Fraser spoke again. "Listen, boys. Do you hear horses galloping? That
is Sheriff Brandt's deputies, coming to our assistance. You've lost
the game, but you can save your faces yet. Join us, and kelp escort
the prisoner to town. Nobody need know why you came out. We'll put it
that it was to guard against a lynching."

The men looked at each other sheepishly. They had been outwitted, and
in their hearts were glad of it. Harris turned to the ranger with a
laugh. "You're a good one, Fraser. Kept us here talking, while your
reënforcements came up. Well, boys, I reckon we better join the
Sunday-school class."

So it happened that when Sheriff Brandt and his men came up they found
the mountain folk united. He was surprised at the size of the force
with the Texan.

"You're certainly of a cautious disposition, lieutenant. With eight
men to help you, I shouldn't have figured you needed my posse," he
remarked.

"It gives you the credit of bringing in the prisoner, sheriff," Steve
told him unblushingly, voicing the first explanation that came to his
mind.

CHAPTER XVIII

A WITNESS IN REBUTTAL

Two hours later, Lieutenant Fraser was closeted with Brandt and
Hilliard. He told them his story-- or as much of it as he deemed