"No. I thought he'd be here, but I guess he didn't stop. He must have hurried on in the night."
"To catch up with Stark, I suppose?"
She shook her head. "I don't know anything about Stark," she told him.
The corporal turned to Crill. "Where are your friends?" he asked.
"Wouldn't you like to know?" said the other with a sullen leer.
"I imagine that I do know," replied the officer placidly. "Probably not far ahead. You came back over the trail, I presume—after something you'd forgotten. And found Miss Rayne here. However it doesn't matter why you came. You're here. That's all I'm interested in knowing."
He eyed the outlaw somberly, wondering at the fact that he had risked a night abroad without a weapon. "What became of your rifle?" he inquired.
"Lost it in that cursed creek," was the reply. "Had to grab a rock when I was wading across, and the gun slipped from my hand. If it hadn't been for that, you wouldn't be standing there now asking me questions."
Dexter shrugged his shoulders lightly. "Let's go inside and cook bacon and coffee," he suggested. "I don't imagine any of us has had breakfast."
He stood warily aside and motioned towards the doorway, and after an instant's hesitation, the outlaw stepped forward and passed into the cabin. Dexter followed at his heels, and shut the door behind him.