head in the direction Panfilo had taken.

"Not long. I--don't know much about him," Alaire confessed. Then,
as if in answer to his unspoken question, "But I'm sure he's all
right."

"Is he looking up range for you?"

"N--no! I left him at the ranch. I don't know how he came to be
here, unless--It IS rather strange!"

Dave shot a swift, interrogatory glance at Panfilo's traveling
companion, but Anto's face was stony, his black eyes were fixed
upon the fire.

With an abrupt gesture Law flung aside the contents of his cup and
strode to Panfilo's horse, which stood dejectedly with reins
hanging.

"Where are you--going?" Alaire rose nervously.

It was nearly dark now; only the crests of the ridges were plain
against the luminous sky; in the brushy bottom of the arroyo the
shadows were deep. Alaire had no wish to be left alone with the
prisoner.

With bridle-rein and carbine in his left hand, the Ranger halted,
then, stooping for Anto's discarded cartridge-belt, he looped it
over his saddle-horn. He vaulted easily into the seat, saying: