horses were grazing and up the canyon on the
side toward Skyline Meadow, that lay on a shoulder of Bear Top, the dog
nosed unfalteringly along the trail. Now and then he was balked when
the hoofprints led him to the bank of Granite Creek, but not for long.
Jack appeared to understand why his trailing was interrupted and
sniffed the bank until he picked up the scent again.

"Wonder if she changed off and rode that loose horse," Hawkins said
once, when the tracks were plain in the soft soil of the creek bank.
"She might, and lead that horse she was on."

"She wouldn't know enough. She's a city girl," Lone replied, his heart
heavy with fear for Lorraine.

"Well, she ain't far off then," Hawkins comforted himself. "Her horse
acted about played out when she hit the ranch. She had him wet from
his ears to his tail, and he was breathin' like that Ford at the ranch.
If that's a sample of her riding, she ain't far off."

"Crazy--to ride up here. Keep your eyes open, boys. We must find her,
whatever we do." Warfield gazed apprehensively at the rugged steeps on
either hand and at the timber line above them. "From here on she
couldn't turn back without meeting us--if I remember this country
correctly. Could she, Hawkins?"

"Not unless she turned off, up here a mile or two, into that gulch that
heads into Skyline," said Hawkins. "There's a stock trail part way
down from the top where it swings off from the divide to Wilder Creek."

Swan, walking just behind Hawkins, moved up a pace.

"I could go on Skyline with Yack, and I could come down by those
trail," he suggested diffidently, Swedishly, yet with a certain
compelling confidence. "What you think?"

"I think that's a damned good idea for a square head," Hawkins told
him, and repeated it to Warfield, who was riding ahead.

"Why, yes. We don't need the dog, or the man either. Go up to the
head of the gulch and keep your eyes open, Swan. We'll meet you up
here. You know the girl, don't you?"

"Yas, Ay know her pretty good," grinned Swan.

"Well, don't frighten her. Don't let her see that you think anything
is wrong--and don't say anything about us. We made the mistake of
discussing her condition within her hearing, and it is possible that
she understood enough of what we were saying to take alarm. You
understand? Don't tell girl she's crazy." He tapped his head to make
his meaning plainer. "Don't tell girl we're looking for her. You
understand?"