Chapter 1
THE SIGN OF THE SUNSET"BUT the man's almost dead."
The words stung John Hare's fainting spirit into life. He opened
his eyes. The desert still stretched before him, the appalling
thing that had overpowered him with its deceiving purple distance.
Near by stood a sombre group of men.
"Leave him here," said one, addressing a gray-bearded giant.
"He's the fellow sent into southern Utah to spy out the cattle
thieves. He's all but dead. Dene's outlaws are after him. Don't
cross Dene."
The stately answer might have come from a Scottish Covenanter or
a follower of Cromwell.
"Martin Cole, I will not go a hair's-breadth out of my way for
Dene or any other man. You forget your religion. I see my duty to
God."
"Yes, August Naab, I know," replied the little man, bitterly.
"You
