“Left him up in the mountains. Did he come down?”
“Yes, this afternoon. And you haven’t seen him?”
“No. I rode on through here and to two camps above, then cut west across the desert to a water hole, where the second outfit gets water for their stock. I was over there some time; then I cut in straight for this place—made a triangle, see?”
“Have—have you found out anything? You see, I know about the—the tie.”
Again he looked at her speculatively, and studied the mare’s fatigued condition.
“Well,” he said slowly, “I ain’t got anything to say, anyway, Miss Canby—if you’ll excuse me.”
“Oh, that’s all right. I shouldn’t have let my curiosity get the better of me. Well, I must ride on and try to find Martin. We—we want him.”
“Tol’able het up—the mare.”
“Yes, she’s bound to go, and I thought I’d let her work it off.”
“Uh-huh. Well, I’ll be peggin’ on, I guess. Ain’t ye pretty far from home this time o’ night, Miss Canby? Maybe ye’d better ride back with me. I’m stayin’ at the next camp below here for to-night.”