Steve was a man of action. It did not suit his temperament to sit cooped up in a prison while things were being done that affected the happiness of Ruth and his own life. He tried to persuade himself that all was going well, but as the fever of his anxiety mounted, he found himself limping up and down the short beat allowed him from wall to wall. It was noon before he was taken from his cell. Steve counted it a good augury that a saddle horse was waiting for him to ride. Last night he had limped across the plaza on his wounded leg. He and his little procession of guards cut straight across to headquarters. Culvera sat on the porch smoking a cigarette. He was dressed immaculately in a suit of white linen with a blue sash. His gold-trimmed sombrero was a work of art. At sight of Yeager the Mexican general smiled blandly. "Are you ready to take a long journey, Senor Yeager?" he asked. The heart of the cowpuncher lost a beat, but he did not bat an eye. "What journey? The same one that Holcomb took?" he demanded bluntly. Culvera showed a face of pained surprise. "Am I a barbarian? Do you think me another Pasquale? No, no, senor. You and I have had our disagreements. But they are past. To tell the truth, I always did like the way you see a thing through to a fighting finish. Now that I know you are not the ruffian I had been led to think you, it is a pleasure to me to tell you that you have been tried and acquitted. I offer regrets for the inconvenience to which you have been put. You will pardon, is it not so, and do me the honor to dine with me before you leave?" The heels of the Mexican came together, he bowed, and offered a hand to the range-rider. "Just one moment, general. All that listens fine to me, but--what are the conditions?" Ramon made a gesture of regret at being so sadly misunderstood. "Conditions! There are none." "None at all?" "None. Is it that you think me a peddler instead of a gentleman?" The face of the young Mexican expressed sorrow rather than anger. Still Steve doubted. "Let's understand each other, general. Are you telling me that I can walk out of that door, climb into a saddle, and keep going till I get back into old Arizona?" "I tell you that--and more. You will be furnished an escort to see you safely across the line. You may choose your own guard if you doubt." "And my friends?" "They go, too, of course." "All of them?" The Mexican smiled. "You're the most suspicious man I ever knew. All of them, Senor Yeager." "Including Miss Seymour?" The range-rider spoke quietly, but his eyes were like swords. "Naturally she will not wish to stay here when her friends leave." Steve leaned against the porch post with a deep breath of relaxation. "If I'm sleeping, don't let any one wake me, general," he implored, smiling for the first time.