way," the girl told him cheerfully.

At spaces about a foot distant she tied knots in the rope for about the
first six feet.

"This time you'll make it," she promised. "You can get up part way as you
did before. Then I'll start my horse forward. Keep braced out from the
wall so as not to get crushed."

He growled an assent. Once more she got into the saddle and gave the word.
He dragged himself up a few feet and then the cowpony moved forward. The
legs of the man doubled up under the strain and he was crushed against the
wall just as he reached the top. However, he managed to hang on and was
dragged over the edge with one cheek scratched and bleeding.

"Might a-known you'd hurt me if you moved so fast," he complained, nursing
his wounded face in such a way as to hide it.

"I'm sorry. I did my best to go carefully," the girl answered, stepping
forward.

His hand shot forward and caught her wrist Her startled eyes flashed to
his face. The man was the convict Blackwell.

"Got anything to eat with you. I'm starving," he snapped.

"Yes. I shot some quail Let go my hand."

He laughed evilly, without mirth. "Don't try any of your sassy ways on me.
By God, I'm a wolf on the howl."

In spite of her supple slenderness there was strength in her small wrists.
She fought and twisted till she was worn out in her efforts to free
herself. Panting, she faced him.

"Let me go, I tell you."

For answer his open hand struck her mouth. "Not till you learn your boss.
Before I'm through with you a squaw won't be half so tame as you."

He dragged her to the horse, took from its case the rifle that hung by the
saddle, and flung her from him roughly. Then he pulled himself to the
saddle.

"March ahead of me," he ordered.

As soon as they had reached the bed of the canyon lie called a halt and
bade her light a fire and cook him the quail. She gathered ironwood and
catclaw while he watched her vigilantly. Together they roasted the birds
by holding them over the fire with sharpened sticks thrust through the
wings. He devoured them with the voracity of a wild beast.

Hitherto his mind had been busy with the immediate present, but now his
furtive shifting gaze rested on her more thoughtfully. It was as a factor
of his safety that he considered her. Gratitude was a feeling not within
his scope. The man's mind worked just as Fendrick had surmised. He would
not let her go back to the ranch with the news that he was hidden in the
hill