,
in its ferocity. Bowers had seen rage before, but the peculiar
fiendishness of the man's expression, not knowing himself observed,
fascinated him.

The lamb had backed off for another run when the stranger jumped for it.
Bowers called sharply:

"Don't tech that little sheep, pardner!"

The answer was snarled through white teeth:

"I'm goin' to kick its slats in! I'm goin' to break every bone in its
body."

"I wouldn't advise nothin' like that. Come here, Mary!" Bowers
endeavored to speak calmly, but he was seized with a tremulous
excitement when he saw that the stranger intended to carry out his
threat.

"I'll pay you fer it," he panted as he tried to catch the lamb, "but I'm
aimin'