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mustang； nothing could be more unconscious and utterly indifferent
than his attitude。 He did not seem to know of the proximity of any
other traveler； and to care less。 His handsome head was slightly
thrown back； as if he was caroling after his usual fashion； but the
distance was too great to make his melody audible to them； or to
allow Barker's shout of invitation to reach him。 Suddenly he
lowered his tightened rein； the mustang sprang forward； and with a
flash of silver spurs and bridle fripperies he had disappeared。
But as the trail he was pursuing crossed theirs a mile beyond； it
seemed quite possible that they should again meet him。
They were now fairly into the Boomville valley； and were entering a
narrow arroyo bordered with dusky willows which effectually
excluded the view on either side。 It was the bed of a mountain
torrent that in winter descended the hillside over the trail by
which they had just come； but was now sunk into the thirsty plain
between banks that varied from two to five feet in height。 The
muleteer had advanced into the narrow channel when he suddenly cast
a hurried glance behind him； uttered a 〃Madre de Dios！〃 and backed
his mule and his precious freight against the bank。 The sound of
hoofs on the trail in their rear had caught his quicker ear； and as
the three partners turned they beheld three horsemen thundering
down the hill towards them。 They were apparently Mexican vaqueros
of the usual common swarthy type； their faces made still darker by
the black silk handkerchief tied round their heads under their
stiff sombreros。 Either they were unable or unwilling to restrain
their horses in their headlong speed； and a collision in that
narrow passage was imminent； but suddenly； before reaching its
entrance； they diverged with a volley of oaths； and dashing along
the left bank of the arroyo； disappeared in the intervening
willows。 Divided between relief at their escape and indignation at
what seemed to be a drunken； feast…day freak of these roystering
vaqueros； the little party re…formed； when a cry from Barker
arrested them。 He had just perceived a horseman motionless in the
arroyo who； although unnoticed by them； had evidently been seen by
the Mexicans。 He had apparently leaped into it from the bank； and
had halted as if to witness this singular incident。 As the clatter
of the vaqueros' hoofs died away he lightly leaped the bank again
and disappeared。 But in that single glimpse of him they recognized
Jack Hamlin。 When they reached the spot where he had halted； they
could see that he must have approached it from the trail where they
had previously seen him； but which they now found crossed it at
right angles。 Barker was right。 He had really kept them at easy
distance the whole length of the journey。
But they were now reaching its end。 When they issued at last from
the arroyo they came upon the outskirts of Boomville and the great
stage…road。 Indeed； the six horses of the Pioneer coach were just
panting along the last half mile of the steep upgrade as they
approached。 They halted mechanically as the heavy vehicle swayed
and creaked by them。 In their ordinary working dress； sunburnt
with exposure； covered with dust； and carrying their rifles still
in their hands； they； perhaps； presented a sufficiently
characteristic appearance to draw a few facessome of them pretty
and intelligentto the windows of the coach as it passed。 The
sensitive Barker was quickest to feel that resentment with which
the Pioneer usually met the wide…eyed criticism of the Eastern
tourist or 〃greenhorn；〃 and reddened under the bold scrutiny of a
pair of black inquisitive eyes behind an eyeglass。 That annoyance
was communicated； though in a lesser degree； even to the bearded
Demorest and Stacy。 It was an unexpected contact with that great
world in which they were so soon to enter。 They felt ashamed of
their appearance； and yet ashamed of that feeling。 They felt a
secret satisfaction when Barker said； 〃They'd open their eyes wider
if they knew what was in that pack…saddle；〃 and yet they corrected
him for what they were pleased to call his 〃snobbishness。〃 They
hurried a little faster as the road became more frequented； as if
eager to shorten their distance to clean clothes and civilization。
Only Demorest began to linger in the rear。 This contact with the
stagecoach had again brought him face to face with his buried past。
He felt his old dream revive； and occasionally turned to look back
upon the dark outlines of Black Spur； under whose shadow it had
returned so often； and wondered if he had left it there forever；
and it were now slowly exhaling with the thinned and dying smoke of
their burning cabin。
His companions； knowing his silent moods； had preceded him at some
distance； when he heard the soft sound of ambling hoofs on the
thick dust； and suddenly the light touch of Jack Hamlin's gauntlet
on his shoulder。 The mustang Jack bestrode was reeking with grime
and sweat； but Jack himself was as immaculate and fresh as ever。
With a delightful affectation of embarrassment and timidity he
began flicking the side buttons of his velvet vaquero trousers with
the thong of his riata。 〃I reckoned to sling a word along with you
before you went；〃 he said； looking down； 〃but I'm so shy that I
couldn't do it in company。 So I thought I'd get it off on you
while you were alone。〃
〃We've seen you once or twice before； this morning；〃 said Demorest
pleasantly； 〃and we were sorry you didn't join us。〃
〃I reckon I might have；〃 said Jack gayly； 〃if my horse had only
made up his mind whether he was a bird or a squirrel； and hadn't
been so various and promiscuous about whether he wanted to climb a
tree or fly。 He's not a bad horse for a Mexican plug； only when he
thinks there is any devilment around he wants to wade in and take a
hand。 However； I reckoned to see the last of you and your pile
into Boomville。 And I DID。 When I meet three fellows like you
that are clean white all through I sort of cotton to 'em； even if
I'M a little of a brunette myself。 And I've got something to give
you。〃
He took from a fold of his scarlet sash a small parcel neatly
folded in white paper as fresh and spotless as himself。 Holding it
in his fingers； he went on： 〃I happened to be at Heavy Tree Hill
early this morning before sun…up。 In the darkness I struck your
cabin； and I reckonI struck somebody else！ At first I thought it
was one of you chaps down on your knees praying at the rear of the
cabin； but the way the fellow lit out when he smelt me coming made
me think it wasn't entirely fasting and prayer。 However； I went to
the rear of the cabin； and then I reckoned some kind friend had
been bringing you kindlings and firewood for your early breakfast。
But that didn't satisfy me； so I knelt down as he had knelt； and
then I sawwell； Mr。 Demorest； I reckon I saw JUST WHAT YOU HAVE
SEEN！ But even then I wasn't quite satisfied； for that man had
been grubbing round as if searching for something。 So I searched
tooand I found IT。 I've got it here。 I'm going to give it to
you； for it may some day come in handy； and you won't find anything
like it among the folks where you're going。 It's something unique；
as those fine…art…collecting sharps in 'Frisco saysomething quite
matchless； unless you try to match it one day yourself！ Don't open
the paper until I run on and say 'So long' to your partners。 Good…
by。〃
He grasped Demorest's hand and then dropped the little packet into
his palm； and ambled away towards Stacy and Barker。 Holding the
packet in his hand with an amused yet puzzled smile； Demorest
watched the gambler give Stacy's hand a hearty farewell shake and a
supplementary slap on the back to the delighted Barker； and then
vanish in a flash of red sash and silver buttons。 At which
Demorest； walking slowly towards his partners； opened the packet；
and stood suddenly still。 It contained the dried and bloodless
second finger of a human hand cut off at the first joint！
For an instant he held it at arm's length； as if about to cast it
away。 Then he grimly replaced it in the paper； put it carefully in
his pocket； and silently walked after his companions。
CHAPTER I
A strong southwester was beating against the windows and doors of
Stacy's Bank in San Francisco； and spreading a film of rain between
the regular splendors of its mahogany counters and sprucely dressed
clerks and the usual passing pedestrian。 For Stacy's new banking…
house had long since received the epithet of 〃palatial〃 from an
enthusiastic local press fresh from the 〃opening〃 luncheon in its
richly decorated directors' rooms； and it was said that once a
homely would…be depositor from One Horse Gulch was so cowed by its
magnificence that his heart failed him at the last moment； and
mumbling an apology to the elegant receiving teller； fled w