“What?” he ejaculated. “On horseback, by train—from New York to this side the Rockies. Are you willing to let me line up with you in this matter?” “I’m willing to do anything under Heaven that’s square to get that bunch of rustlers—for so I’m convinced they are,” said Selwood, “and to do it quick, for I’m afraid if we don’t, something will happen to the folks on Nameless that can’t be mended.” “So am I. Miss Allison was shot in her doorway a few nights back.” “God!” cried the sheriff, “what’s that?” “Just a scratch on her arm—but it was meant for her heart. I was there at the time. The ball came from across the river—a high-power gun.” The sheriff groaned. “That’s it! The same old stuff—shoot from ambush—no evidence—nothing. It makes a man wild! I’ve done all a man could do, and I can’t put my finger on a thing.” “I’ve heard about the disappearing cattle,” said the other, “and I’ve done a bit on my own hook. I may as well tell you now, that my name is not Smith, and that I’ve been in Blue Stone Cañon for nearly two months.” Selwood looked at him in astonishment. “No one knows it all, even about his own doorstep,” he said. “I thought you were just passing through.” “If you will, I’d like you to ride up the cañon with me,” said Fair, “to where the right wall falls away beyond the mouth of Little Blue. It’s early and we can make it by noon, I think.” They fell silent for a while, threading the hills that rose in a jumbled mass to the south of Nameless Valley, and after an hour or so, reached the river. They crossed on the riffle where Nance was accustomed to ford on her way to Blue Stone, and entered the mouth of the great cut. “We’ll keep to the water as much as possible,” said Fair, “because there are other eyes than ours here sometimes.” They passed the empty cave where Nance had found Sonny and Dirk and followed the stream on up to the mouth of Little Blue. “From up in there,” said Fair, riding ahead, “I saw one of the Cathrew riders—a man named Provine—driving a red steer up this way.” “Ah!” said the sheriff, adding to himself—“and so did Nance Allison. These young folks seem to know each other pretty well.” “He went on north and disappeared. I followed next day and came upon a mystery—some more of this water travel which leads nowhere.” “We’ve had a lot of that,” said Selwood bitterly, “it’s what has baffled the whole country.” “Well—I’ll show you something,” said Fair, “that may set you guessing.” The keen blue shadows were cold and the voices were murmuring in the high escarpments. Through pools and over shale, where ever they could, they put their horses, avoiding the sand, and presently, when the sunlight had crept almost down to the floor of the cañon, they came out at the spot where the right wall fell away abruptly showing the plains stretched out like a dry brown floor, dotted with sparse bunch grass. On the left the great precipice continued unbroken.