“There, you see, I’m telling you straight.  And everything else I’ve said is just as true.”

“Why didn’t you strike for the hills when you recovered your senses?” asked Mr. Wilder.  “You would have been safe there, both from Megget and from us.”

“Because I wanted my tobacco.”

Whatever doubt was in the mind of the Half-Moon owner as to whether or not Lawrence had been telling the truth was dispelled by this answer.

Indeed even the owner of the Three Stars was convinced by the answer, and after a whispered consultation with Mr. Wilder, the latter announced: 

“I have this proposition to make you, Lawrence.  Your act in refusing to obey Megget, which beyond doubt has saved my cattle at the pool, shows you are not thoroughly bad.  Therefore, if you will lead us by the shortest trail to the headquarters at the Lost Lode and help us round up Megget and his gang, I will give you a job on my ranch.”

For a moment Lawrence gazed at the ranchman as though unable to believe his ears, but the kindly light in Mr. Wilder’s eyes reassured him and he replied: 

“Will I?  Say, Bobby Lawrence knows a white man when he meets one.  Give me a horse and I’ll have you at the Lost Lode before dark to-night!”

CHAPTER XXIII

IN THE MOUNTAINS

Openly the owner of the Three Stars objected to the proposition of providing the erstwhile raider with a pony.

“If we’re going to trust Lawrence to lead us to the mine, we can certainly trust him with a horse,” declared Mr. Wilder.  “Horace, climb up behind Tom and let Lawrence have your mount.”

Quickly the change was made, and again the party advanced.

“To think we were within two miles of meeting Megget again,” exclaimed Tom as they rode along.  “I’m afraid we would not have got away from him so well this time.”

As he heard the remark, Lawrence turned and looked the boy over from head to foot, finally saying with a smile: 

“So you are the lad Gus ran foul of up in Oklahoma?”

“Yes, but my brother was with me.”

“Which is he?”

“The one who found you.”

At this information Lawrence threw back his head and laughed heartily.  “My, but that is a good one,” he ejaculated when he had recovered from his merriment.  “You tenderfeet make a monkey of Gus and then capture one of his men.  I’ll let Gus know it was you who found me, if I never speak again.  It will make him more angry than anything else could.”

To their surprise, the ranchers learned that the Lost Lode was only about five miles from the plains and that it was at the foot of one of the mountains, instead of high up in them, with a splendid valley where the cattle could graze close beside it.

“Why, I’ve ridden through that place at least twice,” asserted Pete as he recognized Lawrence’s description of the spot, “but never a sign of cattle or mine have I seen.”