“Well, there’s always the supposition that he may not see us until we ride into his clearing,” admitted Langford. “Of course, then—it’s too late.” Jim blocked the way. “I’m an ornery, no-’count cowboy with no one in this hull world to know or care what becomes o’ me. There ain’t no one to care but me, and I can’t say I’m a hurtin’ myself any a carin’! You just wait till I screech, will you?” “Jim,” said Langford, huskily, “you go back and behave yourself. I’m the Boss not you. You’ve got to obey orders. You’ve sassed me long enough. You get back, now!” “Tell Mary, ef I come back a deader,” said Jim, “that women are s’perfluous critters, but I forgive her. She can’t help bein’ a woman.” He gave his horse a dig with his knee and the animal bounded briskly forward. “Jim! You fool boy! Come back!” cried Langford, plunging after him. Johnson shrugged his shoulders, and wheeled his horse into clever concealment on one side of the path. “Let the fool kids go,” he advised, dryly. “I’m a lookin’ for Jess to run, anyway.” The two men rode boldly up toward the house. It seemed deserted. Weeds were growing around the door stoop, and crowding thickly up to the front windows. A spider’s silver web gleamed from casing to panel of the warped and weather stained door. The windows were blurred with the tricklings of rain through seasons of dust. Everything appeared unkempt, forlorn, desolate. There was a sound from the rear. It carried a stealthy significance. A man leaped from the protection of the cabin and was seen running toward the barn. He was heavily armed. “Stop that, Black!” yelled Langford, authoritatively. “We are going to take you, dead or alive—you’d better give yourself up! It will be better for you!” The man answered nothing. “Wing him with your rifle, Jim, before he gets to the barn,” said Paul, quickly. The shot went wild. Black wrenched the door open, sprang upon the already bridled horse, and made a bold dash for the farther woods—and not in the direction where determined men waited in ambush. What did it mean? As his horse cleared the stable, he turned and shot a vindictive challenge to meet his pursuers. “You won’t take me alive—and dead, I won’t go alone!”