His stubbled red face, dust-smeared, queried us keenly; so did his curt voice. "Just in time?" "In time," I croaked. "Water! For her--for me." There was a canteen apiece. We sucked. "You are the two from the Mormon wagon train?" he asked. "Yes, sir. You know?" I uttered. "We came on as fast as we could. The Sioux are raiding again. By God, you had a narrow squeak, sir," he reproved. "You were crazy to try it--you and a woman, alone. We'll take you along as soon as my Pawnees get in from chasing those beggars." Distant whoops from a pursuit drifted in to us, out of the desert. "Captain Adams sent you?" I inquired. "Yes, sir." "I will go back," I agreed. "I will go back, but there's no need of Mrs. Montoyo. If you could see her safely landed at a stage station, and for Benton----?" "We'll land you both. I have to report at Bridger. The train is all right. It has an escort to Bitter Creek." "I can overtake it, or join it," said I. "But the lady goes to Benton." "Yes, yes," he snapped. "That's nothing to me, of course. But you'll do better to wait for the train at Bridger, Mr. ----? I don't believe I have your name?" "Beeson," I informed, astonished. "And the lady's? Your sister? Wife?" "Mrs. Montoyo," I informed. And I repeated, that there should be no misunderstanding. "Mrs. Montoyo, from Benton. No relative, sir." He passed it over, as a gentleman should. "Well, Mr. Beeson, you have business with the train?" "I have business with Captain Adams, and he with me," I replied. "As probably you know. Since he sent you, I shall consider myself under arrest; but I will return of my own free will as soon as Mrs. Montoyo is safe." "Under arrest? For what?" He blankly eyed me. "For killing that man, sir. Captain Adams' son. But I was forced to it--I did it in self-defense. I should not have left, and I am ready to face the matter whenever possible." "Oh!" said he, with a shrug, tossing the idea aside. "If that's all! I did hear something about that, from some of my men, but nothing from Adams. You didn't kill him, I understand; merely laid him out. I saw him, myself, but I didn't ask questions. So you can rest easy on that score. His old man seemed to have no grudge against you for it. Fact is, he scarcely allowed me time to warn him of the Sioux before he told me you and a woman were out and were liable to lose your scalps, if nothing worse. I think," the lieutenant added, narrowing upon me, "that you'll find those Mormons are as just as any other set, in a show down. The lad, I gathered from the talk, drew on you after he'd cried quits." He turned hastily. "You spoke, madam? Anything wanted?" The trumpeter orderly plucked me by the sleeve. He was a squat, sun-scorched little man, and his red-rimmed blue eyes squinted at me with painful interest. He whispered harshly from covert of bronzed hand. "Beg your pardon, sorr. Mrs. Montoyo, be it--that lady?" "Yes." "From Benton City, sorr, ye say?" "From Benton City."