"A miss is as good as a mile," she said. "We'll just have time to get up. Cochise and Pete must have ridden over around and come down Hell Cañon. Ours was Devil's Chute."
Lennon frowned at the pair of riders who were racing swiftly down aslant from the head of the valley.
"We'll be ready to pick them off," he said. "There's no cover under here."
"Too late for that," sighed Carmena. "Dad won't let us. Besides—Pete——"
"But when the murderers have tried to kill you!—And they'll steal all his cattle."
The girl winced and looked down.
"No. You see Dad—he is friends with all the—Indians hereabouts. I'll be safe enough now, soon as Cochise cools off. It's only a question of you."
"I see!" exclaimed Lennon. "You know the renegades. You would have been safe at the first. You have risked your own life just to save mine. I'll never forget that, Carmena."
"If only—if only you'll remember—when you know!" she whispered, and she turned to start up the rope ladder.
As Lennon stepped forward after her he noticed that the saddle load had already been hoisted above his reach and was rapidly going higher.