“Well, leave it hangin’ on a handy peg, boy,” said the old man cheerfully.
Rathburn jammed the gun back into its holster and walked around to his horse. He led the animal down to drink and then returned and saddled.
“You goin’ on to-night?” asked Price casually.
“I’m takin’ a ride,” Rathburn confessed.
“You ain’t takin’ my advice at the same time, are you?” asked Price, pretending to be greatly concerned.
Rathburn mounted and looked down upon him in the faint light of the stars.
“Joe Price, you’re a wise old desert rat, an’ I’m a young fool,” he said with a twinkle in his gray eyes. “If Bob Long happens this way give him my regards an’ tell him they got the reward notices over in California all right, for I saw ’em stuck up over there. So long.”
The old miner called out after him and watched him ride down the cañon and disappear in the shadows. Nor was he the only watcher; for, high on the ridge above, another man touched his horse with his spurs and started down the west side of the range, as Rathburn vanished.