“That’s all I want to hear,” said the gun-man, and touched spurs to his horse.

XXXI

Bob’s absence had occasioned some speculation, but no uneasiness, at headquarters.  An officer of the Forest Service was too often called upon for sudden excursions in unexpected emergencies to make it possible for his chiefs to keep accurate track of all his movements.  A day’s trip to the valley might easily be deflected to a week’s excursion to the higher peaks by any one of a dozen circumstances.  The report of trespassing sheep, a tiny smoke above distant trees, a messenger sent out for arbitration in a cattle dispute, are samples of the calls to which Bob must have hastened no matter on what errand he had been bound.

He arrived at headquarters late in the afternoon.  Already a thin wand of smoke wavered up through the trees from Amy’s little, open kitchen.  The open door of the shed office trickled forth a thin clicking of typewriters.  Otherwise the camp seemed deserted.

At Bob’s halloo, however, both Thorne and old California John came to the door.  In two minutes he had all three gathered about the table under the three big firs.

“In the first place, I want to say right now,” he began, “that I have the evidence to win the land case against the Modoc Mining Company.”

“How?” demanded Thorne, leaning forward eagerly.

“Baker has boasted, before two witnesses, that his mineral entries were fraudulent and made simply to get water rights and timber.”

“Those witnesses will testify?”

“They will.”

“Who are they?”

“Mr. Welton and myself.”

“Glory be!” cried Thorne, springing to his feet and clapping Bob on the back.  “We’ve got him!”

“So that’s what you’ve been up to for the past week!” cried Amy.  “We’ve been wondering where you had disappeared to!”

“Well, not precisely,” grinned Bob; “I’ve been in durance vile.”

In response to their questionings he detailed a semi-humorous account of his abduction, detention and escape.  His three auditors listened with the deepest attention.

As the recital progressed to the point wherein Bob described his midnight escape, Amy, unnoticed by the others, leaned back and closed her eyes.  The colour left her face for a moment, but the next instant had rushed back to her cheeks in a tide of deeper red.  She thrust forward, her eyes snapping with indignation.

“They are desperate; there’s no doubt of it,” was Thorne’s comment.  “And they won’t stop at this.  I wish the trial was to-morrow.  We must get your testimony in shape before anything happens.”

Amy was staring across the table at them, her lips parted with horror.

“You don’t think they’ll try anything worse!” she gasped.

Bob started to reassure her, but Thorne in his matter-of-fact way broke in.