“It would seem, Miss Cathrew,” he said, “that you are—caught. Caught with the goods at last. Yonder are my missing steers if I can read my own brand. It looks like the B Bar K to me.”
Kate Cathrew wet her lips and her hand moved restlessly on the rifle’s butt. She did not speak, but her black eyes burned like coals in her chalk-white face.
Bossick threw back his coat. A star shone faintly in the light.
“You can thank Sheriff Selwood’s tireless work for this,” he said, “and so can we. The whole country’s deputized. Your work is known. You may as well give up without a fuss for we——”
He stopped, for an odd sound had become apparent—a deep, echoing sound, as of many waters beating on a hollow shore.
It seemed to come from the center of the amphitheatre where the cave mouth yawned.
For a second the whole group was silent.
Then Kate Cathrew flung round to stare with wide orbs at the mouth of the Pipe. Her world was falling about her and she was appalled.
The roar of waters became the rumble of hoofs and up from the bowels of the earth came Brand Fair and his men.
He blinked in the new light and then his dark eyes went unerringly to the face of the woman—this woman whom he had sought for two full years.