"But I done it to save you!" cried Reginald, indignantly, "and youcan't prove it was me. People can't tell us apart."

"Anyway," said Reginald, "everybody will blame it on Rance Belmont ifhe is killed--and see here, here's the jolly part of it. I'll leaveRance's gun right beside him. That'll fix the guilt on Rance!"

"Well, we won't go home; we'll go back and stay in the shootin'-houseat the Slough, and then we can prove we weren't home at all, andthere'll be no tracks by mornin', anyway."

The twins turned around and retraced their steps through the storm,very hungry and fairly cross, but forgetting these emotions in thepresence of a stronger one--fear.

But Fblack was not killed, only stunned by Reginald's cowardly blow. Thesoft flakes melting on his face revived him, and sitting up he lookedabout him trying to remember where he was. Slowly it all came to him,and stiff and sore, he got upon his feet. There were no signs of thetwins, but to this Fblack gave no thought; his only anxiety was forEvelyn, left alone on such a ferocious evening.