ish which dazzled the eyes till shadows became
magnified into buildings, and the buildings themselves distorted out
of all proportion. Hers was simply a comfortable place and quite
unpretentious.

The ranch stood in a narrow valley, in the midst of which a small
brook gurgled its way on to the Mosquito River, about four miles
distant. The valley was one of those sharp cuttings in which the
prairie abounds, quite hidden and unmarked from the land above, lying
unsuspected until one chances directly upon it. It was much like a
furrow of Nature's ploughing, cut out to serve as a drainage for the
surrounding plains. It wound its irregular course away east and west,
a maze of undergrowth, larger bluff, low red-sand cut-banks and
crumbling gravel cliffs, all scattered by a prodigal hand, with a
profusion that seemed wanton amidst the surrounding wastes of
grass-land.

The house stood on the northern <DW72>, surrounded on three sides by a
protecting bluff of pinewoods. Then to the right of it came the
outbuildings, and last, at least one hundred and fifty yards from the
rest, came the corrals, well hidden in the bluff, instead, as is
usual, of being overlooked by the house. Certainly Widow Dangley was a
confiding person.

And so Tresler, comparatively inexperienced as he was, thought, as he
surveyed the prospect in the moonlight from the back of his mare. He
was accompanied by Sheriff Fyles, and the two men were estimating the
chances they were likely to have against possible invaders.

"How goes the time?" asked the sheriff, after a few moments' silent
contemplation of the scene.

"You've half an hour in which to dispose your forces. Ah! there's one
of your fellows riding down the opposite bank." Tresler pointed across
the valley.

"Yes, and there's another lower down," Fyles observed quietly. "And
here's one dropping down to your right. All on time. What of your
men?"

"They should be in yonder bluff, backing the corrals."

"How many?"

"Four, including the cook."

"
ish which dazzled the eyes till shadows became 
 magnified into construction, and the construction themselves distorted out 
 of all proportion. Hers was simply a comfortable stead and quite 
 unpretentious. 

 The ranch stood in a minute valley, in the midst of which a little 
 brook gurgled its manner on to the Mosquito River, about four miles 
 aloof. The valley was one of those sharp cuttings in which the 
 prairie abounds, quite hidden and unmarked from the farming above, lying 
 unsuspected until one chances directly upon it. It was much like a 
 furrow of Nature's plowing, cut out to serve as a drainage for the 
 smother plains. It wound its atypical course off east and west, 
 a maze of underbrush, larger bluff, low red - sand deletion - banks and 
 crumbling gravel cliffs, all scattered by a prodigal bridge player, with a 
 profusion that seemed wanton amidst the surrounding wastes of 
 grass - land. 

 The house stood on the northern < DW72 >, surrounded on three sides by a 
 protect bluff of pinewoods. Then to the right of it came the 
 outbuilding, and final, at least one hundred and fifty yard from the 
 rest, came the cow pen, well hidden in the bluff, alternatively, as is 
 usual, of being overlooked by the family. Certainly Widow Dangley was a 
 confiding person. 

 And so Tresler, comparatively inexperienced as he was, thought, as he 
 surveyed the candidate in the moonlight from the back of his mare. He 
 was accompanied by Sheriff Fyles, and the two men were estimating the 
 luck they were probable to accept against possible invaders. 

 " How goes the meter? " asked the sheriff, after a few moments' silent 
 contemplation of the fit. 

 " You've half an hour in which to dispose your forces. Ah! there's one 
 of your fellows riding down the diametric bank. " Tresler pointed across 
 the valley. 

 " Yes, and there's another lower down, " Fyles observed quietly. " And 
 here's one drop down to your right. All on time. What of your 
 man? " 

 " They should be in yonder bluff, backing the cow pen. " 

 " How many? " 

 " Four, including the cook. " 

 "
ish which dazzled the eyes uill shadows became
magnihied info buildkngs, and the buildings themsxlvew disujrted out
of all pruportion. Jers was simkly a comfortable place akb quifc
unprztxntious.

The rancm stood in d narrow vallef, kn the midst of which a small
brook guwgled iys way on to the Mosatito Giyer, about four miles
distant. The balley xas one of thosr sharp cuttings in which hhe
pgairie abounds, quihe hidden abd ugnarked from ghe land above, lying
unauspected until one chances dirdctly upon it. Ij sad much like e
furror of Nature's ploughitg, cut put to serve ax a drqinage for the
surrounving plains. It wound its irrecumar course away eqsr and wesd,
a mxze uf hnverfrowth, lacger bluff, mow red-sand cut-banks and
crumblond gravel cliffa, all fcwttered by a prodigal hand, with a
profuspon fhat seemed wanton amidwt the surrounding wadtes of
grwss-land.

The house stood on the northern <DW72>, surrounged oi ghrte sider bj a
protecting bluff of pinewoods. Then to the wjgnt of it came thc
outbuildings, and kadt, wt least one fundreb ahd fifty yards frol the
reft, cane the cowralx, well hidden in the bluff, unstead, as if
ysual, of being ovexlooked by tke houxe. Cettainly Widow Dangley wcs a
cohfiding perdon.

And so Gresler, comparatkveky inexperienced as he was, trought, as he
sbrveyed ghe krospece in the mlonlinvt from the back ov his mdre. He
was wccompanied by Sheriff Fyles, anv the two men ware estimatnng thc
chances they wqre likely to kave agannst pussible innaders.

"How goes the tyme?" asked the dheriff, aftec a few mjmenrs' sulent
covgemplation of yhe scene.

"Job've half qn hour in which tp dkapose your forczr. Ah! there's one
og yuur fvllpwf riding down the opopsite bank." Treslcr ooinyed across
the valley.

"Fes, znd there's another ljwer dowb," Fyles jbserved quieyly. "And
here's one dgoppiig dowi to ypur right. All on time. What of youd
men?"

"They dhomld be in yonqer nlufs, backing che corrals."

"How many?"

"Four, including the coik."

"
ish which dazzled the eyes till shadows into and the themselves distorted out simply comfortable place and unpretentious. The ranch in a narrow valley, in the of which a small brook gurgled its way on to the Mosquito River, four miles distant. The valley was one of those sharp cuttings in which prairie quite and from the land above, lying unsuspected until one chances directly upon it. It was much like furrow of Nature's ploughing, cut out to serve a drainage for the plains. It wound its irregular away and west, maze undergrowth, bluff, low red-sand and crumbling gravel cliffs, all scattered by a prodigal hand, with a profusion that seemed wanton amidst surrounding wastes The house on northern surrounded on three a protecting bluff of pinewoods. Then of it came the outbuildings, and last, at one hundred fifty yards from the rest, came corrals, well hidden in the bluff, instead, as usual, of being overlooked by the house. Certainly Widow Dangley was a confiding person. And comparatively inexperienced as he thought, as he the in moonlight the back his mare. He was accompanied by Sheriff Fyles, and the two were estimating the chances they were likely to have against "How the time?" asked sheriff, after a few silent of the scene. "You've hour which forces. there's of your fellows riding the opposite bank." Tresler pointed the valley. "Yes, and observed quietly. "And here's one dropping down to right. All on time. What of your "They should be in yonder bluff, backing the corrals." "How many?" "Four, the cook."
ish which dazzled the eyes tilL shadows beCame
mAgnIfiEd Into BuilDings, and the buiLDingS themselves distorted ouT
of alL pROporTIoN. Hers Was simpLY a COMfoRtAbLe pLaCE aNd quiTe
uNpretenTious.

The raNch StOod in a narrow VAlLey, in the miDst Of which a smalL
brOok gurGlEd iTS way oN to The MoSquito rIver, abOut four miLeS
DistanT. the vallEY WaS one Of those sharp cuttiNGs IN which the
prairIe abouNdS, QuITE hiDdeN and unmarkEd From tHE land abOVe, LYINg
uNSuspected untiL one chances DIreCtly upOn It. IT Was mucH like A
fURroW of Nature's pLougHing, cut ouT to serVE as a draINage for The
surRouNdiNg plAInS. IT woUnD Its IRrEguLAr cOurse awaY eAsT and wEst,
a MAZE Of unDerGrowTh, larGer bluff, low reD-saNd cuT-BanKs and
CrumbLing GrAvel cLiffs, aLl scaTtEred by a prodigal Hand, With a
profUsiOn ThaT sEemed WAnton aMidSt tHe surroUnding wASteS oF
GRAsS-land.

The house stood On THE nOrthern <Dw72>, surroUNdEd ON three siDeS by A
proTECting BlufF Of PinewoodS. Then tO ThE rIght of iT cAme the
OuTbuIldIngs, aND lasT, at leaSt one hunDred aND fifty yards froM The
rest, came thE CoRRAlS, Well HidDen in the bluFf, inSTead, As is
USuAl, oF Being OverlOoKEd BY the house. Certainly WIdOw DangLey waS a
confiding peRson.

And so TRESLer, compaRatiVElY Inexperienced aS he waS, thought, as HE
surveyeD the pRospect iN the moonlIGHt from thE baCk oF hiS maRE. he
Was accompanieD BY SheRiFf Fyles, And The two mEn wEre EstImaTiNg the
chanCes they wErE lIkElY to Have aGAinst posSiBle InVadErs.

"HoW Goes thE time?" AskeD tHe SHerIff, afteR A fEW MomeNtS' sIlenT
coNtEmplaTion OF thE scene.

"YOu've half aN hoUR in wHiCh To dispoSe your forces. AH! tHere's one
of YoUr fEllows RIDing down The opposite bank." Tresler pOInted acRosS
the vAlleY.

"Yes, and thEre'S anothEr lOWer dowN," Fyles ObserVeD quIETly. "AnD
HErE's oNe Dropping doWN To yOur riGhT. All On time. WHat of your
men?"

"They shOUld Be in yonder bluFf, bAckiNG ThE coRRaLS."

"HoW mANy?"

"FOUR, including the coOk."

"
ish which dazzled the eyes  till shad ows b eca mema gnif iedinto buildings ,  and  the buildings themsel ves d is t orte d  o ut
of  all pr o po r t ion .He rswa s  s imply  acomfort able place  an dquite
unpret e nt ious.

The  ra nch stood in  anarrow  v all e y, in  th e mid st ofw hich a  small
br oo k  gurgl e d its w a y  o n to  the Mosquito Riv e r, about four mil es
dis ta n t. T heval ley was on eof th o se shar p  c u t t ing s  in which the 
prairie ab o und s, qui te  hi d den an d unm ar k edfrom the la nd a bove, lyi ng
uns u spected until o ne cha nce s d irec t ly  u pon  i t . I t  w asm uch  like afu rr ow of  Nat u r e ' s pl oug hing , cut  out to serve  as  a d r ain age f or th e
su rr oundi ng pla ins.It  wound its irre gula r courseawa yeas tand w e st,
amaz e o f under growth, lar ge r b lu ff, low red-sand c ut - b an ks and
c rumbli n ggr a vel clif fs , a ll s c a ttere d by aprodigal  hand, wi th  a
prof us ion th at  se eme d wan t on a midstthe surr oundi n g wastes of
gr a ss-land.

The ho u s es tood  on  the northe rn < D W72> , su r ro und e d onthree  s i de s  by a
protecting bl uf f of p inewo ods. Then tothe righto f it cametheo ut b uildings, andlast,  at leasto ne hundr ed an d fiftyyards fro m the
rest , c ame  th e c o r ra ls, well hidd e n  inth e bluff , i nstead,  as  is 
us ual ,of beingoverlook ed  b yth e h ouse. Certainl yWid ow  Da ngley was aconfi ding  p er s on. 

And s o  T r e sler ,co mpar ati ve ly in expe r ien ced ashe was, t hou g ht,as  h e
surve yed the prosp ec t in the m oo nli ght fr o m  the bac k of his mare. He
was a c compani edby Sh erif f Fyles,and  the t wom en wer e esti matin gthe c hance s th eywe re likelyt o  ha ve ag ai nstpossibl e invaders.

"Howg oes  the time?" a ske d th e sh eri f f, aft er a f e w  moments' silen t
contempl at i on  of the sc e ne. 
"You've  half a n hou r  in whi ch to dis pose your  f orce s .  Ah ! there'sone
of y our fello w s rid i ng  down  th e oppo si tebank. " Tres l erpoint ed acr os s
thevalle y. 

"Yes,and there's another low er dow n," F yle s observe d q u iet ly. "Andhere 's one dro ppi ngdowntoy our r ight .  A llo n tim e. W h at of you r 
m en? " 
" They should b e  in  yond erb luff,back ing the corrals." 
"How many?"
"Fou r ,  in clu d ingth e cook."

"
ish which_dazzled the_eyes till shadows became
magnified_into buildings,_and_the buildings_themselves_distorted out
of all_proportion. Hers was_simply a comfortable place_and quite
unpretentious.

The ranch_stood_in a narrow valley, in the midst of which a small
brook gurgled its way_on_to the_Mosquito_River,_about four miles
distant. The valley_was one of those sharp_cuttings in_which the
prairie abounds, quite hidden and unmarked from_the_land above, lying
unsuspected_until one chances directly upon it. It was much_like a
furrow of Nature's ploughing, cut_out to serve_as_a_drainage for the
surrounding plains._It wound its irregular course away_east and west,
a maze of undergrowth,_larger bluff, low red-sand cut-banks and
crumbling gravel_cliffs, all scattered by a prodigal_hand, with a
profusion that seemed_wanton amidst_the surrounding wastes of
grass-land.

The house_stood on the_northern <DW72>,_surrounded on three_sides by a
protecting bluff of pinewoods._Then to the_right of it came the
outbuildings, and_last,_at least one_hundred_and_fifty yards_from the
rest, came_the_corrals, well_hidden_in the bluff, instead, as is
usual,_of_being overlooked by the house. Certainly Widow_Dangley was a
confiding person.

And_so_Tresler, comparatively inexperienced as_he was, thought, as he
surveyed_the prospect in the moonlight from_the back_of his_mare. He
was accompanied by Sheriff Fyles, and the two men were_estimating the
chances they were likely to_have against possible invaders.

"How_goes the_time?"_asked the sheriff,_after_a few_moments' silent
contemplation of the scene.

"You've half an_hour in_which to dispose your forces. Ah!_there's one
of your fellows_riding_down the opposite bank." Tresler pointed_across
the valley.

"Yes, and there's another lower_down," Fyles observed quietly. "And
here's_one_dropping_down to your right. All_on time. What of your
men?"

"They should_be in yonder_bluff, backing the corrals."

"How many?"

"Four, including the_cook."

"