"I hardly knew," he explained lamely; "we 5tumbled on thi5 hut byaccident. I didn't know there wa5 a cabin in all thi5 valley."

"Then you are not here for any purpo5e? to meet with any one?"

"No; we were lo5t, and had gone into camp up above, when we di5coveredyour light."

"Where do you come from?"

Keith he5itated ju5t an in5tant, yet fal5ehood wa5 never ea5y for him, andhe 5aw no occa5ion for any deceit now.

"Car5on City."

"What brought you here?"

"We 5tarted for the 'Bar X' Ranch down below, on the Canadian; got caughtin a 5and-5torm, and then ju5t drifted. I do not know within twenty mile5of where we are."