“Not so dangerous as they’re reckoned, I guess,” said Horrocks, disdainfully.  “I don’t anticipate much trouble.”

“I hope it will turn out as you think,” replied the old lady, doubtfully.

Horrocks shrugged his shoulders; he was not to be drawn.

There was a moment’s silence after this, which was at length broken by “Poker” John.

“Of course, Horrocks,” he said, “we shall carry out your instructions to the letter.  At three in the morning, failing your return or news of you, I set out with my ranch hands to find you.  And woe betide those black devils if you have come to harm.  By the way, what about your men?”

“They assemble here at ten.  We leave our horses at Lablache’s stables.  We are going to walk to the settlement.”

“I think you are wise,” said the doctor.

“Guess horses would be an encumbrance,” said Jacky.

“An excellent mark for a Breed’s gun,” added Bill.  “Seems to me you’ll succeed,” he went on politely.  His eagle face was calmly sincere.  The gray eyes looked steadily into those of the officer’s.  Jacky was watching her lover keenly.  The faintest suspicion of a smile was in her eyes.

“I should like to be there,” she said simply, when Bill had finished.  “It’s mean bad luck being a girl.  Say, d’you think I’d be in the way, sergeant?”

Horrocks looked over at her, and in his gaze was a look of admiration.  In the way he knew she would be, but he could not tell her so.  Such spirit appealed to him.

“There would be much danger for you, Miss Jacky,” he said.  “My hands would be full, I could not look after you, and besides—­” He broke off at the recollection of the old stories about this girl.  Suddenly he wondered if he had been indiscreet.  What if the stories were true.  He ran cold at the thought.  These people knew his plans.  Then he looked into the girl’s beautiful face.  No, it must be false.  She could have nothing in common with the rascally Breeds.

“And besides—­what?” Jacky said, smiling over at the policeman.

Horrocks shrugged.

“When Breeds are drunk they are not responsible.”

“That settles it,” the girl’s uncle said, with a forced laugh.  He did not like Jacky’s tone.  Knowing her, he feared she intended to be there to see the arrest.

Her uncle’s laugh nettled the girl a little, and with a slight elevation of her head, she said,—­

“I don’t know.”

Further talk now became impossible, for, at that moment the troopers arrived.  Horrocks discovered that it was nearly ten o’clock.  The moment for the start had come, and, with one accord, everybody rose from the table.  In the bustle and handshaking of departure Jacky slipped away.  When, she returned the doctor and Mrs. Abbot were in the hall alone with “Lord” Bill.  The latter was just leaving.  “Poker” John was on the veranda seeing Horrocks off.

As Jacky came downstairs Aunt Margaret’s eyes fell upon the ominous holster and cartridge belt which circled the girl’s hips.  She was dressed for riding.  There could be no mistaking the determined set of her face.