When the group sat down to the meal the gulch was full of sunset colors.  And, strangely, they were all some shade of gold.  Beautiful golden veils, misty, ethereal, shone in rays across the gulch from the broken ramparts; and they seemed so brilliant, so rich, prophetic of the treasures of the hills.  But that golden sunset changed.  The sun went down red, leaving a sinister shadow over the gulch, growing darker and darker.  Joan saw Cleve thoughtfully watching this transformation, and she wondered if he had caught the subtle mood of nature.  For whatever had been the hope and brightness, the golden glory of this new Eldorado, this sudden uprising Alder Creek with its horde of brave and toiling miners, the truth was that Jack Kells and Gulden had ridden into the camp and the sun had gone down red.  Joan knew that great mining-camps were always happy, rich, free, lucky, honest places till the fame of gold brought evil men.  And she had not the slightest doubt that the sun of Alder Creek’s brief and glad day had set forever.

Twilight was stealing down from the hills when Kells announced to his party:  “Bate, you and Jesse keep camp.  Pearce, you look out for any of the gang.  But meet in the dark! ...  Cleve, you can go with me.”  Then he turned to Joan.  “Do you want to go with us to see the sights or would you rather stay here?”

“I’d like to go, if only I didn’t look so—­so dreadful in this suit,” she replied.

Kells laughed, and the camp-fire glare lighted the smiling faces of Pearce and Smith.

“Why, you’ll not be seen.  And you look far from dreadful.”

“Can’t you give me a—­a longer coat?” faltered Joan.

Cleve heard, and without speaking he went to his saddle and unrolled his pack.  Inside a slicker he had a gray coat.  Joan had seen it many a time, and it brought a pang with memories of Hoadley.  Had that been years ago?  Cleve handed this coat to Joan.

“Thank you,” she said.

Kells held the coat for her and she slipped into it.  She seemed lost.  It was long, coming way below her hips, and for the first time in days she felt she was Joan Randle again.

“Modesty is all very well in a woman, but it’s not always becoming,” remarked Kells.  “Turn up your collar. ...  Pull down your hat—­ farther—­There!  If you won’t go as a youngster now I’ll eat Dandy Dale’s outfit and get you silk dresses.  Ha-ha!”

Joan was not deceived by his humor.  He might like to look at her in that outrageous bandit costume; it might have pleased certain vain and notoriety-seeking proclivities of his, habits of his California road-agent days; but she felt that notwithstanding this, once she had donned the long coat he was relieved and glad in spite of himself.  Joan had a little rush of feeling.  Sometimes she almost liked this bandit.  Once he must have been something very different.