border and heard of him.  Even then I did not for long give up hope of his coming back, I know now—­something tells me—­indeed, it seems his spirit tells me—­he was lost.  But I don’t have that feeling for Yaqui and his party.  Yaqui has given Rojas the slip or has ambushed him in some trap.  Probably that took time and a long journey into Sonora.  The Indian is too wise to start back now over dry trails.  He’ll curb the rangers; he’ll wait.  I seem to know this, dear Nell, so be brave, patient.  Dick Gale will come back to you.”

“Oh, mother!” cried Nell.  “I can’t give up hope while I have you.”

That talk with the strong mother worked a change in Nell and Belding.  Nell, who had done little but brood and watch the west and take violent rides, seemed to settle into a waiting patience that was sad, yet serene.  She helped her mother more than ever; she was a comfort to Belding; she began to take active interest in the affairs of the growing village.  Belding, who had been breaking under the strain of worry, recovered himself so that to outward appearance he was his old self.  He alone knew, however, that his humor was forced, and that the slow burning wrath he felt for the Chases was flaming into hate.

Belding argued with himself that if Ben Chase and his son, Radford, had turned out to be big men in other ways than in the power to carry on great enterprises he might have become reconciled to them.  But the father was greedy, grasping, hard, cold; the son added to those traits an overbearing disposition to rule, and he showed a fondness for drink and cards.  These men were developing the valley, to be sure, and a horde of poor Mexicans and many Americans were benefiting from that development; nevertheless, these Chases were operating in a way which proved they cared only for themselves.

Belding shook off a lethargic spell and decided he had better set about several by no means small tasks, if he wanted to get them finished before the hot months.  He made a trip to the Sonoyta Oasis.  He satisfied himself that matters along the line were favorable, and that there was absolutely no trace of his rangers.  Upon completing this trip he went to Casita with a number of his white thoroughbreds and shipped them to ranchers and horse-breeders in Texas.  Then, being near the railroad, and having time, he went up to Tucson.  There he learned some interesting particulars about the Chases.  They had an office in the city; influential friends in the Capitol.  They were powerful men in the rapidly growing finance of the West.  They had interested the Southern Pacific Railroad, and in the near future a branch line was to be constructed from San Felipe to Forlorn River.  These details of the Chase development were insignificant when compared to a matter striking close home to Belding.  His responsibility had been subtly attacked.  A doubt had been cast upon his capability of executing the duties of immigration