Solitude engulfed him.  Once a mule deer stared at him in surprise from an escarpment back of the mesa.  A rattlesnake buzzed its ominous warning.

He left the road to follow the broad trail made by the Flying V Y herd.  A horizon of deep purple marked the afterglow of sunset and preceded a desert night of stars.  Well into the evening he rode, then hobbled his horse before he built a camp-fire.

Darkness was still thick over the plains when he left the buffalo wallow in which he had camped.  All day he held a steady course northward till the stars were out again.  Late the next afternoon he struck the dust of the drag in the ground swells of a more broken country.

The drag-driver directed Goodheart to the left point.  He found there two men, One of them—­Dad Wrayburn—­he knew.  The other was a man of sandy complexion, hard-faced, and fishy of eye.

“Whad you want?” the second demanded.

“I want to see Webb.”

“Can’t see him.  He ain’t here.”

“Where is he?”

“He’s ridden on to the Fort to make arrangements for receiving the herd,” answered the man sulkily.

“Who’s the big auger left?”

“I’m the foreman, if that’s what you mean?”

“Well, I’ve come to tell you that two of yore men are hidin’ in the chaparral below Los Portales.  There was trouble at Tolleson’s.  Two of the Lazy S M men were gunned an’ one of yours was wounded.”

“Which one was wounded?”

“I heard his name was Clanton.”

“Suits me fine,” grinned the foreman, showing two rows of broken, stained teeth.  “Hope the Lazy S M boys gunned him proper.”

Dad Wrayburn broke in softly.  “Chicto, compadre!” ("Hush, partner!”) He turned to Goodheart.  “The other man with Clanton must be Billie Prince.”

“Yes.”

“I reckon the Lazy S M boys are lookin’ for ’em.”

“You guessed right first crack out of the box.”

“Where are our boys holed up?”

“In a cave the other side of town.  They’re just beyond the big bend of the river.  I’ll take you there.”

“You’ve seen ’em.”

“No.”  Goodheart hesitated just a moment before he went on.  “I was sent by the person who has seen ’em.”

“Listens to me like a plant,” jeered Yankie.

“Meanin’ that I’m a liar?” asked Goodheart coldly.

“I wasn’t born yesterday.  Come clean.  Who is yore friend that saw the boys?”

“I can’t tell you that.”

“Then yore story doesn’t interest me a whole lot.”

“Different here,” dissented Wrayburn.  “Do you know how badly Clanton is hurt, Jack?”

“No.  He was able to ride out of town, but my friend told me to say he wasn’t able to ride now.  You’ll have to send a wagon for him.”

Wrayburn turned to the foreman.  “Joe, we’ve got to go back an’ help the boys.”

“Not on yore topknot, Dad.  I’m here to move these beeves along to the Fort.  Prince an’ that Clanton may have gone on a tear an’ got into trouble or they may not.  I don’t care a plugged nickel which way it is.  I’m not keepin’ herd on them, an’ what’s more I don’t intend to.”