"About eight months," Rathburn replied with a frown. "It's hard to get away from the desert," mused the old man. "It's in your blood. If you leave here for good you've just naturally got to take something along with you from here--something that's a part of the desert, you might say." Rathburn looked keenly at the face of his friend. But the old man was regarding his pipe, as if he had never until that moment seen it. "I ran into a posse chasin' a gang that robbed a stage on the way over here this noon," Rathburn said presently. Price's interest quickened, but he made no sign. "They saw you?" he asked. "Couldn't help it," Rathburn grumbled. "Took after me. I had to drop one of 'em with a bullet in the shoulder to slow 'em up in the long canyon over on the other side." "Know any of the gang?" Price asked. "Met one. Threw down my gun on him. He told me Mike Eagen was runnin' the works." Price nodded. "I reckon Mike's been pullin' quite a few stunts while you been away." "An' I've been gettin' the blame for 'em more'n likely," said Rathburn in indignation. Price nodded again. "Might be so," he commented. Rathburn looked up at him in understanding. "They'll have me mixed up with this stage holdup," he said earnestly. "From what I gathered they killed the driver, an' they'll say that was my part." "That's the trouble, boy," said the old miner. "If a fellow's handy with his gun somebody's sure to get jealous of him an' make him draw. If he gets his man because he has to, he's a killer. When he's known as a killer he ain't got a chance. You _had_ to drop the two men you dropped aroun' here, boy; but they ain't forgettin' it." "Bob Long was headin' that posse," said Rathburn thoughtfully. "An' Bob Long's a sticker when he hits out on a man's trail," said Price. "Still, I guess you'd be safe in here for a while. There ain't many knows this place." "I don't figure on stayin' here long, Joe," said Rathburn. "I didn't think you did," said Price. "I'll have to get goin'--hit for new country an' never know when I may run up against the law in a quarter where I ain't expecting it; always sneaking along--like the coyote. It was Mike Eagen who gave me that name, Joe." Rathburn's voice was low and vibrant, and the old man felt the menacing quality in it. "What's more," Rathburn went on, "I'm always remembering that he's back here, getting away with his dirty tricks, shoving the blame off on me, some way or other, when the chase gets too hot." For some time the old man was silent. When he spoke he put an arm about Rathburn's shoulder. "Boy, before you get worse mixed up than you are, there's a place you ought to visit aroun' here," he said in a fatherly tone. Rathburn shrugged and stared up at the night sky which was blossoming with stars. "It would be a right smart risk," Price went on, "for they'd maybe think to drop aroun' that way on a lookout for you; but I reckon before you do much more, you better drop in at the Mallory place."