In an instant every eye followed the direction of his outstretched arm. And the men stood silently watching the progress of a horseman racing headlong through the clearing and making for the creek in front of them as fast as his horse could lay legs to the ground. So silent and intent did the group on the veranda become, that faint, yet sharply distinct, even at that distance, the thrashing of the horse's hoofs floated to their straining ears on the still morning air, and set them wondering. On came the man at a furious pace. He was leaning far over his horse's neck, so that the whole weight of his body was well clear of the saddle. And as he came the waiting men could plainly see the rise and fall of his arm, as he mercilessly flogged his straining beast. It was Joe Brand who first broke the silence. "Looks like Sid Morton," he hazarded. "I kind o' seem to mind his sorrel with four white legs. He's comin' from the right direction, too. Guess his ranch is ten miles up yonder. Say, he's makin' a hell of a bat." "He sure is." Jim Wright, the oldest miner in the camp, blinked his red-rimmed eyes as they watered with the strain of watching, "It's trouble that's chasin' him," he added, with conviction. "Trouble o' some kind." "What sort o' trouble?" Minky spoke half to himself. Just now there was only one idea of trouble in his mind. Somebody laughed foolishly. "There ain't many sorts o' trouble sets a man chasin' like that," said a voice in the background. Minky glanced round. "What are they, Van?" he inquired, and turned back again to his scrutiny of the on-coming horseman. "Sickness, an'--guns," replied the man addressed as Van, with another foolish laugh. "If it's Sid he ain't got anybody out on his ranch to be sick, 'cep' his two 'punchers. An' I don't guess he'd chase for them. Must be 'guns.'" No one answered him. Everybody was too intent on the extraordinary phenomenon. The man was nearing the creek. In a few seconds he would be hidden from view, for the opposite bank lay far below them, cut off from sight by the height of the rising ground intervening on the hither side. A moment later a distinct movement amongst the watchers, which had something almost of relief in it, told that this had happened. Minky turned to Jim Wright, who chanced to be nearest him. "It's Sid," he declared definitely. The old man nodded. "An' I guess Van's right," he agreed. "He'll be along up in a minute," said Joe Brand. Minky remained where he was watching the point at which he expected to see the horseman reappear. This sudden apparition had fastened itself upon his general apprehension and become part of it. What was the news the man was bringing?