“I hadn’t an idea what they were intending to do; but, when I heard the rumble of racing hoofs, I surmised what the fiends were about. They were planning to have those cattle race over me and trample my life out! This must have been some of Lige Benner’s doing. But how did you three manage to learn of my predicament?” “If you feel able to ride, Perry,” said the scout, “we can talk that over on the way back to the ranch. What became of your horse?” “He got away during the fight I had with the White Caps on the trail. I presume he went back to the ranch. Hattie is probably doing a lot of worrying, and the quicker Nate and I reach the ranch house, the better it will be.” “Dunbar and I might do a little riding and see if we can’t locate Red Steve, or some of his men,” suggested Wild Bill. “No use,” said the scout. “Those scoundrels are on their way back to the Circle-B ranch by now. We will leave them alone till some other time. Our trails will cross again, pard, and when they do----” The scout finished with a grim frown and a shrug of the shoulders. “When our trails cross again,” said Wild Bill, “we’ll remember Ace Hawkins. I’ve marked Red Steve for my own private kybosh. Take notice, everybody!” Perry got up behind Dunbar, and on the way to the Star-A ranch the events that had led up to the stampede and the rescue of Perry were recounted for the rancher’s benefit. When the recital was done, Perry was silent for some time. “I wonder,” he finally muttered, “when Nate and I will reach the end of this hostility? How much longer will Benner keep up his evil work?” “I think you’ve seen the last of it, Perry,” said Wild Bill. “When he learns how his latest plans have failed, all around, he’ll probably take a vacation in some other part of the State and stay there till the last of the trouble blows over.” “And he tried to rob Dunbar of his good name, and me of my life,” exclaimed Perry, “just to satisfy his desire for vengeance!” “He was hit pretty hard, during that other set-to we had with him,” said Wild Bill, “and it’s hard for Lige Benner to forget.” “He’s got something else to forget now,” commented Dunbar grimly. CHAPTER XXII. PEACE ON THE BRAZOS. When the scout, the Laramie man, Nate Dunbar and Perry rode up to the ranch house, they found Nomad and Cayuse just about to start off on their horses. The girl was in front of the cabin. At sight of her husband and her father, she ran toward them with a cry of joy. Nate flung himself from his saddle and clasped his wife in his arms. Hattie did not know how great a reason she had for rejoicing over the return of Dunbar and Perry. But she was soon to know.