"Did ye say, Murphy, as how it wasn't Nolan after all who plugged the

Major?"

"I 'm damned--if I did. Who--else was it?"

"Why, I dunno. Sorter blamed odd though, thet ghost should be

a-hauntin' ye. Darn if it ain't creepy 'nough ter make a feller

believe most anythin'."

Murphy drew himself up heavily into his saddle. Then all at once he

shoved the muzzle of a "45" into the other's face. "Ye say nuther

word--'bout thet, an' I 'll make--a ghost outer ye--blame lively. Now,

ye shet up--if ye ride with me."

They moved forward at a walk and reached a higher level, across which

the night wind swept, bearing a touch of cold in its breath as though

coming from the snow-capped mountains to the west. There was renewed

life in this invigorating air, and Murphy spurred forward, his

companion pressing steadily after. They were but two flitting shadows

amid that vast desolation of plain and mountain, their horses' hoofs

barely audible. What imaginings of evil, what visions of the past, may

have filled the half-crazed brain of the leading horseman is

unknowable. He rode steadily against the black night wall, as though

unconscious of his actions, yet forgetting no trick, no skill of the

plains. But the equally silent man behind clung to him like a shadow

of doom, watching his slightest motion--a Nemesis that would never let

go.

When the first signs of returning day appeared in the east, the two

left their horses in a narrow canyon, and crept to the summit of a

ridge. Below lay the broad valley of the Powder. Slowly the misty

light strengthened into gray, and became faintly tinged with crimson,

while the green and brown tints deepened beneath the advancing light,

which ever revealed new clefts in the distant hills. Amid those more

northern bluffs a thin spiral of blue smoke was ascending. Undoubtedly

it was some distant Indian signal, and the wary old plainsman watched

it as if fascinated. But the younger man lay quietly regarding him, a

drawn revolver in his hand. Then Murphy turned his head, and looked

back into the other's face.




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