"That's right. It's life over there, but death for you here."
The two men separated.
"Should I leave Riggs here alone?" thought Waters, when he had reached the hills. "It is treachery. It would be called cowardice. He may need my help back there."
He looked in the direction of the ranch, and then turned his face deliberately toward it.
"I'll stand by Riggs! Together we play out our hand, or fall together."
Once more he tramped back with the courage of a lion.
He managed to flit past the house and caught sight of the varied groups of ranchmen in the light of lanterns and torches.
Suddenly the figure of Belle Demona loomed up before him as she directed the men still at work on the remnants of fire.
"A deadlier viper than that never lived in the bush," said Waters, as he watched her. "But for her Riggs would not be here looking for Merle, and she would slay on the spur of the moment. Her sting is death."
He slipped around the place hoping to catch sight of Riggs, but in this he failed.