And naturally the Mattisons didn't see it." A silence followed, broken only by the rain monotonously falling on the roof, and occasionally through the broad adobe chimney, where it provoked a retaliating hiss and splutter from the dying embers of the hearth.

The Right Bower, with a sudden access of energy, drew the empty barrel before him, and taking a pack of well-worn cards from his pocket, began to make a "solitaire" upon the lid.

The others gazed at him with languid interest.
"Makin' it for anythin' ?" asked Mills.
The Right Bower nodded.
The Judge and Left Bower, who were partly lying in their respective bunks, sat up to get a better view of the game.

Union Mills slowly disengaged himself from the wall and leaned over the "solitaire" player.
The Right Bower turned the last card in a pause of almost thrilling suspense, and clapped it down on the lid with fateful emphasis.
"It went!" said the Judge in a voice of hushed respect.

"What did you make it for ?" he almost whispered.
"To know if we'd make the break we talked about and vamose the ranch.
It's the FIFTH time today," continued the Right Bower in a voice of gloomy significance.