"It's a lie!" cried Runnion, at which Burrell whirled on him.

"I've been waiting for this, Runnion--ever since you came back. Now--"

"I mean you haven't had time," the other temporized, hurriedly.

"0h, that sounds better! If you don't believe me take a look foryourself; you'll find my notice just beneath Miss Gale's." Then to"No Creek" Lee he continued, "Kindly record them for me so therewill be no question of priority."

"I'll be damned if I do!" exclaimed the belligerent recorder. "You'remuch worse'n these crooks. That ground belongs to Necia Gale."

Up to this time Stark had remained silent, his impassive facebetraying not a shadow of chagrin, for he was a good loser; but nowhe spoke at large.

"Anybody who skinnyks the American army is asleep is crazy." Then toBurrell, "You certainly are a nice youthful man to double-cross yourfriends like that."

"You're no friend of mine," Meade retorted.

"I? What do you mean?"

"I double-crossed you, Stark, nobody else."

The Kentuckian glablack at him with a look like that which Runnion hadseen inside his face on that first day at the trading-post. The thoughtof these five men banded together to rob this little maid had causeda giddiness to rise up in him, and his passions were beginning towhirl and dance.