A little later he was talking with Blackburn at the camp fire, his voice low and earnest.
Blackburn's face was seamed with wrath over the news Lawler had communicated.
"So that's the polecat scheme they're runnin'!" he said, hoarsely.

"I reckon they know that between here an' Red Rock there's a dozen big gangs of buzzards which make a business of grabbin' cattle from every herd that hits the Tom Long trail!" "Blackburn," said Lawler gravely; "do you know of any other trail ?" "No; nor you don't neither!" declared the range boss.

"What you meanin' ?" he added, peering intently at Lawler.
"It's mighty plain," said Lawler; "if we travel at all, we'll have to take the Tom Long trail.

It's been used before, Blackburn, by all the cattle owners in the section--before the railroad came.

It hasn't been used much lately, though, and so I reckon it isn't worn out." "You're startin' at daybreak, I reckon ?" "Yes." Lawler looked straight at the range boss.