Page 23 of 439

The man was plainly very tired with rapid travel, and about the

middle of the afternoon the young man unsaddled and picketed the

animal near a water-hole. He lay down in the shadow of a

cottonwood, flat on his back, face upturned to the deep cobalt

sky. Presently the drowse of the afternoon crept over him. The

slumberous valley grew hazy to his nodding eyes. The reluctant

lids ceased to open and he was fast asleep.

CHAPTER II -- LIEUTENANT FRASER INTERFERES.

The sun had declined almost to a saddle in the Cuesta del Burro

when the sleeper reopened his eyes. Even before he had shaken

himself free of sleep he was uneasily aware of something wrong.

Hazily the sound of voices drifted to him across an immense

space. Blurred figures crossed before his unfocused gaze.

The first thing he saw clearly was the roan, still grazing in the

circle of its picket-rope. Beside the bronco were two men looking

the animal over critically.