“That’s plenty,” said Fair quickly, “you mustn’t talk, Selwood—mind the doctor—I’m leaving now.”
And with a gentle touch on the sick man’s shoulder he was gone.
He ran to the stable and got Diamond.
Five of Selwood’s riders were throwing saddles on horses.
In less time than seemed possible the six men were riding for the rendezvous on Nameless.
All along the flowing river there was the seeming of portent, a strange sense of impending tragedy, for many riders were abroad in the quiet night.
One of these was Bud Allison, his young face set and awful, his Pappy’s old rifle grasped in a steady hand, pushing Big Dan to an unaccustomed limit of speed toward Sheriff Selwood’s ranch.
The boy was praying that he might find Brand there—and the old gun was destined for action.
But within the narrow margin of a mile Fair was passing toward the north as he went south—and thus Bud missed him with the news of Nance’s disappearance. Had they met, the happenings of that night might have had a different ending, for Fair would have stormed the citadel of Sky Line like a fury, forgetting all things in his fear for the woman he loved—the ends of justice which he sought to serve, Bossick’s steers and everything else.
And in the shadow of Rainbow Cliff Rod Stone and Minnie Pine waited patiently for the ranch to settle down that they might slip away.