“You noticed there was heavy woods on both sides, didn’t you?” returned the former raider, smiling.

“Yes.”

“Well, that explains why you didn’t learn anything, though of course it might be that no cattle were in the valley when you struck it.”

This explanation only served to arouse the curiosity of the hearers the more.

“The woods are the thing,” he continued.  “Every time any one comes along, we drive the cattle into them and no one would think to look for the entrance to a mine among the trees.”

“But how does it happen you have never been taken by surprise?” queried Mr. Wilder.

“Because when we had steers in the valley we always kept a lookout.  There’s a cliff just above the mine from which a man can see the trail for at least two miles.”

“Then won’t some one discover us?” asked Bill.

“Not if we hurry.  Every man jack of Megget’s gang is out on this raid.  All we need to do is to get there first.”

“How about that fellow who was with you?” Bill inquired.  “Won’t he be on the lookout?”

“Who, Red Ike?  Not much.  He’ll be too anxious to tell Gus about me.  He knows his chief was going to cut across to join Vasquez and the others, and he’ll follow.  They’ll be so tickled at the thought you all were lost in the fire they won’t hurry much.  Still, if we’re going to round them up, we must get there before dark to-night.  There’s a spot just before you enter the valley where we can lie in wait and get them all.”

“No, that won’t do,” declared Mr. Wilder.  “I want to capture them without resorting to firearms, if possible.  While, of course, if it should be necessary, I would sanction shooting, I much prefer to take the men prisoners and turn them over to the sheriff and the law.”

At first Lawrence could scarcely believe his ears.  His creed had been force, supported by quick use of weapons, not law, and it seemed incredible to him that a man who had suffered from the raids of the cattle thieves should not take justice in his own hands when opportunity presented.  But he suddenly realized that he was dealing with a new kind of man that he had never been brought in contact with, an honorable man, and his admiration for the owner of the Half-Moon increased a hundredfold.

Some time, however, was required to reconcile himself to his new scheme of life, but of a sudden he burst into a roar of merriment.

“We’ll do it, and without a shot.  Say, Mr. Wilder, it will break Gus’ heart to think he was caught without any gun play.”

“That’s just it.  Most of the power men like Megget have is because of the fear the very mention of their names inspires.

“But I don’t mean to preach a sermon.  What I want to know is, How do you propose to capture Megget without trouble?”

“Wait till they are asleep.  They’ll have a celebration when they reach the mine and afterward we can hog-tie them and they will never know it.”