A little nearer approach and he identified Sterry, who was astonished beyond measure to discover that he was his old friend, Dick Hawkridge, toward whose ranch he had ridden on the preceding evening.
"You're out early, Dick," was the salutation of Sterry, as his old friend reined up beside him and extended his hand.
"And are riding hard," added Capt.

Asbury, who liked the young man.
"I ride hard," replied Hawkridge, gravely, "because there is need of it; I was looking for you." "And why looking for me ?" inquired the captain.
"Because you and your men are in great peril." "Ah.

What might be its nature ?" "From the rustlers." "I was trying to persuade myself that it was they who were in peril from us, but you put it differently." "It might be as you wish if you had twenty-five or fifty men; but with less than a dozen, and more than twice that number looking for you, discretion is the better part of valor." "Tell me, Hawkridge, how all this interesting information came to you," continued Capt.

Asbury.
"My ranch is not far to the northward, my cattle are ranging among the foothills of the Big Horn Mountains, and all my hands are with them.

I sat up late last night, going over my accounts and trying to get them into shape, and it was past midnight when two rustlers rode up.