g fool.
Out for the dollar."

"He sees some several. You're takin' right smart of a chance, young
fellow."

"I guess I've got a right to swap horses if I want to. Hark! They're
ridin' up the canyon."

"Well, suh, I'm right obliged to you, and that's a fact."

"I'm not doing this for you exactly. I'm protectin' the Bar Cross. And
that's funny, too," said Johnny. "I've just barely signed up with the
outfit, and right off things begin to take place in great lumps and
gobs. More action in two days than I've seen before in two years.
Here's how I look at it: If anyone sees fit to ride up on you and
gather you on the square I've got nothing to say. But I hold no candle
to treachery. You're here under trust. I owe it to the Bar Cross--and
to you--that you leave here no worse off than you came. I don't know
what you've done. If it's mean enough, I may owe it to Johnny Dines
to go after you myself later on. But you go safe from here first.
That's my job."

"And I'll bet you'd sure come a-snuffin'. I judge you're a right white
man, suh! But it's not so mean as all that, this time. Not even a case
of 'alive or dead.' Just 'for arrest and conviction.' So I guess
you'll be reasonably safe on the hillside. No money in killing you, or
me, or whoever brings my hoss off of that hill. And they'll be
counting on gathering you in easy--asleep here, likely."

"That's the way I figured it--that last."

"But how'll you square yourself with the sheriff?"

"I'll contrive to make strap and buckle meet some way. Man dear, I've
got to!"

"Well, then--I owe you a day in harvest. Good-by, suh. Jones, he pulls
his freight."

* * * * *

Johnny brought his new horse and saddle down from the red hill,
unmolested. He cut out what horses he wanted to keep in the branding
pen; turned the others loose, his new acquisition with them; and
started supper. Mr. Smith joined him at dark; but the horse hunters
did not get back. Supper followed, then seven-up and conversation.
Johnny fretted over the non-return of Gifford.

"He talked as if he knew right where to lay his hand on them horses,"
he complained. "Wish I had gone myself. Now in the morning I'll have
to be out of here at daylight. That bunch I got in the pen, I got to
take them out to grass, and wait till Bob comes--if the blame little
fool sleeps out to-night."

"Oh, he'll be in purty quick, likely."

"I don't know," said Johnny dejectedly. "I had to-mor