A solitary candle burned in a bracket candlestick that was fastened against the wall; but, as there was a reflector behind it, the interior of the dug-out was well lighted.
The ranchman talked incessantly while he was busy with his preparations for supper; but Oscar was too deeply engrossed with his own affairs to pay much attention to him.
The loss of the mule weighed heavily on his mind; but, after all, it did not trouble him so much as did the note which the ranchman said he had found fastened to his “door.”
Oscar knew then, as well as he knew it afterward, that the note had been written by his brother, at the dictation of Lish, the Wolfer, and that it could have been written for no other purpose than to get him into trouble with the ranchman; but why the Wolfer and Tom should want to get him into trouble was something he could not divine. It was something that baffled him completely.
Worse than all, he was obliged to keep his own counsel; there was no one to whom he could go for advice.
He would have been glad to continue the journey that night; for he wanted to get away by himself and think the matter over.
Presently the guide came in, having unhitched the mule and turned his pony loose to graze, as the ranchman had directed.
He had but little to say while disposing of his share of the homely supper that was speedily served up on the large dry-goods box, but left the ranchman and Oscar to do the talking.
The little he did say was addressed to his employer, who learned that he had attained to high rank during the last half-hour.
Although Oscar did not know it, he had made two firm friends by the course he had pursued.