CHAPTER I At sunset hour was still , lonely , sweet with tang of fir and spruce , blazing in gold and red and green ; and seemed to blend with the colors and , disappearing , to have become a part of .
, highest of , stood up round and bare , rimmed bright gold in the last glow of the setting sun .
Then , as the fire dropped behind the domed peak , a change , a cold and darkening blight , passed down over .
It was , ten thousand feet above sea-level , isolated on all sides by -- , and .
September in that latitude was marked by the sudden cool night breeze following shortly after sundown .
Twilight appeared to come on its wings , as did faint sounds , not distinguishable before in the stillness .
, , halted at the edge of , to listen and to watch .
Beneath lay .
Its music was pierced by the wild staccato yelp of a hunting coyote .
From overhead in the giant fir came a twittering and rustling of grouse settling for the night ; and from across drifted the last low calls of wild turkeys going to roost .
To 's keen ear these sounds were all they should have been , betokening an unchanged serenity of .
was glad , for had expected to hear the clipclop of 's horses -- which to hear up in those fastnesses was hateful to .
and were .
had no enmity toward .
But there hid somewhere in .
As started out upon , a sudden flaring of the afterglow of sunset flooded down from , filling with lights and shadows , yellow and blue , like the radiance of the sky .
The pools in the curves of shone darkly bright .
's gaze swept up and down , and then tried to pierce the black shadows across where the wall of spruce stood up , its speared and spiked crest against the pale clouds .
The wind began to moan in the trees and there was a feeling of rain in the air .
, striking a trail , turned back to the fading afterglow and strode down .
With night at hand and a rain-storm brewing , did not head for , some miles distant , but directed steps toward .
When reached darkness had almost set in .
approached with caution .
, like the few others scattered in , might harbor or a bear or a panther .
Nothing , however , appeared to be .
Then studied the clouds driving across the sky , and felt the cool dampness of a fine , misty rain on face .
It would rain off and on during the night .
Whereupon entered .
And the next moment heard quick hoof-beats of trotting horses .
Peering out , saw .
had approached against the wind so that sound had been deadened .
Five horses with , made out -- saw loom close .
Then heard rough voices .
Quickly turned to feel in the dark for a ladder knew led to ; and finding it , quickly mounted , taking care not to make a noise with rifle , and lay down upon the floor of brush and poles .
Scarcely had done so when heavy steps , with accompaniment of clinking spurs , passed through the door below into .
“ , , are ? ” queried a loud voice .
There was no reply .
below growled under breath , and again the spurs jingled .
“ , ai n't yet , ” called .
“ Put the hosses under the shed .
'll wait . ”
“ Wait , huh ! ” came a harsh reply .
“ Mebbe all night -- an ' got nuthin ' to eat . ”
“ Shut up , .
Reckon 're no good for anythin ' but eatin ' .
Put them hosses away an ' rustle fire-wood in . ”
Low , muttered curses , then mingled with dull thuds of hoofs and strain of leather and heaves of tired horses .
Another shuffling , clinking footstep entered .
“ , it 'd been sense to fetch a pack along , ” drawled .
“ Reckon so , .
But did n't , an ' what 's the use hollerin ' ?
wo n't keep waitin ' long . ”
, lying still and prone , felt a slow start in all blood -- a thrilling wave .
was , ; and the others , undoubtedly , composed , long notorious in .
And mentioned -- was .
What was the meaning of a rendezvous between and ?
answered that question to 's discredit ; and many strange matters pertaining to sheep and , always a mystery to , now became as clear as daylight .
entered .
“ It ai n't a-goin ' to rain much , ” said one .
Then came a crash of wood thrown to the ground .
“ , hyar 's a chunk of pine log , dry as punk , ” said .
Rustlings and slow footsteps , and then heavy thuds attested to the probability that was knocking the end of a log upon the ground to split off a corner whereby a handful of dry splinters could be procured .
“ , lem pipe , an ' 'll hev a fire in a jiffy . ”
“ Wal , want terbacco an ' ai n't carin ' about no fire , ” replied .
“ Reckon 're , ” drawled .
Sharp click of steel on flint -- many times -- and then a sound of hard blowing and sputtering told of 's efforts to start a fire .
Presently the pitchy blackness of changed ; there came a little crackling of wood and the rustle of flame , and then a steady growing roar .
As it chanced , lay face down upon the floor of the loft , and right near eyes there were cracks between the boughs .
When the fire blazed up was fairly well able to see below .
The only one had ever seen was .
was the best of a bad lot , and had among .
It was rumored that and did not pull well together .
“ Fire feels good , ” said the burly , who appeared as broad as was black-visaged .
“ Fall 's sure a-comin ' ... Now if only had some grub ! ”
“ , there 's a hunk of deer meat in saddle-bag , an ' if git it can have half , ” spoke up another voice .
shuffled out with alacrity .
In the firelight 's face looked lean and serpent-like , eyes glittered , and long neck and all of long length carried out the analogy of name .
“ , what 's this here deal with ? ” inquired .
“ Reckon 'll l'arn when do , ” replied .
appeared tired and thoughtful .
“ Ai n't done away with enough of -- for nothin ' ? ” queried , .
“ 're dead right , -- an ' that 's stand , ” replied .
“ , snow 'll be flyin ' round before long , ” said .
“ Are goin ' to winter down in or over on ? ”
“ Reckon 'll do some tall ridin ' before strike south , ” replied , gruffly .
At the juncture returned .
“ , heerd comin ' up the trail , ” said .
rose and stood at the door , listening .
Outside the wind moaned fitfully and scattering raindrops pattered upon .
“ A-huh ! ” exclaimed , in relief .
Silence ensued then for a moment , at the end of which interval heard a rapid clip-clop on outside .
below shuffled uneasily , but spoke .
The fire cracked cheerily .
stepped back from before the door with an action that expressed both doubt and caution .
The trotting horse had halted out there somewhere .
“ Ho there , inside ! ” called a voice from the darkness .
“ Ho ! ” replied .
“ That , ? ” quickly followed the query .
“ Reckon so , ” returned , showing .
entered .
was .
sombrero , pulled well down , shadowed face , so that the upper half of features might as well have been masked .
had a black , drooping mustache , and a chin like a rock .
A potential force , matured and powerful , seemed to be wrapped in movements .
“ Hullo , !
Hullo , ! ” said .
“ 've backed out on the other deal .
Sent for on -- on another little matter ... particular private . ”
Here indicated with a significant gesture that were to leave .
“ A-huh !
ejaculated , dubiously .
Then turned abruptly .
, an ' an ' go wait outside .
Reckon this ai n't the deal expected ... .
An ' can saddle the hosses . ”