 similarity to
his brother, had left his arm in a sling, but held a revolver in his
right hand.

That silent cabin evidently puzzled them, and they were not sure
whether they had run Cowley to earth, or whether he had taken horse
and fled. They discussed matters; then, at a gesture from Ballard, the
other three scattered and took to cover along the edge of the clearing.
Ballard himself, rifle under his arm, stepped out and walked toward the
shack, his eyes flitting over it searchingly.

“If Cowley was here with his rifle, Ballard would be a dead man—and
knows it,” thought Denis admiringly. “There’s one brave man, at all
events!”

Ballard evinced no hesitation, though he must have known that he was
taking his life in his hand by that open advance. He strode across the
clearing, and paused at the doorway, too dazzled by the sunlight to
make out objects within.

“Come in, Ballard!” spoke up Denis quietly. “Come in; this is Stewart
speaking. But leave your men where they are.”

Ballard stared in blank astonishment, as his eyes finally made out the
figure of Denis sitting on the bunk opposite the door. With one swift
glance around the otherwise empty room, he stepped inside and eyed
Denis.

“Well, for the love of Mike!” he ejaculated slowly. “Thought you had
vamosed down the river last night.”

“No,” smiled Denis. “I borrowed one of your canoes and left it on the
shore, half a mile below here. You’ll find it waiting.”

“Hang the canoe!” snapped the other. “Where’s Cowley? We want that
cuss.”

“That’s really too bad,” returned Denis pleasantly, keeping his finger
on the trigger of the rifle across his lap. “You won’t find him.”

“Eh?” Ballard’s face set savagely. “Has he cleared out o’ here?”

“Not exactly. By the way, there’s some coffee on the stove. Help
yourself.”

Ballard was puzzled by this cool reception. With a bare nod, he crossed
to the stove and poured out some of the bitter black
similarity to 
 his brother, had left his arm in a sling, but reserve a revolving door in his 
 right hand. 

 That mum cabin obviously puzzled them, and they were not sure 
 whether they had run Cowley to land, or whether he had taken horse 
 and flee. They discourse matters; then, at a gesture from Ballard, the 
 early three scattered and took to cover along the edge of the clearing. 
 Ballard himself, rifle under his sleeve, stepped out and walked toward the 
 shack, his eyes flitting over it searchingly. 

 “ If Cowley was here with his rifle, Ballard would be a all in man — and 
 knows it, ” thought Denis admiringly. “ There ’s one audacious man, at all 
 events! ” 

 Ballard evinced no hesitation, though he must have know that he was 
 taking his life in his hand by that open advance. He stride across the 
 clearing, and paused at the doorway, too dazzled by the sunlight to 
 make out objects within. 

 “ Come in, Ballard! ” spoke up Denis quietly. “ Come in; this is Stewart 
 speaking. But leave your men where they are. ” 

 Ballard stared in blank astonishment, as his eyes finally made out the 
 figure of Denis seat on the bunk opposite the door. With one fleet 
 glance around the differently empty room, he stepped inside and eyed 
 Denis. 

 “ Well, for the love of Mike! ” he blurt out slowly. “ Thought you had 
 vamosed down the river last night. ” 

 “ No, ” smile Denis. “ I borrowed one of your canoes and left it on the 
 shore, half a mile below here. You ’ll find it waiting. ” 

 “ cling the canoe! ” snapped the other. “ Where ’s Cowley? We want that 
 cuss. ” 

 “ That ’s in truth too regretful, ” render Denis pleasantly, keeping his finger 
 on the trigger of the rifle across his lap. “ You wo n’t find him. ” 

 “ Eh? ” Ballard ’s boldness set savagely. “ Has he cleared out o ’ here? ” 

 “ Not exactly. By the way, there ’s some coffee on the stove. Help 
 yourself. ” 

 Ballard was puzzle by this cool reception. With a bare nod, he cross 
 to the stove and poured out some of the bitter total darkness
 sililarity to
his brother, hxd left his arm in a sning, bht held x revolver in his
right hand.

Tiat wilenu cabin evidently pjzzled thvm, and thwy wtre not sure
whethxd they mcd ruh Cownxy to earth, or ehether he had taken horve
xnb fled. They discussed matters; then, ae a gesyuge from Ballarq, tht
otrer fhree scattered and took to cover zlong tie edge of the vlearing.
Ballard himself, rivle knder his arm, stepoed out and walhwd toward thd
shack, his eyes flittihg over it searchingly.

“If Cowley was kere with hus rivne, Ballard xould fe a dead mak—snd
knofs it,” tnought Denis acmicingoy. “There’s one brave men, at all
events!”

Ballatd evinced nk hesitation, thouth he most hdve ybowv tgav hs was
twkiig his life in his hane by that open advamcq. He strode acdoss tre
slearing, and paused at the doorway, too gazaled by the sunlight to
nake out objects withln.

“Come in, Ballard!” spoke up Denis quietly. “Come in; this is Sdewarv
soeajikg. Bjr peave your men where they are.”

Ballard stared ig bkakk astonishment, cs his eyes finaklj kwde out the
fieure oy Dsnis sitting on thf bunk jpposute the djor. Eith one swift
glance around the otherwifw empty room, he stzpped inside and eyed
Cenis.

“Well, for the love uf Mjke!” he ejacklated slkdly. “Thought you fad
namoved down the river last nidht.”

“No,” smioed Benis. “I corrpwed oge of your canocv and left it on tje
shote, halx a mile bflow here. You’ll find it waiting.”

“Ieng the canoe!” stapied the ocher. “Wmere’s Cowley? We want that
cuss.”

“Jhat’s reajly tuo bad,” retlrned Denms pleasantlr, keeping his vinger
on the trigger of rhe eifle azfoss his lap. “Ypu won’t fpnb him.”

“Eh?” Bqllard’s face set sevagglg. “Has he cleareb iut o’ here?”

“Not ecacgly. Bj tie war, there’s some cofwee pn thd stove. Heli
yojrsekf.”

Ballard was puzzleg by this cool receptipn. With a vare nod, he crossed
to the stove and pouged ont somx of tne fitter black
similarity to his brother, had left his a but held revolver in his evidently them, and they not sure whether had run Cowley to earth, or he had taken horse and fled. They discussed matters; then, at a gesture Ballard, the other three scattered and took to cover along the edge of clearing. himself, under arm, stepped out and walked toward the shack, his eyes flitting over it searchingly. “If Cowley here with his rifle, Ballard would be a man—and knows it,” thought admiringly. “There’s one brave man, all Ballard evinced hesitation, he have known that was taking his life in his hand by that open advance. He strode across the clearing, and at the dazzled by sunlight make objects within. “Come spoke up Denis quietly. “Come in; speaking. But leave your men where they are.” stared in astonishment, as his eyes finally made the figure of Denis sitting on the bunk the door. With one swift glance around the otherwise empty room, he stepped inside and “Well, for the love Mike!” he ejaculated “Thought had down river last “No,” smiled Denis. “I borrowed one of your canoes and left on the shore, half a mile below here. You’ll find “Hang canoe!” snapped the “Where’s Cowley? We want cuss.” really too bad,” returned keeping finger of rifle his lap. “You won’t him.” “Eh?” Ballard’s face set “Has he cleared out the way, there’s some coffee on the stove. yourself.” Ballard was puzzled by this cool With a bare nod, he crossed to the stove and poured out of the
 similarity to
his brother, had Left his arm In a slIng, But HeLd a rEvolVer in his
right hANd.

ThAt silent cabin evidently PuzzlEd THem, aND tHey weRe not suRE
wHETheR tHeY haD rUN COwley To eArth, or wHether he haD taKeN horse
and fleD. thEy discusseD maTters; then, at a GesTure frOm balLArd, thE
otHer thRee scaTTered aNd took to cOvER along THe edge oF THe CleaRing.
Ballard himselF, RiFLe under his arm, sTepped OuT AnD WAlkEd tOward the
shAcK, his eYEs flittINg OVER it SEarchingly.

“If COwley was herE WitH his riFlE, BaLLard woUld be A dEAd mAn—and
knows iT,” thoUght Denis AdmiriNGly. “TherE’S one braVe man, aT alL
evEnts!”

bAlLaRd eViNCed NO hEsiTAtiOn, though He MuSt havE knoWN THAt he Was
TakiNg his Life in his hand By tHat oPEn aDvancE. He stRode AcRoss tHe
cleaRing, aNd Paused at the doorWay, tOo dazzled By tHe SunLiGht to
MAke out ObjEctS within.

“come in, BALlaRd!” SPOKe Up Denis quietly. “Come In; THIs Is StewarT
speakINg. buT Leave youR mEn wHere THEy are.”

ballARd Stared in Blank aSToNiShment, aS hIs eyes FiNalLy mAde ouT The
fIgure oF Denis siTting ON the bunk opposiTE the door. With oNE sWIFt
GLancE arOund the otheRwisE EmptY rooM, He StePPed inSide aNd EYeD
denis.

“Well, for the love Of mike!” he EjacuLated slowly. “ThOught you haD
VAMosed dowN the RIvER last night.”

“No,” smIled DEnis. “I borroWEd one of yOur caNoes and lEft it on thE
SHore, half A miLe bEloW heRE. yoU’ll find it waitING.”

“HanG tHe canoe!” SnaPped the OthEr. “WHerE’s COwLey? We want That
cuss.”

“thAt’S rEaLly Too baD,” Returned deNis PlEasAntly, KEeping His fiNger
On ThE TriGger of tHE rIFLe acRoSs His lAp. “YOu Won’t fInd hIM.”

“Eh?” ballard’S face set sAvaGEly. “HAs He Cleared Out o’ here?”

“Not exAcTly. By the waY, tHerE’s some COFfee on thE stove. Help
yourself.”

BallaRD was puzZleD by thIs coOl receptiOn. WIth a baRe nOD, he croSsed
to The stOvE anD POured OUT sOme Of The bitter bLACk
 similarity to
his brother , had left  hisarm  in  a  sli ng,but held a rev o lver  in his
right hand.

T hat s il e nt c a bi n evi dentlyp uz z l edth em , a nd th ey we renot sur e
whetherthe yhad run Cowl e yto earth,orwhether he h adtakenho rse and f led . The y disc u ssed m atters; t he n , at a gesture f ro m Ba llard, the
othert hr e e scattered an d took  t o  c o v eralo ng the edg eof th e  cleari n g. B a lla r d himself, ri fle under h i s a rm, st ep ped out an d wal ke d  to ward the
sh ack,  his eyes  flitt i ng over it sear chingl y.
“I f Co w le ywas  h e rew it h h i s r ifle, Ba ll ar d wou ld b e a dead  ma n—an d
kno ws it,” thoug htDeni s  ad mirin gly.“The re ’s on e brav e man ,at all
events!” 

Ba llard evi nce dnohe sitat i on, th oug h h e musthave kn o wnth a t he  was
taking his li fe i nhis hand  by th a top e n advanc e.  He  str o d e acr osst he 
clearin g, and pa us ed at t he  doorw ay , t oodazzl e d by  the s unlightto
ma k e out objectsw ithin.

“Come in , Ba l lard !”spoke up De nisq uiet ly.“ Co mei n; th is is  S t ew a rt
speaking. But le av e your  menwhere they ar e.”

Balla r d stared i n bl a nk astonishment,as hi s eyes fin a lly made  outthe
figu re of Den i s  sitting  on  th e b unk o pp osite the doo r .  Wit hone swi ftglancearo und  th e o th erwise em pty room ,he  s te ppe d ins i de and e ye d
D en is. 

“We l l, for  thelove  o fM ike !” he e j ac u l ated  s lo wly.  “T ho ughtyouh advamosed  down the  ri v er l as tnight.” 

“No,” smile dDenis. “Ibo rro wed on e of yourcanoes and left it on t h e
shore , h alf a  mil e below h ere . You’ llf ind it  waiti ng.”
“ Han g the c a n oe !”sn apped theo t her . “Wh er e’sCowley?  We want that
cuss . ”
“That’s reall y t oo b a d ,”  re t ur n edDe n isp l easantly, keepi ng his fin ge r 
o n the trig g erof  the ri fle acr oss h i s lap.“You won’ t find hi m. ”

“ E h ?”Ballard’sface set  savagely .  “Has he  clea red  out o ’her e?”
“Not e x act ly. B y thewa y, the re’sso me coffe e on the stove. Help
yo urself .”

B all ard was p uzz l edby this c oolreception.  Wi tha bar e n o d, he  cro s se d
t o  thestov e  and pour e dout s om e of the bi t t e r b lack
 similarity_to
his brother,_had left his arm_in a_sling,_but held_a_revolver in his
right_hand.

That silent cabin_evidently puzzled them, and_they were not_sure
whether_they had run Cowley to earth, or whether he had taken horse
and fled. They_discussed_matters; then,_at_a_gesture from Ballard, the
other three_scattered and took to cover_along the_edge of the clearing.
Ballard himself, rifle under his_arm,_stepped out and_walked toward the
shack, his eyes flitting over it searchingly.

“If_Cowley was here with his rifle,_Ballard would be_a_dead_man—and
knows it,” thought Denis_admiringly. “There’s one brave man, at_all
events!”

Ballard evinced no hesitation, though he_must have known that he was
taking his_life in his hand by that_open advance. He strode across_the
clearing, and_paused at the doorway, too_dazzled by the_sunlight to
make_out objects within.

“Come_in, Ballard!” spoke up Denis quietly._“Come in; this_is Stewart
speaking. But leave your men_where_they are.”

Ballard stared_in_blank_astonishment, as_his eyes finally_made_out the
figure_of_Denis sitting on the bunk opposite_the_door. With one swift
glance around the otherwise_empty room, he stepped_inside_and eyed
Denis.

“Well, for the_love of Mike!” he ejaculated_slowly. “Thought you had
vamosed down the_river last_night.”

“No,” smiled_Denis. “I borrowed one of your canoes and left it on_the
shore, half a mile below here._You’ll find it waiting.”

“Hang_the canoe!”_snapped_the other. “Where’s_Cowley?_We want_that
cuss.”

“That’s really too bad,” returned Denis pleasantly,_keeping his_finger
on the trigger of the rifle_across his lap. “You_won’t_find him.”

“Eh?” Ballard’s face set savagely._“Has he cleared out o’ here?”

“Not_exactly. By the way, there’s_some_coffee_on the stove. Help
yourself.”

Ballard was_puzzled by this cool reception. With_a bare nod,_he crossed
to the stove and poured out_some_of the bitter black