Half an hour later the two parties came face to face on a little stretch of prairie in the midst of the wooded valley. There were four in the sheriff's party: Gregg, the deputy, and a big man who was a stranger to Cavanagh. Their horses were all tired, and the big civilian looked saddle-weary. "Good evenin', gentlemen!" called the sheriff, in Southern fashion, as he drew near. "Good evenin', Mr. Sheriff," Cavanagh civilly answered. "What's the meaning of this invasion of my forest?" The sheriff, for answer, presented the big stranger. "Mr. Cavanagh, this is Mr. Simpson, the county attorney." Cavanagh nodded to the attorney. "I've heard of Mr. Simpson," he said. Simpson answered the question Ross had asked. "We were on our way to your station, Mr. Cavanagh, because we understand that this old man Dunn who shot himself had visited you before his death, giving you information concerning the killing of the Mexican sheep-herders. Is that true?" "It is." "When did he visit you?" "Two days ago, or maybe three. I am a little mixed about it. You see, I have been pretty closely confined to my shack for a few days." Gregg threw in a query. "How _is_ the old man?" "He's all right; that is to say, he's dead. Died last night." The sheriff looked at Simpson meaningly. "Well, I reckon that settles his score, judge. Even if he was implicated, he's out of it now." "He couldn't have been implicated," declared the ranger, "for he was with me at the time the murder was committed. I left him high on the mountain in the Basque herder's camp. I can prove an alibi for him. Furthermore, he had no motive for such work." "What did Dunn tell you?" demanded the sheriff. "What names did he give you?" "Wait a moment," replied Cavanagh, who felt himself to be on his own territory, and not to be hurried. "There's a reward offered for the arrest of these men, is there not?" "There is," replied the attorney. "Well, before I make my statement I'd like to request that my share of the reward, if there is any coming to me, shall be paid over to the widow of the man who gave me the information. Poor chap, he sacrificed himself for the good of the State, and his family should be spared all the suffering possible." "Quite right, Mr. Cavanagh. You may consider that request granted. Now for the facts." "Before going into that, Mr. Attorney, I'd like to speak to you alone." "Very well, sir," replied the attorney. Then waving his hand toward the others, he said: "Boys, just ride off a little piece, will you?" When they were alone, Cavanagh remarked: "I don't think it wise to give these names to the wind, for if we do, there will be more fugitives." "I see your point," Simpson agreed. Thereupon, rapidly and concisely, the ranger reported what Dunn had said, and the attorney listened thoughtfully without speaking to the end; then he added: "That tallies with what we have got from Ballard." "Was Ballard in it?" asked Cavanagh. "Yes, we forced a confession from him."