“Let me rise to remark,” observed Nate, with a touch of sincere feeling, “that you’re a whole man. I’m playing in big luck to-night. There was about one chance in a thousand that you’d break a hole in that roof--but it’s the one chance that came my way. Dick Perry and Hattie are about discouraged with all their troubles, but they’ll take a fresh lease of hope when they learn that you’re on our side.” With that, Dunbar pointed the way and set the pace. “I don’t mind saying, Dunbar,” said the scout, “that I’ve taken a fancy to you. It’s been quite a while since I got tangled up in a romance, and I’d find a good deal of fault with myself if I didn’t see this one through to a happy finish.” “You’re white,” muttered the cowboy, “plumb white. I thought you had a lot of pards in your outfit?” “They’re at Hackamore, waiting for me.” “How many?” “Four of them--but they’re four of the sort that can’t be picked up any day in the week. There’s Wild Bill Hickok, of Laramie, a man who doesn’t know what fear means, and who can lick his weight in wild cats. Then there’s my old trapper pard, Nick Nomad, who’s a diamond in the rough, and has gone through more tight corners with me than I can count. Next there’s the baron, who talks and fights with a Teutonic accent, but steps as high, wide and handsome as any of the rest. “Last, but not least, I’ll mention Little Cayuse, the Piute boy, who’s a host in himself. These, Dunbar, comprise the force I can bring against the cattle barons. The barons will outnumber us, but our work will be to win by tact rather than by force; to compass our ends by diplomacy, and by the strong support of the law, which is at our back.” “What do you consider the first move in this--er--campaign of tact and diplomacy?” queried Dunbar. He was none too sanguine, and showed it. “Inasmuch as Hattie Perry is the indirect cause of Perry’s troubles, we must eliminate her from the proposition.” Dunbar turned in his saddle. “Eliminate her?” he gasped. The scout laughed. “Exactly,” he declared. “Within a few days--or hours, if we can arrange it so--there will be no Hattie Perry.” “I’m over my head,” muttered Dunbar. “How are you going about it?” “A sky pilot will be the key to the situation. Just as soon as possible, my lad, he will make you and Miss Perry one. The girl will cease to be Miss Perry, and will become Mrs. Dunbar. Lige Benner will be foiled. Simple, don’t you think?” “Well, blazes!” murmured Dunbar, but with a flutter of happiness in his voice. “That’s sure the correct way to go at it, and yet I’m blamed if I ever thought of such a move.” “I should think it would have occurred to you the first thing. Where’s the nearest sky pilot?” “His headquarters are in Henrietta, but he rides circuit over a good part of this Brazos range. He was due in Hackamore yesterday.” “How long does he stay there?”