“Can’t leave guard nohow,” says the true grit old hunter, pointing to his revolver, and dodging up and down with his lame leg, a crooked arm, and a seam in his face like a terrible wound there some time or other. “I darsn’t leave guard. You’ll find him in that centre tent, with the red flag on it.”

I lifted the canvas flap of the door and went in. Bill raised himself in the bed and looked at me quite coolly.

“I was to your location a while since,” he said. “Met some friends of yours there, too. I didn’t cotton to ‘em muchly. Something has eventuated. Is that so?”

“Yes. I want your help.” I told him shortly all I could tell him in the time.

He listened quietly, and made no remark for a time. “So ye hey bin a road agent. You and Jim, that darned innocent old cuss, robbing mails and cattle ranches. It is a real scoop up for me, you bet. I’d heerd of bush-ranging in Australia, but I never reckoned on their bein’ men like you and Jim. So the muchacha went back on yer—snakes alive! I kinder expected it. I reckon you’re bound to git.”

“Yes, Bill, sharp’s the word. I want you to draw my money and Jim’s out of the bank; it’s all in my name. There’s the deposit receipt. I’ll back it over to you. You give Jeanie what she wants, and send the rest when I tell you. Will you do that for me, Bill? I’ve always been on the square with you and your mates.”

“You hey, boy, that I’ll not deny, and I’ll corral the dollars for you. It’s an all-fired muss that men like you and Jim should have a black mark again your record. A spry hunter Jim would have made. I’d laid out to have had him in Arizona yet—and you’re a going to dust out right away, you say?”

“I’m off now. Jim’s waited too long, I expect. One other thing; let Mr. Haughton, across the creek, have this before daylight.”

“What, the Honourable!!! Lawful heart! Wal, I hope ye may strike a better trail yet. Yer young, you and Jim, poor old Jim. Hold on. Hey ye nary shootin’ iron?”

“No time.” I said. “I haven’t been to the camp.”

“Go slow, then. Wait here; you’ll want suthin, may be, on the peraira. If ye do, boy! Jim made good shootin’ with this, ye mind. Take it and welcome; it’ll mind ye of old Arizona Bill.”

He handed me a beautifully finished little repeating rifle, hardly heavier than a navy revolver, and a small bag of cartridges.