“Lots of it in me shack.  I brought a good supply from Big Draw, an’ fresh meat is plentiful in the hills.  I’ve an extra rifle, too, if ye need it.”

“What’s your plan?” Curly asked.  “You know this region better’n I do.”

Dan did not at once reply, but sat looking thoughtfully into the fire.

“An’ ye say that guy’s got the cinch on the gal?” he at length queried.

“Seems so.  He was with her when I was led past, an’ they seemed mighty happy together.”

“Is that so?  An’ I suppose he’ll be with her wherever she goes.”

“Most likely.  But we can fix him, can’t we?”

“We’ll have to find some way, but the question is, how?”

“The gun-route might be the best,” and Curly motioned significantly toward the rifle.  “Accidents sometimes happen, ye know.”

“But what about the old man?  He might make trouble.”

“Then, settle him, too.  He goes alone into the hills, doesn’t he?”

“Why, yes.  I never thought of that.  He’s got a cabin over yonder.  I know where it is.  He often spends days alone there, with not a soul around, prospectin’, so I understand.”

“Something might happen there, too, eh?” and Curly grinned.  “Then the girl will be ours.”

“But what about the Police?” Dan warned.  “They’d be on our trail like greased-lightning.”

“But it will be an accident like the other, won’t it?”

“But suppose the accidents don’t happen?”

“The devil do I care.  Let me get the girl, an’ I’ll look out fer myself after that.  I’ve been in such scrapes before, an’ I guess you have, too, Dan.”

For some time the two villains sat that night before the fire, and discussed in detail their nefarious plans.  They were men in whose bosoms no feeling of pity or sympathy dwelt.  To them a pure noble girl was merely an object of their vile passions.  Others had been victimized by these brutes, and they had now sunk so low that they were willing to sacrifice innocent lives in order to gratify their base desires.

Next morning found the two plotters moving steadily on their way up toward the Golden Crest where it curved in to the lake.  They kept away as far as possible from the pass for fear of watchful Indians.  But farther north where the land was more rugged, they would be safe.  From this vantage ground they could look down upon the village and observe much that was taking place there.  Curly was feeling the effects of his experiences the previous day and was surly and ugly.  Dan had fed him and supplied him with a buck-skin jacket which made him more presentable.  But Curly’s temper was bad, and he vented his spleen upon Reynolds and Jim Weston in no mild language.