We can ride up the old cañon trail. Nobody takes her nowadays, so
we'll be under cover till we hit the ford. We can camp there back in
the brush and tackle her next evenin'. So-long."

Fadeaway was downstairs and out on the street before Corliss realized
that he had committed himself to a desperate and dangerous undertaking.
He recalled the expression in Fadeaway's eyes when they had shaken
hands. Unquestionably the cowboy meant business.




CHAPTER IX

SUNDOWN'S FRIEND

Bud Shoop was illustrating, with quaint and humorous gestures and
adjectives, one of his early experiences as Ranger on the Apache
Reservation. The men, grouped around the night-fire, smoked and helped
the tale along with reminiscent suggestions and ejaculations of
interest and curiosity. In the midst of a vivid account of the
juxtaposition of a telephone battery and a curious yet unsuspicious
Apache, Shoop paused in the recital and gazed out across the mesa.
"It's the boss," he said, getting to his feet. "Wonder what's up?"

Corliss rode into camp, swung from the saddle, and called to Shoop.
The men gazed at each other, nodded, and the words "Loring" and
"sheep," punctuated their mutterings.

Shoop and Corliss talked together. Then the foreman called to Hi