"It ain't likely possible now," observed Jack Richie, "that Rufe Cutting could 'a' got religion or somethin'." "It's possible, but it ain't likely," said Loudon. "Well, fellah, c'mon an' get yuh a drink, an' then for the big feed. Yo're gone off a good forty pounds since yuh quit me." Later, Loudon, in company with Laguerre, visited the post where Ranger had been tied. Laguerre closely scrutinized the ground in the vicinity. "Hoss she been tied up six-seven hour," observed Laguerre. "It's 'bout half-past five now. That makes it ten or eleven when he was brought in." "'Bout dat. Feller lead heem een. Hard to read de sign on de grass, but eet look lak de feller not walk good een hees boot--dey too beeg, mabbeso. Come 'long. We weel see w'ere feller she leave hees hoss." They followed the trail a hundred yards, and then Laguerre knelt down, his eyes searching the grass. He picked up a small stone and held it up. The stone was sharp-cornered. It was stained a dark red. "Feller she treep un fall on hees han's un knees," explained Laguerre. "Lef han' heet de leetle rock, un geet cut some. Han' bleed on eet." Laguerre rose, tossed away the stone, and proceeded to follow the trail. He led the way to a tall pine some three hundred yards distant from the ranch house. Even Loudon's unpractised eyes told him that a horse had stood beneath the pine. "Here feller she climb een de saddle un go 'way," said Laguerre. "No use follow de trail any more." They returned to the ranch house, Loudon wondering greatly as to the identity of the mysterious philanthropist. In Cow Land a stolen horse is not returned except under compulsion. While they were at dinner the cook stuck his head through the doorway. "Bunch o' riders a-comin' from the north," he announced, "an' they're a-comin' some swift." "Scotty!" exclaimed Loudon, and ran to the window. "It may be the sheriff," said Jack Richie, hastening to provide himself with a Winchester. "It's Scotty," Loudon said. "I can tell him a mile off. He's wearin' the same shirt, red sleeve an' all." The horsemen, some thirty men, rode up at an easy lope. Besides Scotty, Loudon recognized Doubleday, Johnny Ramsay, Chuck Morgan, Swing Tunstall, Giant Morton, Ragsdale, and many others. "He's brought the whole ranch an' half the Bend," chuckled Loudon, and then swore gently, because he suddenly remembered that there was no evidence against Blakely. With thirty men the 88 could be shown the error of its ways most effectually. And now the thirty could not be used. What a waste of good material! The band of horsemen, bawling greetings to the group in the doorway, jingled to a halt. Loudon stepped forward and shook Scotty's proffered hand. "Yuh've sure done fine," said Scotty. "Yuh've filled out just what I said 'bout opportunity with a big O. I ain't forgettin' it, neither. Besides Rudd now, did yuh run across anythin' touchin' Sam Blakely?"