“It's too bad, Cap, but I came off in such a hurry I clean left my kyards behind, but if you'll take my word for it, Raymond's my name.” He leaned slightly toward Stephen as he spoke, with an air of winning candour. “I'm real put out that yonder party's so upset.” He spoke with grave concern. “Yes, sir, real put out.” “But who are you? And what are you doing here?” “Raymond's my name, Cap,” repeated the stranger affably. “Like I should spell it for you?” “Where's his rifle, why ain't he armed, and how does it come he knows your cousin?” cried Rogers. “Party's eyesight ain't a failing him yet,” murmured the stranger in a tone of caressing confidence to Stephen. “Well,” he added, “since you seem to object to us, me and my friends here'll just cut loose.” “No you don't, Raymond!” cried Basil angrily. “See you in Salt Lake,” said Raymond, gathering up his reins. “Enquire for me.” “I'll see you all the way there, too,” retorted Basil with an oath. He spoke sharply to the half-breeds, who at once closed up, one on each side of Raymond. The latter dropped back in his saddle, relaxing his hold on the bridle rein. Stephen regarded him in silence for a moment. “Didn't I see you at Fort Laramie?” he asked. The stranger, still smiling, nodded, and raising his hand to the corner of his mouth spat decorously back of it. “In the colonel's quarters, was it not?” said Stephen sternly. “The blamed old tarrapin was snapping away at me right lively;” he was still smiling pleasantly. He gestured slightly with his hand. “Out here, me and him would have had some sort of a falling out I reckon, but back yonder I had to swallow what he said, though his words were choky enough. Them army men's real candid.” “I believe you had attempted to desert,” said Stephen, with illy-concealed disgust. “Well, you might call it an attempt. I reckon the colonel counts it more then that. I held the lead for more than a hundred miles, and I reckon I'd be holding it yet only my hoss went lame. It was the best hoss the colonel owned, too.” His smile never lost a certain amiability; it seemed to spring from the unperverted innocence of his nature. “How did you get here?” demanded Stephen. “Ask him. He done it,” and he jerked his thumb in the direction of Basil. Stephen turned to the fur trader. “What have you to say about this?” he asked gravely. “He's all right. I'll vouch for him and the half-breeds,” he said. “That isn't what I want to know. I want to know how he happens to be here,” insisted Stephen. “I fixed that with the half-breeds,” and Basil laughed. “You mean you got them to break jail for him?” “What the devil difference does it make?” “The man's a deserter, and the part you have played in releasing him—”