"Is assassination in the plans of the people behind 'Gene Black's treachery?
Or is putting me under the sod merely an addition that Black has made for his own pleasure ?" The plotter, still unaware of the eavesdropper, had now turned and was walking down the trail.

He was now so far from camp that he did not need to be soft-footed.
Out of the shadow, after a brief pause, stole Tom Reade.
"If Black is going to meet anyone tonight I'd better be near to the place of meeting.

I might hear something that would teach me just what to do to checkmate the plotters against us." For fully half a mile the chase continued.

Two or three times Reade stepped against some slight obstacle in the darkness, making a sound which, he feared, would travel to the ears of Black.

But the latter kept on his way.
Finally 'Gene Black halted where three trees grew in the form of a triangle and threw a dense shadow.