And now it appeared his unseen tormentors were afraid he might escape them. Half a dozen shots came close together. Boone sank to the ground, writhed like a crushed worm, and twisted over so that his face was to the moonlight. Melissy ran forward and knelt beside him. "They've got me ... in half a dozen places.... I'm going fast." "Oh, no ... no," the girl protested. "Yep.... Surest thing you know.... I did you dirt onct, girl. And I've been a bad lot--a wolf, a killer." "Never mind that now. You died to save me. Always I'll remember that." "Onct you 'most loved me.... But it wouldn't have done. I'm a wolf and you're a little white lamb. Is Flatray the man?" "Yes." "Thought so. Well, he's square. I rigged it up on him about the rustling. I was the man you liked to 'a' caught that day years ago." "You!" "Yep." He broke off abruptly. "I'm going, girl.... It's gittin' black. Hold my hand till--till----" He gave a shudder and seemed to fall together. He was dead. Melissy heard the sound of rubble slipping. Some one was lowering himself cautiously down the side of the canyon. A man dropped to the wash and strutted toward her. He kept his eyes fixed on the lifeless form, rifle ready for action at an instant's notice. When he reached his victim he pushed the body with his foot, made sure of no trap, and relaxed his alertness. "Dead as a hammer." The man was MacQueen. He turned to Melissy and nodded jauntily. "Good evening, my dear. Just taking a little stroll?" he asked ironically. The girl leaned against the cold wall and covered her face with her arm. She was sobbing hysterically. The outlaw seized her by the shoulders and swung her round. "Cut that out, girl," he ordered roughly. Melissy caught at her sobs and tried to check them. "He got what was coming to him, what he's been playing for a long time. I warned him, but the fool wouldn't see it." "How did you know?" she asked, getting out her question a word at a time. "Knew it all the time. Rosario brought his note to me. I told her to take it to you and keep her mouth shut." "You planned his death." "If you like to put it that way. Now we'll go home and forget this foolishness. Jeff, bring the horses round to the mouth of the gulch." Melissy felt suddenly very, very tired and old. Her feet dragged like those of an Indian squaw following her master. It was as though heavy irons weighted her ankles. MacQueen helped her to one of the horses Jackson brought to the lip of the gulch. Weariness rode on her shoulders all the way back. The soul of her was crushed beneath the misfortunes that oppressed her. Long before they reached the ranch houses Rosario came running to meet them. Plainly she was in great excitement. "The prisoners have escaped," she cried to MacQueen. "Escaped. How?" demanded Black.