第2章

Thefollowingday，towardevening，hehappeneduponaroadwhichhebelievedmightleadtothevillage。Therewereagoodmanyfreshhorse—tracksinthesand，andthesemadehimthoughtful。Nevertheless，hefollowedtheroad，proceedingcautiously。Hehadnotgoneveryfarwhenthesoundofrapidhoof—beatscaughthisears。Theycamefromhisrear。Inthedarkeningtwilighthecouldnotseeanygreatdistancebackalongtheroad。Voices，however，warnedhimthattheseriders，whoevertheywere，hadapproachedcloserthanheliked。Togofartherdowntheroadwasnottobethoughtof，soheturnedalittlewayinamongthemesquitesandhalted，hopingtoescapebeingseenorheard。Ashewasnowafugitive，itseemedeverymanwashisenemyandpursuer。

Thehorsemenwerefastapproaching。PresentlytheywereabreastofDuane’sposition，sonearthathecouldhearthecreakofsaddles，theclinkofspurs。

"Shorehecrossedtheriverbelow，"saidoneman。

"Ireckonyou’reright，Bill。He’sslippedus，"repliedanother。

Rangersoraposseofranchersinpursuitofafugitive！TheknowledgegaveDuaneastrangethrill。Certainlytheycouldnothavebeenhuntinghim。Butthefeelingtheirproximitygavehimwasidenticaltowhatitwouldhavebeenhadhebeenthisparticularhuntedman。Heheldhisbreath;heclenchedhisteeth;hepressedaquietinghanduponhishorse。Suddenlyhebecameawarethatthesehorsemenhadhalted。Theywerewhispering。Hecouldjustmakeoutadarkgroupcloselymassed。

Whathadmadethemhaltsosuspiciously？

"You’rewrong，Bill，"saidaman，inalowbutdistinctvoice。

"Theideeofhearin’ahossheave。You’rewuss’naranger。Andyou’rehell—bentonkillin’thatrustler。NowIsaylet’sgohomeandeat。"

"Wal，I’lljusttakealookatthesand，"repliedthemancalledBill。

Duaneheardtheclinkofspursonsteelstirrupandthethudofbootsontheground。Therefollowedashortsilencewhichwasbrokenbyasharplybreathedexclamation。

Duanewaitedfornomore。Theyhadfoundhistrail。Hespurredhishorsestraightintothebrush。Atthesecondcrashingboundtherecameyellsfromtheroad，andthenshots。Duaneheardthehissofabulletclosebyhisear，andasitstruckabranchitmadeapeculiarsingingsound。TheseshotsandtheproximityofthatleadmissilerousedinDuaneaquick，hotresentmentwhichmountedintoapassionalmostungovernable。Hemustescape，yetitseemedthathedidnotcarewhetherhedidornot。Somethinggrimkepturginghimtohaltandreturnthefireofthesemen。

Afterrunningacoupleofhundredyardsheraisedhimselffromoverthepommel，wherehehadbenttoavoidthestingingbranches，andtriedtoguidehishorse。Inthedarkshadowsundermesquitesandcottonwoodshewashardputtoittofindopenpassage;however，hesucceededsowellandmadesuchlittlenoisethatgraduallyhedrewawayfromhispursuers。Thesoundoftheirhorsescrashingthroughthethicketsdiedaway。

Duanereinedinandlistened。Hehaddistancedthem。Probablytheywouldgointocamptilldaylight，thenfollowhistracks。

Hestartedonagain，walkinghishorse，andpeeredsharplyattheground，sothathemighttakeadvantageofthefirsttrailhecrossed。Itseemedalongwhileuntilhecameuponone。Hefollowedituntilalatehour，when，strikingthewillowbrakesagainandhencetheneighborhoodoftheriver，hepicketedhishorseandlaydowntorest。Buthedidnotsleep。Hismindbitterlyrevolvedthefatethathadcomeuponhim。Hemadeeffortstothinkofotherthings，butinvain。

Everymomentheexpectedthechill，thesenseoflonelinessthatyetwasominousofastrangevisitation，thepeculiarlyimaginedlightsandshadesofthenight——thesethingsthatpresagedthecomingofCalBain。DoggedlyDuanefoughtagainsttheinsidiousphantom。Hekepttellinghimselfthatitwasjustimagination，thatitwouldwearoffintime。Stillinhishearthedidnotbelievewhathehoped。Buthewouldnotgiveup;hewouldnotaccepttheghostofhisvictimasareality。

Graydawnfoundhiminthesaddleagainheadedfortheriver。

Halfanhourofridingbroughthimtothedensechaparralandwillowthickets。Thesehethreadedtocomeatlengthtotheford。Itwasagravelbottom，andthereforeaneasycrossing。

Onceupontheoppositeshorehereinedinhishorseandlookeddarklyback。Thisactionmarkedhisacknowledgmentofhissituation:hehadvoluntarilysoughttherefugeoftheoutlaws;

hewasbeyondthepale。Abitterandpassionatecursepassedhislipsashespurredhishorseintothebrakesonthatalienshore。

Herodeperhapstwentymiles，notsparinghishorsenorcaringwhetherornotheleftaplaintrail。

"Letthemhuntme！"hemuttered。

Whentheheatofthedaybegantobeoppressive，andhungerandthirstmadethemselvesmanifest，Duanebegantolookabouthimforaplacetohaltforthenoon—hours。Thetrailledintoaroadwhichwashardpackedandsmoothfromthetracksofcattle。Hedoubtednotthathehadcomeacrossoneoftheroadsusedbyborderraiders。Heheadedintoit，andhadscarcelytraveledamilewhen，turningacurve，hecamepoint—blankuponasinglehorsemanridingtowardhim。Bothriderswheeledtheirmountssharplyandwerereadytorunandshootback。Notmorethanahundredpacesseparatedthem。Theystoodthenforamomentwatchingeachother。

"Mawnin’，stranger，"calledtheman，droppinghishandfromhiship。

"Howdy，"repliedDuane，shortly。

Theyrodetowardeachother，closinghalfthegap，thentheyhaltedagain。

"Iseenyouain’tnoranger，"calledtherider，"an’shoreI

ain’tnone。"

Helaughedloudly，asifhehadmadeajoke。

"How’dyouknowIwasn’taranger？"askedDuane，curiously。

Somehowhehadinstantlydivinedthathishorsemanwasnoofficer，orevenaranchertrailingstolenstock。

"Wal，"saidthefellow，startinghishorseforwardatawalk，"aranger’dnevergitreadytoruntheotherwayfromoneman。"

Helaughedagain。Hewassmallandwiry，slouchyofattire，andarmedtotheteeth，andhebestrodeafinebayhorse。Hehadquick，dancingbrowneyes，atoncefrankandbold，andacoarse，bronzedface。Evidentlyhewasagood—naturedruffian。

Duaneacknowledgedthetruthoftheassertion，andturnedoverinhismindhowshrewdlythefellowhadguessedhimtobeahuntedman。

"Myname’sLukeStevens，an’Ihailfromtheriver。Who’reyou？"saidthisstranger。

Duanewassilent。

"Ireckonyou’reBuckDuane，"wentonStevens。"Iheerdyouwasadamnbadmanwithagun。"

ThistimeDuanelaughed，notatthedoubtfulcompliment，butattheideathatthefirstoutlawhemetshouldknowhim。Herewasproofofhowswiftlyfactsaboutgun—playtraveledontheTexasborder。

"Wal，Buck，"saidStevens，inafriendlymanner，"Iain’tpresumin’onyourtimeorcompany。Iseeyou’reheadin’fertheriver。Butwillyoustoplongenoughtostakeafellertoabiteofgrub？"

"I’moutofgrub，andprettyhungrymyself，"admittedDuane。

"Beenpushin’yourhoss，Isee。Wal，Ireckonyou’dbetterstockupbeforeyouhitthetstretchofcountry。"

Hemadeawidesweepofhisrightarm，indicatingthesouthwest，andtherewasthatinhisactionwhichseemedsignificantofavastandbarrenregion。

"Stockup？"queriedDuane，thoughtfully。

"Shore。Afellerhasjestgottoeat。Icanrustlealongwithoutwhisky，butnotwithoutgrub。Thet’swhatmakesitsoembarrassin’travelin’thesepartsdodgin’yourshadow。Now，I’monmywaytoMercer。It’salittletwo—bittownuptheriveraways。I’mgoin’topackoutsomegrub。"

Stevens’stonewasinviting。EvidentlyhewouldwelcomeDuane’scompanionship，buthedidnotopenlysayso。Duanekeptsilence，however，andthenStevenswenton。

"Stranger，inthisherecountrytwo’sacrowd。It’ssafer。1

neverwasmuchonthislone—wolfdodgin’，thoughI’vedoneitofnecessity。Ittakesadamngoodmantotravelaloneanylengthoftime。Why，I’vebeenthetsickIwasjestachin’fersomerangertocomealongan’plugme。Givemeapardneranyday。Now，mebbeyou’renotthetkindofafeller，an’I’mshorenotpresumin’toask。ButIjustdeclaresmyselfsufficient。"

"Youmeanyou’dlikemetogowithyou？"askedDuane。

Stevensgrinned。"Wal，Ishouldsmile。I’dbeparticularproudtobebracedwithamanofyourreputation。"

"Seehere，mygoodfellow，that’sallnonsense，"declaredDuane，insomehaste。

"ShoreIthinkmodestybecomin’toayoungster，"repliedStevens。"Ihateabrag。An’I’venouseferthesefour—flushcowboysthet’realwayslookin’fertroublean’talkin’

gun—play。Buck，Idon’tknowmuchaboutyou。Buteverymanwho’slivedalongtheTexasborderremembersalotaboutyourDad。Itwasexpectedofyou，Ireckon，an’muchofyourrepwasestablishedbeforeyouthrongedyourgun。Ijestheerdthetyouwaslightnin’onthedraw，an’whenyoucutloosewithagun，whythefiggerontheaceofspadeswouldcoveryourclusterofbullet—holes。Thet’sthewordthet’sgonedowntheborder。It’sthekindofreputationmostsuretoflyfaran’swiftaheadofamaninthiscountry。An’thesafest，too;I’llgambleonthet。It’sthelandofthedraw。Iseenowyou’reonlyaboy，thoughyou’reshoreastrappin’huskyone。Now，Buck，I’mnotaspringchicken，an’I’vebeenlongonthedodge。Mebbealittleofmysocietywon’thurtyounone。You’llneedtolearnthecountry。"

Therewassomethingsincereandlikableaboutthisoutlaw。

"Idaresayyou’reright，"repliedDuane，quietly。"AndI’llgotoMercerwithyou。"

NextmomenthewasridingdowntheroadwithStevens。Duanehadneverbeenmuchofatalker，andnowhefoundspeechdifficult。

Buthiscompaniondidnotseemtomindthat。Hewasajocose，volublefellow，probablygladnowtohearthesoundofhisownvoice。Duanelistened，andsometimeshethoughtwithapangofthedistinctionofnameandheritageofbloodhisfatherhadlefttohim。

CHAPTERIII

Latethatday，acoupleofhoursbeforesunset，DuaneandStevens，havingrestedtheirhorsesintheshadeofsomemesquitesnearthetownofMercer，saddledupandpreparedtomove。

"Buck，aswe’relookin’fergrub，an’nottrouble，Ireckonyou’dbetterhangupouthere，"Stevenswassaying，ashemounted。"Yousee，townsan’sheriffsan’rangersarealwayslookin’fernewfellersgonebad。Theysortofforgetmostoftheoldboys，exceptthoseasareplumbbad。Now，nobodyinMercerwilltakenoticeofme。Reckonthere’sbeenathousandmenrunintotherivercountrytobecomeoutlawssinceyourstruly。Youjestwaitherean’bereadytoridehard。Mebbemybesettin’sinwillgooperatin’inspiteofmygoodintentions。

Inwhichcasethere’llbe——"

Hispausewassignificant。Hegrinned，andhisbrowneyesdancedwithakindofwildhumor。

"Stevens，haveyougotanymoney？"askedDuane。

"Money！"exclaimedLuke，blankly。"Say，Ihaven’townedatwo—bitpiecesince——wal，fersometime。"

"I’llfurnishmoneyforgrub，"returnedDuane。"Andforwhisky，too，providingyouhurrybackhere——withoutmakingtrouble。"

"Shoreyou’readownrightgoodpard，"declaredStevens，inadmiration，ashetookthemoney。"Igivemyword，Buck，an’

I’mheretosayIneverbrokeityet。Laylow，an’lookfermebackquick。"

Withthathespurredhishorseandrodeoutofthemesquitestowardthetown。Atthatdistance，aboutaquarterofamile，Mercerappearedtobeaclusteroflowadobehousessetinagroveofcottonwoods。Pasturesofalfalfaweredottedbyhorsesandcattle。Duanesawasheep—herderdrivinginameagerflock。

PresentlyStevensrodeoutofsightintothetown。Duanewaited，hopingtheoutlawwouldmakegoodhisword。ProbablynotaquarterofanhourhadelapsedwhenDuaneheardtheclearreportsofaWinchesterrifle，theclatterofrapidhoof—beats，andyellsunmistakablythekindtomeandangerforamanlikeStevens。Duanemountedandrodetotheedgeofthemesquites。

Hesawacloudofdustdowntheroadandabayhorserunningfast。Stevensapparentlyhadnotbeenwoundedbyanyoftheshots，forhehadasteadyseatinhissaddleandhisriding，evenatthatmoment，struckDuaneasadmirable。Hecarriedalargepackoverthepommel，andhekeptlookingback。Theshotshadceased，buttheyellsincreased。Duanesawseveralmenrunningandwavingtheirarms。Thenhespurredhishorseandgotintoaswiftstride，soStevenswouldnotpasshim。

Presentlytheoutlawcaughtupwithhim。Stevenswasgrinning，buttherewasnownofuninthedancingeyes。Itwasadevilthatdancednthem。Hisfaceseemedashadepaler。

"Wasjestcomin’outofthestore，"yelledStevens。"Runplumbintoarancher——whoknowedme。Heopenedupwitharifle。Thinkthey’llchaseus。"

Theycoveredseveralmilesbeforetherewereanysignsofpursuit，andwhenhorsemendidmoveintosightoutofthecottonwoodsDuaneandhiscompanionsteadilydrewfartheraway。

"Nohossesinthetbunchtoworryus，"calledoutStevens。

Duanehadthesameconviction，andhedidnotlookbackagain。

Herodesomewhattothefore，andwasconstantlyawareoftherapidthuddingofhoofsbehind，asStevenskeptclosetohim。

Atsunsettheyreachedthewillowbrakesandtheriver。Duane’shorsewaswindedandlashedwithsweatandlather。ItwasnotuntilthecrossinghadbeenaccomplishedthatDuanehaltedtoresthisanimal。Stevenswasridingupthelow，sandybank。Hereeledinthesaddle。WithanexclamationofsurpriseDuaneleapedoffandrantotheoutlaw’sside。

Stevenswaspale，andhisfaceborebeadsofsweat。Thewholefrontofhisshirtwassoakedwithblood。

"You’reshot！"criedDuane。

"Wal，who’nhellsaidIwasn’t？Wouldyoumindgivin’mealift——onthisherepack？"

DuaneliftedtheheavypackdownandthenhelpedStevenstodismount。Theoutlawhadabloodyfoamonhislips，andhewasspittingblood。

"Oh，whydidn’tyousayso！"criedDuane。"Ineverthought。Youseemedallright。"

"Wal，LukeStevensmaybeasgabbyasanoldwoman，butsometimeshedoesn’tsayanythin’。Itwouldn’thavedonenogood。"

Duanebadehimsitdown，removedhisshirt，andwashedthebloodfromhisbreastandback。Stevenshadbeenshotinthebreast，fairlylowdown，andthebullethadgoneclearthroughhim。Hisride，holdinghimselfandthatheavypackinthesaddle，hadbeenafeatlittleshortofmarvelous。Duanedidnotseehowithadbeenpossible，andhefeltnohopefortheoutlaw。Buthepluggedthewoundsandboundthemtightly。

"Feller’snamewasBrown，"Stevenssaid。"Mean’himfelloutoverahossIstolefromhimoverinHuntsville。Wehadashootin’—scrapethen。Wal，asIwasstraddlin’myhossbackthereinMercerIseenthisBrown，an’seenhimbeforeheseenme。Couldhavekilledhim，too。ButIwasn’tbreakin’mywordtoyou。Ikindofhopedhewouldn’tspotme。Buthedid——an’

fustshothegotmehere。Whatdoyouthinkofthishole？"

"It’sprettybad，"repliedDuane;andhecouldnotlookthecheerfuloutlawintheeyes。

"Ireckonitis。Wal，I’vehadsomebadwoundsIlivedover。

GuessmebbeIcanstandthisone。Now，Buck，getmesomeplaceinthebrakes，leavemesomegruban’wateratmyhand，an’

thenyouclearout。"

"Leaveyouherealone？"askedDuane，sharply。

"Shore。Yousee，Ican’tkeepupwithyou。Brownan’hisfriendswillfollerusacrosstheriveraways。You’vegottothinkofnumberoneinthisgame。"

"Whatwouldyoudoinmycase？"askedDuane，curiously。

"Wal，IreckonI’dclearoutan’savemyhide，"repliedStevens。

Duanefeltinclinedtodoubttheoutlaw’sassertion。Forhisownparthedecidedhisconductwithoutfurtherspeech。Firsthewateredthehorses，filledcanteensandwaterbag，andthentiedthepackuponhisownhorse。Thatdone，heliftedStevensuponhishorse，and，holdinghiminthesaddle，turnedintothebrakes，beingcarefultopickouthardorgrassygroundthatleftlittlesignsoftracks。JustaboutdarkheranacrossatrailthatStevenssaidwasagoodonetotakeintothewildcountry。

"Reckonwe’dbetterkeeprightoninthedark——tillIdrop，"

concludedStevens，withalaugh。

AllthatnightDuane，gloomyandthoughtful，attentivetothewoundedoutlaw，walkedthetrailandneverhaltedtilldaybreak。Hewastiredthenandveryhungry。Stevensseemedinbadshape，althoughhewasstillspiritedandcheerful。Duanemadecamp。Theoutlawrefusedfood，butaskedforbothwhiskyandwater。Thenhestretchedout。

"Buck，willyoutakeoffmyboots？"heasked，withafaintsmileonhispallidface。

Duaneremovedthem，wonderingiftheoutlawhadthethoughtthathedidnotwanttodiewithhisbootson。Stevensseemedtoreadhismind。

"Buck，myolddaddyusedtosaythetIwasborntobehanged。

ButIwasn’t——an’dyin’withyourbootsonisthenextwustwaytocroak。"

"You’veachanceto—togetoverthis，"saidDuane。

"Shore。ButIwanttobecorrectabouttheboots——an’say，pard，ifIdogoover，jestyourememberthetIwasappreciatin’ofyourkindness。"

Thenheclosedhiseyesandseemedtosleep。

Duanecouldnotfindwaterforthehorses，buttherewasanabundanceofdew—wetgrassuponwhichhehobbledthem。Afterthatwasdonehepreparedhimselfamuch—neededmeal。Thesunwasgettingwarmwhenhelaydowntosleep，andwhenheawokeitwassinkinginthewest。Stevenswasstillalive，forhebreathedheavily。Thehorseswereinsight。Allwasquietexceptthehumofinsectsinthebrush。Duanelistenedawhile，thenroseandwentforthehorses。

WhenhereturnedwiththemhefoundStevensawake，bright—eyed，cheerfulasusual，andapparentlystronger。

"Wal，Buck，I’mstillwithyouan’goodferanothernight’sride，"hesaid。"GuessaboutallIneednowisabigpullonthetbottle。Helpme，willyou？There！thetwasbully。Iain’tswallowin’mybloodthisevenin’。MebbeI’vebledalltherewasinme。"

WhileDuanegotahurriedmealforhimself，packedupthelittleoutfit，andsaddledthehorsesStevenskeptontalking。

HeseemedtobeinahurrytotellDuaneallaboutthecountry。

Anothernightridewouldputthembeyondfearofpursuit，withinstrikingdistanceoftheRioGrandeandthehiding—placesoftheoutlaws。

WhenitcametimeformountingthehorsesStevenssaid，"Reckonyoucanpullonmybootsoncemore。"InspiteofthelaughaccompanyingthewordsDuanedetectedasubtlechangeintheoutlaw’sspirit。

Onthisnighttravelwasfacilitatedbythefactthatthetrailwasbroadenoughfortwohorsesabreast，enablingDuanetoridewhileupholdingStevensinthesaddle。

Thedifficultymostpersistentwasinkeepingthehorsesinawalk。Theywereusedtoatrot，andthatkindofgaitwouldnotdoforStevens。Thereddiedoutofthewest;apaleafterglowprevailedforawhile;darknesssetin;thenthebroadexpanseofbluedarkenedandthestarsbrightened。AfterawhileStevensceasedtalkinganddroopedinhissaddle。Duanekeptthehorsesgoing，however，andtheslowhoursworeaway。Duanethoughtthequietnightwouldneverbreaktodawn，thattherewasnoendtothemelancholy，broodingplain。Butatlengthagraynessblottedoutthestarsandmantledthelevelofmesquiteandcactus。

Dawncaughtthefugitivesatagreencamping—siteonthebankofarockylittlestream。StevensfelladeadweightintoDuane’sarms，andonelookatthehaggardfaceshowedDuanethattheoutlawhadtakenhislastride。Heknewit，too。Yetthatcheerfulnessprevailed。

"Buck，myfeetareorfultiredpackin’themheavyboots，"hesaid，andseemedimmenselyrelievedwhenDuanehadremovedthem。

Thismatteroftheoutlaw’sbootswasstrange，Duanethought。

HemadeStevensascomfortableaspossible，thenattendedtohisownneeds。Andtheoutlawtookupthethreadofhisconversationwherehehadleftoffthenightbefore。

"Thistrailsplitsupawaysfromhere，an’everybranchofitleadstoaholewhereyou’llfindmen——afew，mebbe，likeyourself——somelikeme——an’gangsofno—goodhoss—thieves，rustlers，an’such。It’seasylivin’，Buck。Ireckon，though，thatyou’llnotfinditeasy。You’llnevermixin。You’llbealonewolf。Iseenthatrightoff。Wal，ifamancanstandtheloneliness，an’ifhe’squickonthedraw，mebbelone—wolfin’

itisthebest。ShoreIdon’tknow。Butthesefellersinherewillbesuspiciousofamanwhogoesitalone。Iftheygetachancethey’llkillyou。"

Stevensaskedforwaterseveraltimes。Hehadforgottenorhedidnotwantthewhisky。Hisvoicegrewperceptiblyweaker。

"Bequiet，"saidDuane。"Talkingusesupyourstrength。"

"Aw，I’lltalktill——I’mdone，"hereplied，doggedly。"Seehere，pard，youcangambleonwhatI’mtellin’you。An’it’llbeuseful。Fromthiscampwe’ll——you’llmeetmenrightalong。

An’noneofthemwillbehonestmen。Allthesame，somearebetter’nothers。I’velivedalongtheriverfertwelveyears。

There’sthreebiggangsofoutlaws。KingFisher——youknowhim，Ireckon，ferhe’shalfthetimelivin’amongrespectablefolks。Kingisaprettygoodfeller。It’lldototieupwithhimanthisgang。Now，there’sCheseldine，whohangsoutintheRimRockwayuptheriver。He’sanoutlawchief。Ineverseenhim，thoughIstayedoncerightinhiscamp。Lateyearshe’sgotrichan’keepsbackprettywellhid。ButBland——IknowedBlandferyears。An’Ihaven’tanyuseferhim。Blandhasthebiggestgang。Youain’tlikelytomissstrikin’hisplacesometimeorother。He’sgotaregulartown，Imightsay。Shorethere’ssomegamblin’an’gun—fightin’goin’onatBland’scampallthetime。Blandhaskilledsometwentymen，an’thet’snotcountin’greasers。"

HereStevenstookanotherdrinkandthenrestedforawhile。

"Youain’tlikelytogetonwithBland，"heresumed，presently。

"You’retoostrappin’bigan’good—lookin’topleasethechief。

Ferhe’sgotwomeninhiscamp。Thenhe’dbejealousofyourpossibilitieswithagun。ShoreIreckonhe’dbecareful，though。Bland’snofool，an’heloveshishide。Ireckonanyoftheothergangswouldbebetterferyouwhenyouain’tgoin’italone。"

ApparentlythatexhaustedthefundofinformationandadviceStevenshadbeeneagertoimpart。Helapsedintosilenceandlaywithclosedeyes。Meanwhilethesunrosewarm;thebreezewavedthemesquites;thebirdscamedowntosplashintheshallowstream;Duanedozedinacomfortableseat。Byandbysomethingrousedhim。Stevenswasoncemoretalking，butwithachangedtone。

"Feller’sname——wasBrown，"herambled。"Wefellout——overahossIstolefromhim——inHuntsville。Hestoleitfuss。Brown’soneofthemsneaks——afraidoftheopen——hestealsan’pretendstobehonest。Say，Buck，mebbeyou’llmeetBrownsomeday——Youan’mearepardsnow。"

"I’llremember，ifIevermeethim，"saidDuane。

Thatseemedtosatisfytheoutlaw。Presentlyhetriedtolifthishead，buthadnotthestrength。Astrangeshadewascreepingacrossthebronzedroughface。

"Myfeetareprettyheavy。Shoreyougotmybootsoff？"

Duaneheldthemup，butwasnotcertainthatStevenscouldseethem。Theoutlawclosedhiseyesagainandmutteredincoherently。Thenhefellasleep。Duanebelievedthatsleepwasfinal。Thedaypassed，withDuanewatchingandwaiting。

TowardsundownStevensawoke，andhiseyesseemedclearer。

Duanewenttogetsomefreshwater，thinkinghiscomradewouldsurelywantsome。WhenhereturnedStevensmadenosignthathewantedanything。Therewassomethingbrightabouthim，andsuddenlyDuanerealizedwhatitmeant。

"Pard，you——stuck——tome！"theoutlawwhispered。

Duanecaughtahintofgladnessinthevoice;hetracedafaintsurpriseinthehaggardface。Stevensseemedlikealittlechild。

ToDuanethemomentwassad，elemental，big，withaburdenofmysteryhecouldnotunderstand。

Duaneburiedhiminashallowarroyoandheapedupapileofstonestomarkthegrave。Thatdone，hesaddledhiscomrade’shorse，hungtheweaponsoverthepommel;and，mountinghisownsteed，herodedownthetrailinthegatheringtwilight。

CHAPTERIV

Twodayslater，aboutthemiddleoftheforenoon，DuanedraggedthetwohorsesupthelastascentofanexceedinglyroughtrailandfoundhimselfontopoftheRimRock，withabeautifulgreenvalleyathisfeet，theyellow，sluggishRioGrandeshininginthesun，andthegreat，wild，mountainousbarrenofMexicostretchingtothesouth。

Duanehadnotfalleninwithanytravelers。Hehadtakenthelikeliest—lookingtrailhehadcomeacross。Whereithadledhimhehadnottheslightestidea，exceptthatherewastheriver，andprobablytheinclosedvalleywastheretreatofsomefamousoutlaw。

Nowonderoutlawsweresafeinthatwildrefuge！Duanehadspentthelasttwodaysclimbingtheroughestandmostdifficulttrailhehadeverseen。Fromthelooksofthedescentheimaginedtheworstpartofhistravelwasyettocome。Notimprobablyitwastwothousandfeetdowntotheriver。Thewedge—shapedvalley，greenwithalfalfaandcottonwood，andnestlingdownamidthebarewallsofyellowrock，wasadelightandarelieftohistiredeyes。Eagertogetdowntoalevelandtofindaplacetorest，Duanebeganthedescent。

Thetrailprovedtobethekindthatcouldnotbedescendedslowly。Hekeptdodgingrockswhichhishorsesloosedbehindhim。Andinashorttimehereachedthevalley，enteringattheapexofthewedge。Astreamofclearwatertumbledoutoftherockshere，andmostofitranintoirrigation—ditches。Hishorsesdrankthirstily。Andhedrankwiththatfullnessandgratefulnesscommontothedeserttravelerfindingsweetwater。

Thenhemountedandrodedownthevalleywonderingwhatwouldbehisreception。

Thevalleywasmuchlargerthanithadappearedfromthehighelevation。Wellwatered，greenwithgrassandtree，andfarmedevidentlybygoodhands，itgaveDuaneaconsiderablesurprise。