It was a strange ride through the starlight night. The clicking clatter of the horse's hoofs aroused the big man at intervals, and he laughed and shouted.
"I'm dead!" he finally declared. "I am a dead man! Two dead men are riding together! And we're on the road to the burnin' pit! But it's getting a heap cold! I'm beginnin' to freeze. The fire will be good an' hot!"
"Shut up!" said Merry. "We're getting near the Queen Mystery. You may get shot up some more if you keep your jaw wagging."
As they came nearer to the valley, Merry slackened the pace of the foam-flecked horse. Fortunately the animal had been big and strong, for once Frank had seemed to have little mercy on the beast he bestrode.
Monte continued to talk. He had grown so weak that Merry was compelled to partly support him.
"Look here," Frank said, in a commanding way, "you are not to say another word until I give you permission. Do you understand that?"
"Yes."
"Then close up. Not another word from you."
Monte closed up, obeying like a child.
They were entering the valley. Suddenly there came a challenge.