Mind, I was asked to come here--after dark." Duane's clear, penetrating voice carried far.

The listening rangers at the camp-fire heard what he said.
"Ho, Pickens! Tell that fellow to wait," replied an authoritative voice.
Then a slim figure detached itself from the dark, moving group at the camp-fire and hurried out.
"Better be foxy, Cap," shouted a ranger, in warning.
"Shut up--all of you," was the reply.
This officer, obviously Captain MacNelly, soon joined the two rangers who were confronting Duane.

He had no fear.

He strode straight up to Duane.
"I'm MacNelly," he said.

"If you're my man, don't mention your name--yet." All this seemed so strange to Duane, in keeping with much that had happened lately.
"I met Jeff Aiken to-day," said Duane.