Out in the trail hung the quiet of a sick-room. The long afternoon waned. Once a wagon appeared from the direction of town, but the driver, evidently grasping the true situation, turned out and around the mare in respectful silence. Another time a single horseman, riding from the mountains, cantered upon the scene; but this man, also with a look of understanding, turned out and around the mare in careful regard for her condition. Then came darkness. Shadows crept in from nowhere, stealing over the desert more and more darkly, while, with their coming, birds of the air, seeking safe place for night rest, flitted about in nervous uncertainty. And suddenly in the gathering dusk rose the long-drawn howl of a coyote, lifting into the stillness a lugubrious note of appeal. Then, close upon the echo of this, rose another appeal in the trail close by, the shrill nicker of the mate to the mare. It awoke Felipe. He sat up quickly, rubbed his eyes dazedly, and peered out with increasing understanding. Then he sprang to his feet. "Coom!" he called, kicking the other. "We go now--see who is winnin' thot bet!" And he started hurriedly forward. But the other checked him. "Wait!" he snapped, rising. "You wait! You in too mooch hurry! You coom back--I have soomt'ing!" Felipe turned back, wondering. The other nervously produced material for a cigarette. Then he cleared his throat with needless protraction. "Felipe," he began, evidently laboring under excitement, "I mek eet a _bet_ now! I bet you," he went on, his voice trembling with fervor--"I bet you my wagon, thee horses--thee whole shutting-match--against thot wagon and horses yours, and thee harness--thee whole damned shutting-match--thot I haf win!" He proceeded to finish his cigarette. Felipe stared at him hard. Surely his ears had deceived him! If they had not deceived him, if, for a fact, the _hombre_ had expressed a willingness to bet all he had on the outcome of this thing, then Franke, fellow-townsman, _compadre_, brother-wood-hauler, was crazy! But he determined to find out. "What you said, Franke?" he asked, peering into the glowing eyes of the other. "Say thot again, _hombre_!" "I haf say," repeated the other, with lingering emphasis upon each word--"I haf say I bet you everyt'ing--wagon, harness, _caballos_--everyt'ing!--against thot wagon, harness, _caballos_ yours--everyt'ing--thee whole shutting-match--thot I haf win thee bet!"