But he was not going to let it worry him any, so he started through the pass without any further delay.
The trail made by our friends was very plain in places, and Hop took notice of this fact.
He walked along leisurely, taking in all he saw, which was not a great deal, since there were nothing but cliffs and the blue sky above to be seen.
He kept right on until finally he rounded a turn in the pass and saw Jim Dart and the girls about a hundred yards ahead.
As they were gathered behind a big rock, as though hiding, he knew that something was wrong right away.
Hop came to a pause.
Though he wanted to know what was up, he felt that it would be best to go it alone, so he did not walk ahead and join them.
While he stood back close to the cliff a revolver shot rang out.
He saw Jim raise his head above the rock and take a quick look in the direction it came from, and then all was still.
It so happened that Hop had got there just in time to hear the shot that ended the career of the fourth outlaw.