For six months the sea fogs monotonously came and went along the Monterey coast; for six months they beleaguered the Coast Range with afternoon sorties of white hosts that regularly swept over the mountain crest, and were as regularly beaten back again by the leveled lances of the morning sun.

For six months that white veil which had once hidden Lance Harriott in its folds returned without him.

For that amiable outlaw no longer needed disguise or hiding-place.

The swift wave of pursuit that had dashed him on the summit had fallen back, and the next day was broken and scattered.

Before the week had passed, a regular judicial inquiry relieved his crime of premeditation, and showed it to be a rude duel of two armed and equally desperate men.