"True; I should have posted a strong guard in the pass. You have a female companion, I perceive; not your wife?" "Oh, no! nor my sister, either. This is Miss Terry--an estimable young lady, who has come to the Black Hills in search of her father. Your name is--" "Redburn--Harry Redburn; and yours, I am told, is Fearless Frank." "Yes, that is the title I sail under. But how do you know aught of me?" "I was told your name by a partner of mine. Now, then, concerning the present matter; what do you propose to do?" "To do? Why, turn back, I suppose; I see nothing else to do." Redburn leaned on his rifle and considered. "Do you belong to that other crowd?" "No, indeed;" Frank's face flushed, half angrily. "I thank my stars I am not quite so low down as that, yet. Do you know them? That's Deadwood Dick, the Prince of the Road, and his band of outlaws!" "What--is it possible? The same gang whom the _Pioneer_ is making such a splurge over, every week." "The same. That fellow clad in black is Deadwood Dick, the leader." "Humph! He in black; you in scarlet. Two contrasting colors." "That is so. I had not thought of it before. But no significance is attached thereto." "Perhaps not. Have you the least idea what brought them here?" "The road-agents? I reckon I do. The military has been chasing them for the last two days. Probably they have come here for protection." "Maybe so; or for plunder. Give me your decision, and I will go and see what they want." "There is nothing for me to decide more than to take the back track." Redburn shook his head, decidedly. "You cannot go back!" he said, using positiveness in his argument; "that is, not for awhile. You'd have all Deadwood down on us in a jiffy. I'll give you work in the shaft, at three dollars a day. You can accept that offer, or submit to confinement until I see fit to set you at liberty." "And my companion, here--?" "I will place under the charge of Miss Anita for the present, where she will receive hospitable treatment." Fearless Frank started as though he had been struck a violent blow; his face grew very white; his eyes dilated; he trembled in every joint. "_Anita!_" he gasped--"_Anita!_" "I believe that is what I said!" Redburn could not understand the youth's agitation. He knew that the sister of Ned Harris had a secret; was this Fearless Frank in any way connected with it, and if so, how? "Do you know her?" "Her other name is--" "Harris--Anita Harris, in full. Do you know her, or aught of her?" "I--I--I did, once!" was the slow reply. "Where is she; I want to see her?" Redburn took a moment to consider. Would it be best to permit a meeting between the two until he should be able to learn something more definite concerning the secret? If Ned Harris were here would he sanction such a meeting? No! something told the young miner that he would not; something warned him that it could result in no good to allow the scarlet youth an interview with sad, sweet-faced Anita.