"Nor did I. But there's one good thing, it has obscured our tracks. If any of Red Bill's gang tried to follow us now they'd have a lot of trouble."
"That's so," agreed Peggy, and then went on to tell Roy of the terrifying screeches and yells she had heard in the night.
"Nothing but the wind," opined Roy, with boy-like superiority. But the next instant it was his turn to start amazedly. Through the fog-like gloom that still overhung the desert a figure was making its way toward them. Roy's hand flew to the revolver with which the thoughtful Ah Sing had provided his saddle holster.
At the same instant the figure, seemingly that of a young man, turned, and wheeling quickly, ran backward and was swallowed up in the obscurity.
"Was that one of Red Bill's men?" gasped Peggy.
"Impossible. They could not have traveled through that storm. But who can it be?"
"What did he run like that for?"
"I'm going after him to find out," declared Roy pluckily; "maybe it's somebody who has become crazed from the sandstorm."
"Oh, Roy, a lunatic!"
Peggy clasped her hands. But the next instant a fresh surprise greeted them. A tall figure with flowing gray locks and gray goatee, topped off with a big sombrero, was seen approaching from the same direction as that in which the youthful figure had vanished.