"No. Well, you're right there. What I don't know about sheep would fill several government reports. Of course I've got ideas. One of them is----" "I don't care anything about your ideas. Are you going to sign this relinquishment?" Luck's face showed a placid surprise. "Why no, Cass. Thought I mentioned that before." "You'd better." The sheepman's harassed face looked ugly enough for anything. "Can't figure it out that way." "You've got to sign it. By God, you've no option." "No?" Still with pleasant incredulity. "Think I'm going to let you get away from here now. You'll sign and you'll promise to tell nothing you know against us." "No, I don't reckon I will." Cullison was looking straight at him with his fearless level gaze. Fendrick realized with a sinking heart that he could not drive him that way to surrender. He knew that in the other man's place he would have given way, that his enemy was gamer than he was. He threw up his hand in a sullen gesture that disclaimed responsibility. "All right. It's on your own head. I've done all I can for you." "What's on my head?" "Your life. Damn you, don't you see you're driving me too far?" "How far?" "I'm not going to let you get away to send us to prison. What do you expect?" Luck's frosty eyes did not release the other for a moment. "How are you going to prevent it, Cass?" "I'll find a way." "Blackwell's way--the Devil's Slide?" The puzzled look of the sheepman told Cullison that Blackwell's plan of exit for him had not been submitted to the other. "Your friend from Yuma has been explaining how he has arranged for me to cross the divide," he went on. "I'm to be plugged full of lead, shot down that rock, and landed in a prospect hole at the bottom." "First I've heard of it." Fendrick wheeled upon his accomplice with angry eyes. He was in general a dominant man, and not one who would stand much initiative from his assistants. "He's always deviling me," complained the convict surlily. Then, with a flash of anger: "But I stand pat. He'll get his before I take chances of getting caught. I'm nobody's fool." Cass snapped him up. "You'll do as I say. You'll not lift a finger against him unless he tries to escape." "Have you seen the _Sentinel_? I tell you his friends know everything. Someone's peached. They're hot on our trail. Bucky O'Connor is in the hills. Think I'm going to be caught like a rat in a trap?" "We'll talk of that later. Now you go look after my horse while I keep guard here." Blackwell went, protesting that he was no "nigger" to be ordered about on errands. As soon, as he was out of hearing Fendrick turned his thin lip-smile on the prisoner. "It's up to you, Cullison. I saved your life once. I'm protecting you now. But if your friends show up he'll do as he says. I won't be here to stop him. Sign up and don't be a fool." Luck's answer came easily and lightly. "My friend, we've already discussed that point." "You won't change your mind?"