“The Apaches!” Alison spoke the name with horror; she well knew the bloodthirsty record of this tribe. “It was cruel, cruel,” she said. “It would have been better to kill him at once.” “No one is wish to do that. It is promise Cy Sparks not to do so, but only to take him away to a place not return, where Mexicano is keep prisoner; but is come the Indian, we cannot.” “Did he have arms? Was there a possibility of escape for him? had he food?” “Food, yes; a pistol, also. He may perhap make to escape.” “Oh, I have hope, I have hope,” cried Alison. “Tell me exactly where it was that you left him.” “In the valley of Night Creek; near mountains Guadalupe.” “Thank you, thank you, Carlos. I believe you tell me the truth.” “I speak truth.” “Hush!” Alison sprang to her feet. “Keep very quiet. Some one is coming.” It was not Neal’s whistle that she heard, but the approach of horses. She ran to the door, forgetting Neal’s charge to keep out of sight. Two men had dismounted and were examining the trail of the man who lay hidden. Unheeding the chill wind and the beating rain, Alison stood in the doorway, but retreated a little as the men approached. They both stopped short at sight of her, and she saw Bud and Ira. “Alison Ross, what under canopy are you doin’ here?” exclaimed Ira. She laughed nervously. “I came in out of the rain. What are you doing here?” “We are huntin’ the worst kind of cattle, one of Pike Smith’s gang. Caught sight of him in the road ahead of us, got after him but he slipped us somehow and we thought we had struck his trail here.” He stepped into the room. To all appearances it was empty, save for the presence of Chico. “Them footprints certainly must ha’ been his’n,” said Ira, as he fell to examining the tracks. “Whose? Neal’s?” asked Alison innocently. “It was he who brought me here, you see, and he has gone home for some warm things.” “You don’t mean Neal Jordan? He got back?” “Yes, he came this morning and rode out to meet me. Neither of us had even a blanket, so I am waiting for him to come back with something I can wear home. I didn’t prepare for a norther.” “That so?” Bud had been listening attentively. “Well, you had precious little sense, the two of ye, to come away without ary blanket.” “You are right, but it was so pleasant when I left I had no idea we should have such weather before I could get home.” “Got a fire in there, hev ye?” said Ira. “Well, you need it to-day. We was caught same as you. We was making for home when we see that blamed Mexican.” “Yes, and we’ll lose him sure, though he was footin’ it,” said Bud. “I move we go on and don’t waste no more time jawin’ about it.” “You’re surely not going to face this norther. I don’t think he can be worth that,” said Alison.