The answer came to him later in the day.  In the middle of the afternoon a horse pounded up the draw to the cabin.  Irwin went to the door, his eye still on his prisoner, except for a swift glance at the newcomer.

“How’s yore five-thousand-dollar beauty, Brad?” inquired a voice that the nester recognized.

“Finer than silk, boss.”

The rider swung from the saddle, trailed his rein, and came with jingling spurs into the cabin.

“Good evening, Mr. Keller,” he said with derisive respect.

The nester, lying sideways on the bed with his head on his hand, nodded a greeting.

“I didn’t know you and Mr. Irwin had doubled up and were bunkies,” continued the jubilant voice.  “When did you-all patch up the partnership?”

“About eight o’clock last night, Mr. Healy,” returned the prisoner, eying him coolly.  “And of course I knew it would be a surprise to you when you learned it.”

“Expecting to stay long with him?”

“He seems right hospitable, but I don’t reckon I’ll outstay my welcome.”

Healy laughed, with mockery and not amusement.  “Brad’s such a pressing host there’s no telling when he’ll let you go.”

He was as malevolent as ever, but it was plain to be seen that he was riding high on a wave of triumph.  Affairs were plainly going to his liking.

“The way I heard it you were expected down at the Frying Pan last night.  Changed yore mind about going, I reckon,” he went on insolently.

“I reckon.”

“Had business that detained you, maybe.”

“You’re a good guesser.”

“Folks were right anxious down there, according to the say-so that reached me.”

Keller’s cool eye measured him in silence, at which his enemy laughed contemptuously and turned on his heel.

Healy drew his confederate to one side of the room and held a whispered talk with him.  Apparently he did not greatly care whether his foe caught the drift of it or not, for occasionally his voice lifted enough so that scraps of sentences reached the man lounging on the bed.

“—­close to two hundred head—­by the Mimbres Pass—­the boys are ce’tainly pushing the drive—­out of danger by midnight—­wait for the signal before you turn him loose——­”

“So-long, Mr. Keller.  I cayn’t spare the time to stay longer with you,” their owner jeered.

“Just a moment, Mr. Healy.  I want to know why you are keeping me here.”

The man grinned.  “Am I keeping you here, seh?  Looks to me like it was Brad that’s a-keeping you.  Make a break for a getaway, and I’ll not do a thing to you.  Course I cayn’t promise what Brad won’t do.  He’s such a plumb anxious host.”

“You’re his brains.  What you tell him to do he does.  I hold you responsible for this!”

“You don’t say!”

“And right now I’ll add, for all the devilment that has been going on in these parts for years.  You’ve about reached the end of your rope, though.”