be on the safe side in case he was nearer than he had thought.

Sanderson waited--for only a few minutes actually, but the time seemed
longer. Then, just when he was mentally debating an impulse to climb to
the top of the gully, to see if the rider was in sight, he heard a sound
as of a heavy body crashing through some underbrush, and saw two riders
skirting the edge of the arroyo near him.

They halted their horses back of the spruce trees near the arroyo edge.
The rank undergrowth in the timber prevented them seeing Sanderson's
horse--which was further concealed by the thicket of alder. The men,
however, did not look into the arroyo. Their attention and interest
appeared to be centered upon the actions of the first horseman. Sitting
erect in their saddles, they shaded their eyes with their hands and gazed
northward.

After a short look, one of the men laughed, unpleasantly.

"Sneakin'--he is," said the one who laughed. "Knows we're campin' on his
trail, an' reckons on givin' us the slip. I never thought Bill would go
back on his friends thataway. We'll make him sweat, damn him!"

The other cursed, also. "Hoggin' it, he is," he said. "I ain't never
trusted him. He won't divvy, eh? Well, he won't need it where he's
goin'."

Both laughed. Then one said, coldly: "Well, I reckon we won't take
chances on losin' him again--like we did last night. We'll get him right
now!"