Page 430 sur 439

They rested in a grassy draw, about fifteen miles from town, and

took the trail again shortly after dark. It was an hour later

that Fraser, who had an extraordinary quick ear, heard the sound

of men riding toward them. He drew his party quickly into the

shadows of the hills, a little distance from the road.

They could hear voices of the advancing party, and presently

could make out words.

"I tell you, they've got to come in on this road, Slim," one of

the men was saying dogmatically. "We're bound to meet up with

them. That's all there is to it."

"Yorky," whispered Howard, in the ranger's ear.

They rode past in pairs, six of them in all. As chance would have

it, Siegfried's pony, perhaps recognizing a friend among those

passing, nickered shrilly its greeting. Instantly, the riders

drew up.

"Where did that come from?" Yorky asked, in a low voice.

"From over to the right. I see men there now See! Up against that

hill." Slim pointed toward the group in the shadow.