und Miss Hunter and gone home, or if they were still hunting for her.

"If you like to find that jong lady, I put Yack on the trail quick," he
offered placatingly. "I bet you Yack finds her in one-half an hour."

With much unnecessary language, Senator Warfield told him to get to
work, and the three tightened cinches, mounted their horses and
prepared to follow Swan's lead. Swan watched his chance and gave Lone
a chunk of bannock as a substitute for breakfast, and Lone, I may add,
dropped behind his companions and ate every crumb of it, in spite of
his worry over Lorraine.

Indeed, Swan eased that worry too, when they were climbing the pine
slope where Al had killed the grouse. Lone had forged ahead on John
Doe, and Swan stopped suddenly, pointing to the spot where a few bloody
feathers and a boot-print showed. The other evidence Jack had eaten in
the night.

"Raine's all right, Lone. Got men coming. Keep your gun handy," he
murmured and turned away as the others rode up, eager for whatever news
Swan had to offer.

"Something killed a bird," Swan explained politely, planting one of his
own big feet over the track, which did not in the least resemble
Lorraine's. "Yack! you find that jong lady quick!"

From there on Swan walked carefully, putting his foot wherever a print
of Al's boot was visible. Since he was much bigger than Al, with a
correspondingly longer stride, his gait puzzled Lone until he saw just
what Swan was doing. Then his eyes lightened with amused appreciation
of the Swede's cunning.

"We ought to have some hot drink, or whisky when we find that girl,"
Hawkins muttered unexpectedly, riding up beside Lone as they crossed an
open space. "She'll be half-dead with cold--if we find her alive."

Before Lone could answer, Swan looked back at the two and raised his
hand for them to stop.

"Better if you leave the horses here," he suggested. "From Yack I know
we get close pretty quick. That jong lady's horse maybe smells these
horse and makes a noise, and crazy folks run from noise."

Without objection the three dismounted and tied their horses securely
to trees. Then, with Swan and Jack leading the way, they climbed over
the ridge and descended into the hollow by way of the ledge which
Skinner had negotiated so carefully the night before. Without the dog
they never would have guessed that any one had passed this way, but as
it was they made good progress and reached the nearest edge of the