For a little his dull senses were aware of the close-by maudlin laughter of a pair of coyotes up in the buttes; then the sounds blended with his dreams and he was fast asleep. He awoke with a start, shook his head, sat up straight. He was vaguely aware that he was not alone. The fire had died down and only the light of the stars served to reveal several indistinct bulks blacker than the general blackness of the night. He made an attempt to spring to his feet, but found his legs unresponsive and toppled over on one elbow. A chuckle offered him derisive applause. “They’re tied together, Doctor,” said a faintly familiar voice. “I just rolled the blankets off your feet and tied your ankles, and you didn’t move a muscle.” “Morley, eh?” said the doctor calmly. “Well, Morley, what’s it all about? Sore about something--you and your partner?” “Not at all,” Morley replied. Then to Leach: “Stir up the fire and let’s have a cup of coffee before we start.” Another dark bulk moved from the collection of shadows, and now Shonto realized that horses and burros comprised the greater part of the group. The fire blazed up after a little, and objects became more distinct. Smith Morley squatted on his heels. “I’ll tell you, Doc,” he said. “Leach and I are up against it. We’re flat broke and miles from our headquarters. In you we’ve found an opportunity to get out of our difficulties. So you’re the goat.” “Well, let’s have it. Am I to be shot at sunrise or as soon as we’ve had the coffee?” Morley chuckled. “I admire your nerve, Doc. You’re pretty much of a man, all in all. But if you’re worrying any at all, which I doubt, I’ll relieve your mind at once. Nothing serious is going to happen to you. We just want you to go with us and perform one of your famous operations on an old desert rat that wants pepping up a little so he can take unto himself a girl-wife. There’s a big fee in it for you and a nice little sum for Leach and me to get out of the country on.” “Oh, a friend of yours?” “Well, ‘friend’ is a pretty comprehensive word, Doc. Anyway, we’ve known him a good many years.” “Well,” said Shonto, after a brooding pause, “I’m sorry, but I haven’t time to perform any operation just now. I’m about the busiest man in the Shinbone Country, I imagine, so you’ll have to excuse me. Later, perhaps.” “Just as sorry as you are, Doc, but that’s not the way it’s scheduled to come out. Leach and I might have put the matter up to you in an ordinary way if we hadn’t seen you riding down the trail alone to-day. We realize that the rest of your party must be in trouble somewhere up there in the mountains, and that you’re probably going for help. So we decided you wouldn’t listen to reason--and tied your ankles. Sorry to disappoint your friends, but you’re going with us.” “I’m afraid you’re mistaken,” was Shonto’s brief reply.