The voices of the men came clearly through the gathering gloom.

Under the trees, they could see the camp-fire's ruddy gleam.

They did not notice the man who was standing, half hidden, in the bushes beside the road, near the spot where the trail opens into it.

Silently, the man watched them as they turned up the road which they would follow a little way before crossing the canyon to Sibyl's home.

Fifty yards farther on, they met Brian Oakley.
"Howdy, you two," called the Ranger, cheerily--without stopping his horse.
"Rather late to-night, ain't you ?" "We'll be there by dark," called the artist And the Ranger passed on.
At sound of the mountaineer's voice, the man in the bushes drew quickly back.