'Shore does,' Bundy said ironically. 'Why, in three-four days we'll be back in Rainbow, git our two hundred bucks apiece mebbe, an' live 'appy every after.'
'Two hundred--hell,' Lake ejaculated. 'Is that Trenton's notion o' things?'
'He half promised me an extra hundred for what I done to-day,' was the sneering reply. 'Figure out yore chances.'
No one answered, but the black looks of his hearers betrayed their feelings plainly enough. The foreman said no more; he had sown the seed, and was willing to await the harvest.
In the morning, Garstone approached the rancher. 'What about Miss Trenton? Taking her along?'
'Nothin' else for it,' was the reply. 'Can't leave her in this wild spot, unless you'd keep her company.'
The suggestion was not at all to Garstone's liking. 'I would enjoy it, of course, but I want to be in on this thing,' he said.
'And I doubt if it would be wise to weaken our force; we don't know how strong Dover is.'
'Oh, he won't fight,' the rancher returned contemptuously. 'But perhaps yo're right. You can look after Beth.'
A little later Trenton led the way across the basin, his men in pairs behind, the girl and Garstone in the rear. Excitement shone in her eyes, and there was a tinge of colour in the slightly-tanned cheeks. A wave of passion swept over the man by her side. He bent towards her.
'My dearest ambition has come to pass this morning,' he whispered.
'We haven't found the treasure yet,' she replied, wilfully ignoring his meaning.
'I have found mine already, and have been deputed by your uncle to take care of it--for to-day. I would like the task to last longer--a lifetime. Do you understand, Beth?'
The words, spoken in a low, ardent tone, quickened her pulses and brought a hot flush to her face. For days she had expected the avowal, had almost decided to accept, but now that the moment had come, she hesitated.
'Yes, I understand,' she said gently. 'But we have known each other such a little while. You must give me time.'
'Well, that's fair, my dear,' he replied. 'Perhaps when this trip is over, you will know me better.'
She thanked him with a look which bred a desire to take her in his arms then and there, but he fought down the im
pulse; with this girl--even had they been alone--it would be an act of folly.
'What has become of the Circle Dot people?' she asked. Evidently, Trenton had told her only that they were to unearth the hidden wealth.
'We are on our way to visit them,' he said. 'They are camped on or near the spot we wish to search.'
'Do you think Mister Dover will be--difficult?'
'No, since your uncle knows where to look, and he doesn't, a wise man would admit that he has lost.'
'I'm afraid he's not very wise.'
'A hot-headed young fool describes him better,' Garstone said. 'If he asks for trouble, he'll get it.'
By this time the gorge was reached. Beth Trenton was conscious of a cold tremor as she looked at the barren, sterile walls, broken only by stunted growths clinging precariously where fissures in the cliff provided a semblance of soil; she had a premonition of impending tragedy. Despite the bright sun, and the twittering of birds in the bushes which lined their path, the place seemed to convey a threat. A sharp command rang out.
'That'll be far enough, Trenton.'
The Wagon-wheel owner dragged on his reins. 'Who the devil are you to give me orders?' he called. 'Afraid to face me?'
Dover stepped from behind a shrub some twenty paces away. 'No, but I'd think twice o' turnin' my back on you,' was his cutting reply. 'What's yore errand here?'
'None of yore business.'
'I'm makin' it mine.'
'How long have you owned the hills,' Trenton retorted. 'I go where I please.'
'An' it pleased you to follow my trail, foot by foot,' Dan sneered. 'Quit lyin'; you've come to steal somethin' that belongs to me, but I got here first.'
Anger and surprise betrayed the rancher into forgetting his customary caution. 'You've found it?' he cried.
Dan's laugh was not mirthful. 'The cat's out,' he said. 'Found what? The charmin' view you came all this way to show yore niece, an' fetched along five armed men to help you locate it?'
The taunting tone and the fear that he might be too late after all, roused the rancher to fury. 'You damned whelp,' he stormed. 'If it weren't for my niece--
'Skittles!' Dan interposed. 'She'll be in no danger 'less you all try to hide behind her. Set yore dawgs on when you've a mind.'
Without looking round, Trenton gave an order. 'Scatter and take cover; we'll cut this cockerel's comb right now.'
Even as they moved to obey, he snatched out his revolver and fired at Dover. He was too late; the young man had guessed right and vanished just in time. A volley from the Wagon-wheelers followed but was ineffective since they had not even a protruding rifle-barrel to aim at. Trenton, with a curse of disgust at having missed, jumped his horse for the bushes. At the first shot, Garstone had seized the rein of Beth's mount and dragged it to the side of the gorge.
'Get off and sit down,' he ordered, and set the example. 'We should be safe here if the idiots don't aim low.' He noticed her expression of surprise. 'I'm from the East, and I don't hold with these primitive ways of settling differences,' he went on. 'Maiming or killing an opponent only proves proficiency with a weapon, so the greater ruffian is always right.'
She did not reply; it was all very plausible, but even with her own Eastern upbringing, the sight of this big fellow sitting beside her in probable security while his friends fought, seemed wrong.
'What did Dover mean by saying the treasure belongs to him?' she asked.
'Obviously a lie,' he replied carelessly.
The crash of the firing increased as the defenders of the gorge got busy, and several bullets zipped through the branches above their heads, sending down a shower of twigs and leaves.
'Damn them, they're shooting wild,' Garstone muttered. 'Lie close.'
He took her hand, but she drew it away. 'I'm not afraid,' she told him.
'I am--for you,' he replied warmly, but got no response.
The spiteful crack of the rifles continued for a space, and
then came a long-drawn groan. Garstone, peering from their retreat, saw Trenton, his gun falling from nerveless fingers, stagger from the bushes and fall headlong in the open. 'Damnation! the swine have got Zeb,' he cried.
Beth scrambled to her feet. 'I must go to him,' she said, and disregarding his remonstrance, ran to where her uncle was lying.
Bundy was already kneeling beside him, apparently searching for the injury. Garstone followed the girl, calling out for the firing to cease, and energetically waving a white handkerchief. He need not have troubled; even the appearance of Dover and Malachi produced no shot. The latter's examination was brief.
'He's not dead,' he announced. 'But the wound is serious.'
'Can we take him away with us?' Garstone enquired.
'Yes, if you want him to die,' the doctor replied tersely, and looked at Dover. 'His only hope is to remain here, and in my care.'
'Anythin' you say, Doc,' Dan agreed. 'We'll do all we can.'
'I shall stay to nurse my uncle,' Beth said quietly, her steady eyes challenging a refusal.
Dover lifted his shoulders. 'I ain't objectin', but we're not fixed to entertain yore sex.'
The Easterner drew Beth apart. 'My mind is made up, so please don't attempt to dissuade me,' she told him.
'I should not dream of doing so,' he said. 'you are acting bravely and rightly, but there is something I must tell you. These scoundrels have tried to kill your uncle because he alone knows exactly where the treasure is
