Every mile made it clearer to Cameron that the smoke rising from behind the round-topped hill before him was from his ranch-buildings, and every mile intensified his anxiety.

His wife was alone on the ranch at the mercy of that fiend.

That was the agonizing thought that tore at his heart as his panting broncho pounded along the trail.

From the top of the hill overlooking the ranch a mile away his eye swept the scene below, swiftly taking in the details.

The ranch-house was in flames and burning fiercely.