"It's yours," said Bard, "to help you forget all the questions I've
asked."

The shepherd acted at once lest the other might change his mind, dumping
the contents of the pouch into the breast pocket of his shirt. Afterward
his gaze sought the dim summits of the Little Brothers, and a sad, great
resolution grew up and hardened the lines of his sallow face.

"You can camp with me if you want--partner."

A cough, hastily summoned, covered Bard's smile.

"Thanks awfully, but I'm used to camping alone--and rather like it that
way."

"Which I'd say, the same goes here," responded the shepherd with
infinite relief, "I ain't got much use for company--away from a bar. But
I could show you a pretty neat spot for a camp, over there by the
river."

"Thanks, but I'll explore for myself."

He swung again into the saddle and trotted whistling down the slope
toward the creek which Logan had pointed out. But once fairly out of
sight in the second-growth forest, he veered sharply to the right,
touched his tough cattle-pony with the spurs, and headed at a racing
pace straight for the old ruined house.

Even from a distance the house appeared unmistakably done for, but not
until he came close at hand could Bard appreciate the full extent of the