"Good morning," she said brightly. Norton, squatting by the fire, frying-pan in hand, turned and answered her nod; Brocky Lane, flat on his back with his hands clasped behind his head, a cigarette in his mouth, twisted a little where he lay, his eyes eager upon his doctor. Virginia came on into the full light, striking the pine-needles from her riding-habit. "Time to eat and ride," said Norton, turning again to his task. "Bacon and coffee and exercise. Have you rested?" "Perfectly. And Mr. Lane?" "Me?" said Brocky. "Feeling fine." Norton gave her a cup of warm water to wash her hands. Then she made a second, very careful examination of Brocky's wound, cleansing it and adjusting a fresh bandage. "I want to start in half an hour," said the sheriff. "There'll be light enough then so that we can make time getting down to the horses and yet not enough light to show us up to a chance early rider down below. Then we'll swing off to the west, make a wide bend, ride through Las Estrellas and get back into San Juan when we please. That is you will; I'll leave you outside of Las Estrellas, showing you the way. And, while we eat, I am going to tell you something." "About Galloway?" she asked quickly. "Explaining what you meant by Galloway's hang-out?" "Yes. And more than that." For a little she stood, looking at him very gravely. Then she spoke in utter frankness. "Mr. Norton, I think that I can see your position; you were so circumstanced through Mr. Lane's being hurt that you had to bring either Dr. Patten or me here. You decided it would be wiser to bring me. There is something of a compliment in that, isn't there?" "You don't know Caleb Patten yet!" growled Brocky a bit savagely. "Already it seems to me," she went on, "that you have a pretty hard row to hoe. It is evident that you have discovered a sort of thieves' headquarters here; that, for your own reasons, you don't want it known that you have found it. To say that I am not curious about it all would be talking nonsense, of course. And yet I can assure you that I hold you under no obligation whatever to do any explaining. You are the sheriff and your job is to get results, not to be polite to the ladies." But Norton shook his head. "You know what you know," he said seriously. "I think that if you know a little more you will more readily understand why we must insist on keeping our mouths shut . . . all of us." "In that case," returned the girl, "and before you boil that coffee into any more hopelessly black a concoction than it already is, I am ready to drink mine and listen. Coffee, Mr. Lane?" "Had mine, thanks," answered Brocky. "Spin the yarn, Rod." Norton put down his frying-pan, the bacon brown and crisp, and rose to his feet. "Will you come this way a moment, Miss Page?" he asked. "To begin with, seeing is believing."