"Hands in the air!"
He did not at once obey. His head turned to see who this Amazon might be.
"Can't you hear? Reach for the sky!" she ordered sharply.
She had risen and stepped from behind the tree. He could see that she was dark, of a full, fine figure, and that her steady black eyes watched him without the least fear. The rifle in her hands covered him very steadily.
His hands went up, but he could not keep a little, sardonic smile from his face. The young woman lowered the rifle from her shoulder and moved warily forward.
"Lie down on the sand, face to the ground, hands outstretched!" came her next command.
Billie did as he was told. A little tug at his side gave notice to him that she had deftly removed his revolver.
"Sit up!"
The cowpuncher sat up and took notice. Stars of excitement snapped in the eyes of this very competent young woman. The color beat warmly through her dark skin. She was very well worth looking at.
"What's your name?" she demanded.