One day Billy was seated by the side of a small stream fishing.
The bank was behind him, rising some eight feet, and he had ensconced himself upon a log that had been drifting down the stream in a freshet, and lodged there.
Back from him, bordering the little creek ran the trail to the nearest town, and along this rode two persons.
The quick ear of the boy heard hoof-falls, and glancing quickly over the bank he saw three horsemen approaching, and one of these he recognized as Hugh Hall his rival.
Just back of Billy was a grove of cottonwood trees, and here the men halted for a short rest in the shade, and all they said distinctly reached the boy's ears.
"I tell you, pards," said Hugh Hall, "I cannot longer delay then, so if old Vennor refuses to let me have Nannie I'll just take her."
"The best way, Hugh; but what about the wife that's now on your trail?" asked one.
"What care I for her, after I have run off with Nannie?"
"But she'll blow on you to old man Vennor."
"I do not care. I'll deny it to Nannie, say the woman is crazy, and one by one the family will drop off until she only remains, and then she'll get the property."