His hand went involuntarily to his pocket and the grin widened.

He hurried on that he might the sooner tell the boys of their good luck; all the material for that line fence bought and paid for--there would certainly laugh when they heard where the money had come from! First he thought that he would locate the cattle and tell his news to the boys on guard.

He therefore left the trail and rode up on a ridge from which he could overlook the whole benchland, with the exception of certain gulches that cut through.

The sky was reddening now, save where banked clouds turned purple.

A breeze crept over the grass and carried the fresh odor of rain.