How long Duane was traveling out of that region he never knew.

But he reached familiar country and found a rancher who had before befriended him.

Here his arm was attended to; he had food and sleep; and in a couple of weeks he was himself again.
When the time came for Duane to ride away on his endless trail his friend reluctantly imparted the information that some thirty miles south, near the village of Shirley, there was posted at a certain cross-road a reward for Buck Duane dead or alive.

Duane had heard of such notices, but he had never seen one.

His friend's reluctance and refusal to state for what particular deed this reward was offered roused Duane's curiosity.