"Ben! Oh, you're not going to leave White Slides?" she asked. "Reckon I'll hang around yet awhile," he replied. Belllounds was wagging his head regretfully and ponderingly. "Wal, I remember the day when no man quit me. Wal, wal!--times change. I'm an old man now. Mebbe, mebbe I'm testy. An' then thar's thet boy!" With a shrug of his broad shoulders he dismissed what seemed an encroachment of pessimistic thought. "Wade, you're packin' off, then, on the trail? Always on the go, eh?" "No, I'm not hurryin' off," replied Wade. "Wal, might I ask what you're figgerin' on?" "Sure. I'm considerin' a cattle deal with Moore. He's a pretty keen boy an' his father has big ranchin' interests. I've saved a little money an' I'm no spring chicken any more. Wils has begun to buy an' sell stock, so I reckon I'll go in with him." "Ahuh!" Belllounds gave a grunt of comprehension. He frowned, and his big eyes set seriously upon the blazing fire. He grasped complications in this information. "Wal, it's a free country," he said at length, and evidently his personal anxieties were subjected to his sense of justice. "Owin' to the peculiar circumstances hyar at my range, I'd prefer thet Moore an' you began somewhar else. Thet's natural. But you've my good will to start on an' I hope I've yours." "Belllounds, you've every man's good will," replied Wade. "I hope you won't take offense at my leavin'. You see I'm on Wils Moore's side in--in what you called these peculiar circumstances. He's got nobody else. An' I reckon you can look back an' remember how you've taken sides with some poor devil an' stuck to him. Can't you?" "Wal, I reckon I can. An' I'm not thinkin' less of you fer speakin' out like thet." "All right. Now about the dogs. I turn the pack over to you, an' it's a good one. I'd like to buy Fox." "Buy nothin', man. You can have Fox, an' welcome." "Much obliged," returned the hunter, as he turned to go. "Fox will sure be help for me. Belllounds, I'm goin' to round up this outfit that's rustlin' your cattle. They're gettin' sort of bold." "Wade, you'll do thet on your own hook?" asked the rancher, in surprise. "Sure. I like huntin' men more than other varmints. Then I've a personal interest. You know the hint about homesteaders hereabouts reflects some on Wils Moore." "Stuff!" exploded the rancher, heartily. "Do you think any cattleman in these hills would believe Wils Moore a rustler?" "The hunch has been whispered," said Wade. "An' you know how all ranchers say they rustled a little on the start." "Aw, hell! Thet's different. Every new rancher drives in a few unbranded calves an' keeps them. But stealin' stock--thet's different. An' I'd as soon suspect my own son of rustlin' as Wils Moore."