第3章

Horsesandcattlewereeverywhere。Everyclumpofcottonwoodssurroundedasmalladobehouse。DuanesawMexicansworkinginthefieldsandhorsemengoingtoandfro。Presentlyhepassedahousebiggerthantheotherswithaporchattached。Awoman，youngandprettyhethought，watchedhimfromadoor。Nooneelseappearedtonoticehim。

Presentlythetrailwidenedintoaroad，andthatintoakindofsquarelinedbyanumberofadobeandlogbuildingsofrudeststructure。Withinsightwerehorses，dogs，acoupleofsteers，Mexicanwomenwithchildren，andwhitemen，allofwhomappearedtobedoingnothing。Hisadventcreatednointerestuntilherodeuptothewhitemen，whowerelollingintheshadeofahouse。Thisplaceevidentlywasastoreandsaloon，andfromtheinsidecamealazyhumofvoices。

AsDuanereinedtoahaltoneoftheloungersintheshaderosewithaloudexclamation:

"Bustmeifthetain’tLuke’shoss！"

Theothersaccordedtheirinterest，ifnotassent，byrisingtoadvancetowardDuane。

"Howaboutit，Euchre？Ain’tthetLuke’sbay？"queriedthefirstman。

"Plainasyournose，"repliedthefellowcalledEuchre。

"Thereain’tnodoubtaboutthet，then，"laughedanother，"ferBosomer’snoseisshoreplainonthelandscape。"

ThesemenlinedupbeforeDuane，andashecoollyregardedthemhethoughttheycouldhavebeenrecognizedanywhereasdesperadoes。ThemancalledBosomer，whohadsteppedforward，hadaforbiddingfacewhichshowedyelloweyes，anenormousnose，andaskinthecolorofdust，withathatchofsandyhair。

"Stranger，whoareyouan’whereinthehelldidyougitthetbayhoss？"hedemanded。HisyelloweyestookinStevens’shorse，thentheweaponshungonthesaddle，andfinallyturnedtheirglinting，hardlightupwardtoDuane。

Duanedidnotlikethetoneinwhichhehadbeenaddressed，andheremainedsilent。Atleasthalfhismindseemedbusywithcuriousinterestinregardtosomethingthatleapedinsidehimandmadehisbreastfeeltight。Herecognizeditasthatstrangeemotionwhichhadshotthroughhimoftenoflate，andwhichhaddecidedhimtogoouttothemeetingwithBain。Onlynowitwasdifferent，morepowerful。

"Stranger，whoareyou？"askedanotherman，somewhatmorecivilly。

"Myname’sDuane，"repliedDuane，curtly。

"An’how’dyoucomebythehoss？"

Duaneansweredbriefly，andhiswordswerefollowedbyashortsilence，duringwhichthemenlookedathim。Bosomerbegantotwisttheendsofhisbeard。

"Reckonhe’sdead，allright，ornobody’dhevhishossan’

guns，"presentlysaidEuchre。

"MisterDuane，"beganBosomer，inlow，stingingtones，"I

happentobeLukeStevens’sside—pardner。"

Duanelookedhimover，fromdusty，worn—outbootstohisslouchysombrero。ThatlookseemedtoinflameBosomer。

"An’Iwantthehossan’themguns，"heshouted。

"Youoranybodyelsecanhavethem，forallIcare。Ijustfetchedthemin。Butthepackismine，"repliedDuane。"Andsay，Ibefriendedyourpard。Ifyoucan’tuseaciviltongueyou’dbettercinchit。"

"Civil？Haw，haw！"rejoinedtheoutlaw。"Idon’tknowyou。Howdoweknowyoudidn’tplugStevens，an’stolehishoss，an’

jesthappenedtostumbledownhere？"

"You’llhavetotakemyword，that’sall，"repliedDuane，sharply。

"Iain’ttakin’yourword！Savvythet？An’IwasLuke’spard！"

WiththatBosomerwheeledand，pushinghiscompanionsaside，hestampedintothesaloon，wherehisvoicebrokeoutinaroar。

Duanedismountedandthrewhisbridle。

"Stranger，Bosomerisshorehot—headed，"saidthemanEuchre。

Hedidnotappearunfriendly，norweretheothershostile。

Atthisjunctureseveralmoreoutlawscrowdedoutofthedoor，andtheoneintheleadwasatallmanofstalwartphysique。

Hismannerproclaimedhimaleader。Hehadalongface，aflamingredbeard，andclear，coldblueeyesthatfixedinclosescrutinyuponDuane。HewasnotaTexan;intruth，Duanedidnotrecognizeoneoftheseoutlawsasnativetohisstate。

"I’mBland，"saidthetallman，authoritatively。"Who’reyouandwhat’reyoudoinghere？"

DuanelookedatBlandashehadattheothers。Thisoutlawchiefappearedtobereasonable，ifhewasnotcourteous。Duanetoldhisstoryagain，thistimealittlemoreindetail。

"Ibelieveyou，"repliedBland，atonce。"ThinkIknowwhenafellowislying。"

"Ireckonyou’reontherighttrail，"putinEuchre。"ThetaboutLukewantin’hisbootstookoff——thetsatisfiesme。Lukehedamortaldreadofdyin’withhisbootson。"

Atthissallythechiefandhismenlaughed。

"YousaidDuane——BuckDuane？"queriedBland。"AreyouasonofthatDuanewhowasagunfightersomeyearsback？"

"Yes，"repliedDuane。

"Nevermethim，andgladIdidn’t，"saidBland，withagrimhumor。"Soyougotintroubleandhadtogoonthedodge？Whatkindoftrouble？"

"Hadafight。"

"Fight？Doyoumeangun—play？"questionedBland。Heseemedeager，curious，speculative。

"Yes。Itendedingun—play，I’msorrytosay，"answeredDuane，"GuessIneedn’taskthesonofDuaneifhekilledhisman，"

wentonBland，ironically。"Well，I’msorryyoubuckedagainsttroubleinmycamp。Butasitis，Iguessyou’dbewisetomakeyourselfscarce。"

"DoyoumeanI’mpolitelytoldtomoveon？"askedDuane，quietly。

"Notexactlythat，"saidBland，asifirritated。"Ifthisisn’tafreeplacethereisn’toneonearth。Everymanisequalhere。

Doyouwanttojoinmyband？"

"No，Idon’t。"

"Well，evenifyoudidIimaginethatwouldn’tstopBosomer。

He’sanuglyfellow。He’soneofthefewgunmenI’vemetwhowantstokillsomebodyallthetime。Mostmenlikethatarefourflushes。ButBosomerisallonecolor，andthat’sred。

MerelyforyourownsakeIadviseyoutohitthetrail。"

"Thanks。Butifthat’sallI’llstay，"returnedDuane。Evenashespokehefeltthathedidnotknowhimself。

Bosomerappearedatthedoor，pushingmenwhotriedtodetainhim，andashejumpedclearofalastreachinghandheutteredasnarllikeanangrydog。Manifestlytheshortwhilehehadspentinsidethesaloonhadbeendevotedtodrinkingandtalkinghimselfintoafrenzy。Blandandtheotheroutlawsquicklymovedaside，lettingDuanestandalone。WhenBosomersawDuanestandingmotionlessandwatchfulastrangechangepassedquicklyinhim。Hehaltedinhistracks，andashedidthatthemenwhohadfollowedhimoutpiledoveroneanotherintheirhurrytogettooneside。

Duanesawalltheswiftaction，feltintuitivelythemeaningofit，andinBosomer’ssuddenchangeoffront。Theoutlawwaskeen，andhehadexpectedashrinking，oratleastafrightenedantagonist。Duaneknewhewasneither。Hefeltlikeiron，andyetthrillafterthrillranthroughhim。Itwasalmostasifthissituationhadbeenonelongfamiliartohim。Somehowheunderstoodthisyellow—eyedBosomer。Theoutlawhadcomeouttokillhim。Andnow，thoughsomewhatcheckedbythestandofastranger，hestillmeanttokill。Likesomanydesperadoesofhisilk，hewasvictimofapassiontokillforthesakeofkilling。DuanedivinedthatnosuddenanimositywasdrivingBosomer。Itwasjusthischance。Inthatmomentmurderwouldhavebeenjoytohim。Verylikelyhehadforgottenhispretextforaquarrel。VeryprobablyhisfacultieswereabsorbedinconjectureastoDuane’spossibilities。

Buthedidnotspeakaword。Heremainedmotionlessforalongmoment，hiseyespaleandsteady，hisrighthandlikeaclaw。

ThatinstantgaveDuaneapowertoreadinhisenemy’seyesthethoughtthatprecededaction。ButDuanedidnotwanttokillanotherman。Stillhewouldhavetofight，andhedecidedtocrippleBosomer。WhenBosomer’shandmovedDuane’sgunwasspoutingfire。Twoshotsonly——bothfromDuane’sgun——andtheoutlawfellwithhisrightarmshattered。Bosomercursedharshlyandflounderedinthedust，tryingtoreachthegunwithhislefthand。Hiscomrades，however，seeingthatDuanewouldnotkillunlessforced，closedinuponBosomerandpreventedanyfurthermadnessonhispart。

CHAPTERV

OftheoutlawspresentEuchreappearedtobetheonemostinclinedtolendfriendlinesstocuriosity;andheledDuaneandthehorsesawaytoasmalladobeshack。Hetiedthehorsesinanopenshedandremovedtheirsaddles。Then，gatheringupStevens’sweapons，heinvitedhisvisitortoenterthehouse。

Ithadtworooms——windowswithoutcoverings——barefloors。Oneroomcontainedblankets，weapons，saddles，andbridles;theotherastonefireplace，rudetableandbench，twobunks，aboxcupboard，andvariousblackenedutensils。

"Makeyourselftohomeaslongasyouwanttostay，"saidEuchre。"Iain’trichinthisworld’sgoods，butIownwhat’shere，an’you’rewelcome。"

"Thanks。I’llstayawhileandrest。I’mprettywellplayedout，"repliedDuane。

Euchregavehimakeenglance。

"Goaheadan’rest。I’lltakeyourhorsestograss。"

EuchreleftDuanealoneinthehouse。Duanerelaxedthen，andmechanicallyhewipedthesweatfromhisface。Hewaslaboringundersomekindofaspellorshockwhichdidnotpassoffquickly。Whenithadwornawayhetookoffhiscoatandbeltandmadehimselfcomfortableontheblankets。Andhehadathoughtthatifherestedorsleptwhatdifferencewoulditmakeonthemorrow？Norest，nosleepcouldchangethegrayoutlookofthefuture。HefeltgladwhenEuchrecamebustlingin，andforthefirsttimehetooknoticeoftheoutlaw。

Euchrewasoldinyears。Whatlittlehairhehadwasgray，hisfaceclean—shavenandfullofwrinkles;hiseyeswerehalfshutfromlonggazingthroughthesunanddust。Hestooped。Buthisthinframedenotedstrengthandendurancestillunimpaired。

"Heyadrinkorasmoke？"heasked。

Duaneshookhishead。Hehadnotbeenunfamiliarwithwhisky，andhehadusedtobaccomoderatelysincehewassixteen。Butnow，strangely，hefeltadisgustattheideaofstimulants。Hedidnotunderstandclearlywhathefelt。Therewasthatvagueideaofsomethingwildinhisblood，somethingthatmadehimfearhimself。

Euchrewaggedhisoldheadsympathetically。"Reckonyoufeelalittlesick。Whenitcomestoshootin’Irun。What’syourage？"

"I’mtwenty—three，"repliedDuane。

Euchreshowedsurprise。"You’reonlyaboy！Ithoughtyouthirtyanyways。Buck，IheardwhatyoutoldBland，an’puttin’

thetwithmyownfiggerin’，Ireckonyou’renocriminalyet。

Throwin’aguninself—defense——thetain’tnocrime！"

Duane，findingreliefintalking，toldmoreabouthimself。

"Huh，"repliedtheoldman。"I’vebeenonthisriverferyears，an’I’veseenhundredsofboyscomeinonthedodge。Mostofthem，though，wasnogood。An’thetkinddon’tlastlong。Thisrivercountryhasbeenan’istherefugefercriminalsfromalloverthestates。I’vebunkedwithbankcashiers，forgers，plainthieves，an’out—an’—outmurderers，allofwhichhadnobiznessontheTexasborder。FellerslikeBlandareexceptions。He’snoTexan——youseenthet。Thegangherulesherecomefromallover，an’they’retoughcusses，youcanbetonthet。Theylivefatan’easy。Ifitwasn’tferthefightin’amongthemselvesthey’dshoregrowpopulous。TheRimRockisnoplaceforapeaceable，decentfeller。IheardyoutellBlandyouwouldn’tjoinhisgang。Thet’llnotmakehimtakealikin’toyou。Haveyouanymoney？"

"Notmuch，"repliedDuane。

"Couldyoulivebygamblin’？Areyouanygoodatcards？"

"No。"

"Youwouldn’tstealhossesorrustlecattle？"

"No。"

"Whenyourmoney’sgonehow’nhellwillyoulive？Thereain’tanyworkadecentfellercoulddo。Youcan’therdwithgreasers。Why，Bland’smenwouldshootatyouinthefields。

What’llyoudo，son？"

"Godknows，"repliedDuane，hopelessly。"I’llmakemymoneylastaslongaspossible——thenstarve。"

"Wal，I’mprettypore，butyou’llneverstarvewhileIgotanythin’。"

HereitstruckDuaneagain——thatsomethinghumanandkindandeagerwhichhehadseeninStevens。Duane’sestimateofoutlawshadlackedthisquality。Hehadnotaccordedthemanyvirtues。

Tohim，astotheoutsideworld，theyhadbeenmerelyviciousmenwithoutoneredeemingfeature。

"I’mmuchobligedtoyou，Euchre，"repliedDuane。"ButofcourseIwon’tlivewithanyoneunlessIcanpaymyshare。"

"Haveitanywayyoulike，myson，"saidEuchre，good—humoredly。"Youmakeafire，an’I’llsetaboutgettin’

grub。I’masourdough，Buck。Thetmandoesn’tlivewhocanbeatmybread。"

"Howdoyoueverpacksuppliesinhere？"askedDuane，thinkingofthealmostinaccessiblenatureofthevalley。

"SomecomesacrossfromMexico，an’therestdowntheriver。

Thetrivertripisabird。It’smore’nfivehundredmilestoanysupplypoint。Blandhasmozos，greaserboatmen。Sometimes，too，hegetssuppliesinfromdown—river。Yousee，BlandsellsthousandsofcattleinCuba。An’allthisstockhastogodownbyboattomeettheships。"

"Whereoneartharethecattledrivendowntotheriver？"askedDuane。

"Thet’snotmysecret，"repliedEuchre，shortly。"Factis，I

don’tknow。I’verustledcattleforBland，butheneversentmethroughtheRimRockwiththem。"

Duaneexperiencedasortofpleasureintherealizationthatinteresthadbeenstirredinhim。HewascuriousaboutBlandandhisgang，andgladtohavesomethingtothinkabout。Foreveryonceinawhilehehadasensationthatwasalmostlikeapang。Hewantedtoforget。Inthenexthourhedidforget，andenjoyedhelpinginthepreparationandeatingofthemeal。

Euchre，afterwashingandhanginguptheseveralutensils，putonhishatandturnedtogoout。

"Comealongorstayhere，asyouwant，"hesaidtoDuane。

"I’llstay，"rejoinedDuane，slowly。

Theoldoutlawlefttheroomandtrudgedaway，whistlingcheerfully。

Duanelookedaroundhimforabookorpaper，anythingtoread;

butalltheprintedmatterhecouldfindconsistedofafewwordsoncartridge—boxesandanadvertisementonthebackofatobacco—pouch。Thereseemedtobenothingforhimtodo。Hehadrested;hedidnotwanttoliedownanymore。Hebegantowalktoandfro，fromoneendoftheroomtotheother。Andashewalkedhefellintothelatelyacquiredhabitofbroodingoverhismisfortune。

Suddenlyhestraightenedupwithajerk。Unconsciouslyhehaddrawnhisgun。Standingtherewiththebrightcoldweaponinhishand，helookedatitinconsternation。Howhadhecometodrawit？Withdifficultyhetracedhisthoughtsbackward，butcouldnotfindanythatwasaccountableforhisact。Hediscovered，however，thathehadaremarkabletendencytodrophishandtohisgun。Thatmighthavecomefromthehabitlongpracticeindrawinghadgivenhim。Likewise，itmighthavecomefromasubtlesense，scarcelythoughtofatall，ofthelate，close，andinevitablerelationbetweenthatweaponandhimself。

Hewasamazedtofindthat，bitterashehadgrownatfate，thedesiretoliveburnedstronginhim。Ifhehadbeenasunfortunatelysituated，butwiththedifferencethatnomanwantedtoputhiminjailortakehislife，hefeltthatthisburningpassiontobefree，tosavehimself，mightnothavebeensopowerful。Lifecertainlyheldnobrightprospectsforhim。Alreadyhehadbeguntodespairofevergettingbacktohishome。Buttogiveuplikeawhite—heartedcoward，tolethimselfbehandcuffedandjailed，torunfromadrunken，braggingcowboy，orbeshotincoldbloodbysomeborderbrutewhomerelywantedtoaddanothernotchtohisgun——thesethingswereimpossibleforDuanebecausetherewasinhimthetempertofight。Inthathourheyieldedonlytofateandthespiritinborninhim。Hereafterthisgunmustbealivingpartofhim。

Rightthenandtherehereturnedtoapracticehehadlongdiscontinued——thedraw。Itwasnowastern，bitter，deadlybusinesswithhim。Hedidnotneedtofirethegun，foraccuracywasagiftandhadbecomeassured。Swiftnessonthedraw，however，couldbeimproved，andhesethimselftoacquirethelimitofspeedpossibletoanyman。Hestoodstillinhistracks;hepacedtheroom;hesatdown，laydown，puthimselfinawkwardpositions;andfromeverypositionhepracticedthrowinghisgun——practicedittillhewashotandtiredandhisarmachedandhishandburned。Thatpracticehedeterminedtokeepupeveryday。Itwasonething，atleast，thatwouldhelppassthewearyhours。

Laterhewentoutdoorstothecoolershadeofthecottonwoods。

Fromthispointhecouldseeagooddealofthevalley。UnderdifferentcircumstancesDuanefeltthathewouldhaveenjoyedsuchabeautifulspot。Euchre’sshacksatagainstthefirstriseoftheslopeofthewall，andDuane，byclimbingafewrods，gotaviewofthewholevalley。Assuredlyitwasanoutlawsettlemeet。HesawagoodmanyMexicans，who，ofcourse，werehandandglovewithBland。Alsohesawenormousflat—boats，crudeofstructure，mooredalongthebanksoftheriver。TheRioGranderolledawaybetweenhighbluffs。Acable，saggingdeepinthemiddle，wasstretchedoverthewideyellowstream，andanoldscow，evidentlyusedasaferry，layanchoredonthefarshore。

Thevalleywasanidealretreatforanoutlawbandoperatingonabigscale。PursuitscarcelyneedbefearedoverthebrokentrailsoftheRimRock。Andtheopenendofthevalleycouldbedefendedagainstalmostanynumberofmencomingdowntheriver。AccesstoMexicowaseasyandquick。WhatpuzzledDuanewashowBlandgotcattledowntotheriver，andhewonderediftherustlerreallydidgetridofhisstolenstockbyuseofboats。

Duanemusthaveidledconsiderabletimeuponthehill，forwhenhereturnedtotheshackEuchrewasbusilyengagedaroundthecamp—fire。

"Wal，gladtoseeyouain’tsopaleaboutthegillsasyouwas，"hesaid，bywayofgreeting。"Pitchinan’we’llsoonhavegrubready。There’sshoreoneconsolin’factroundthisherecamp。"

"What’sthat？"askedDuane。

"Plentyofgoodjuicybeeftoeat。An’itdoesn’tcostashortbit。"

"Butitcostshardridesandtrouble，badconscience，andlife，too，doesn’tit？"

"Iain’tshoreaboutthebadconscience。Mineneverbotheredmenone。An’asforlife，why，thet’scheapinTexas。"

"WhoisBland？"askedDuane，quicklychangingthesubject。

"Whatdoyouknowabouthim？"

"Wedon’tknowwhoheisorwherehehailsfrom，"repliedEuchre。"Thet’salwaysbeensomethin’tointerestthegang。HemusthavebeenayoungmanwhenhestruckTexas。Nowhe’smiddle—aged。Irememberhowyearsagohewassoft—spokenan’

notroughintalkoractlikeheisnow。Blandain’tlikelyhisrightname。Heknowsalot。Hecandoctoryou，an’he’sshoreaknowin’fellerwithtools。He’sthekindthetrulesmen。

Outlawsarealwaysridin’inheretojoinhisgang，an’ifithadn’tbeenferthegamblin’an’gun—playhe’dhaveathousandmenaroundhim。"

"Howmanyinhisgangnow？"

"Ireckonthere’sshortofahundrednow。Thenumbervaries。

ThenBlandhasseveralsmallcampsupan’downtheriver。Alsohehasmenbackonthecattle—ranges。"

"Howdoeshecontrolsuchabigforce？"askedDuane。

"Especiallywhenhisband’scomposedofbadmen。LukeStevenssaidhehadnouseforBland。AndIheardoncesomewherethatBlandwasadevil。"

"Thet’sit。Heisadevil。He’sashardasflint，violentintemper，nevermadeanyfriendsexcepthisright—handmen，DaveRuggan’ChessAlloway。Bland’llshootatawink。He’skilledalotoffellers，an’somefernothin’。Thereasonthetoutlawsgatherroundhiman’stickisbecausehe’sasaferefuge，an’

thenhe’swellheeled。Blandisrich。Theysayhehasahundredthousandpesoshidsomewhere，an’lotsofgold。Buthe’sfreewithmoney。Hegambleswhenhe’snotoffwithashipmentofcattle。Hethrowsmoneyaround。An’thefactisthere’salwaysplentyofmoneywhereheis。Thet’swhatholdsthegang。Dirty，bloodymoney！"

"It’sawonderhehasn’tbeenkilled。Alltheseyearsontheborder！"exclaimedDuane。

"Wal，"repliedEuchre，dryly，"he’sbeenquickeronthedrawthantheotherfellerswhohankeredtokillhim，thet’sall。"

Euchre’sreplyratherchilledDuane’sinterestforthemoment。

Suchremarksalwaysmadehismindrevolveroundfactspertainingtohimself。

"Speakin’ofthishereswiftwristgame，"wentonEuchre，"there’sbeenconsiderabletalkincampaboutyourthrowin’ofagun。Youknow，Buck，thetamongusfellers——ushuntedmen——thereain’tanythin’calculatedtorouserespectlikeaslickhandwithagun。IheardBlandsaythisafternoon——an’hesaiditserious—likean’speculative——thethe’dneverseenyourequal。Hewaswatchin’ofyouclose，hesaid，an’justcouldn’tfollowyourhandwhenyoudrawed。AllthefellerswhoseenyoumeetBosomerhadsomethin’tosay。Bowasaboutashandywithagunasanymaninthiscamp，barrin’ChessAllowayan’mebbeBlandhimself。ChessisthecaptainwithaColt——orhewas。An’

heshoredidn’tlikethereferencesmadeaboutyourspeed。

Blandwashonestinacknowledgin’it，buthedidn’tlikeit，neither。Someofthefellersallowedyourdrawmighthavebeenjustaccident。Butmostofthemfiggereddifferent。An’theyallshutupwhenBlandtoldwhoan’whatyourDadwas。’PearstomeIonceseenyourDadinagunscrapeoveratSantone，yearsago。Wal，Iputmyoarinto—dayamongthefellers，an’I

says:’Whatailsyoulocoedgents？DidyoungDuanebudgeaninchwhenBocameroarin’out，bloodinhiseye？Wasn’thecoolan’quiet，steadyoflips，an’weren’thiseyesreadin’Bo’smind？An’thetlightnin’draw——can’tyou—allseethet’safamilygift？’"

Euchre’snarroweyestwinkled，andhegavethedoughhewasrollingaslapwithhisflour—whitenedhand。ManifestlyhehadproclaimedhimselfachampionandpartnerofDuane’s，withalltheprideanoldmancouldfeelinayoungonewhomheadmired。

"Wal，"heresumed，presently，"thet’syourintroductiontotheborder，Buck。An’yourcardwasahightrump。You’llbeletseverelyalonebyrealgun—fightersan’menlikeBland，Alloway，Rugg，an’thebossesoftheothergangs。Afterall，theserealmenaremen，youknow，an’onlessyoucrossthemthey’renomorelikelytointerferewithyouthanyouarewiththem。Butthere’sasightoffellerslikeBosomerintherivercountry。They’llallwantyourgame。An’everytownyourideintowillscareupsomecowpuncherfullofboozeoralong—hairedfour—flushgunmanorasheriff——an’thesemenwillbeplayin’tothecrowdan’yellin’foryourblood。Thet’stheTexasofit。You’llhavetohidefereverinthebrakesoryou’llhavetoKILLsuchmen。Buck，Ireckonthisain’tcheerfulnewstoadecentchaplikeyou。I’monlytellin’youbecauseI’vetakenalikin’toyou，an’Iseenrightoffthetyouain’tborder—wise。Let’seatnow，an’afterwardwe’llgooutsothegangcanseeyou’renothidin’。"

WhenDuanewentoutwithEuchrethesunwassettingbehindabluerangeofmountainsacrosstheriverinMexico。Thevalleyappearedtoopentothesouthwest。Itwasatranquil，beautifulscene。Somewhereinahousenearathandawomanwassinging。

AndintheroadDuanesawalittleMexicanboydrivinghomesomecows，oneofwhichworeabell。Thesweet，happyvoiceofawomanandawhistlingbarefootboy——theseseemedutterlyoutofplacehere。

EuchrepresentlyledtothesquareandtherowofroughhousesDuaneremembered。HealmoststeppedonawideimprintinthedustwhereBosomerhadconfrontedhim。Andasuddenfurybesethimthatheshouldbeaffectedstrangelybythesightofit。

"Let’shavealookinhere，"saidEuchre。

Duanehadtobendhisheadtoenterthedoor。Hefoundhimselfinaverylargeroominclosedbyadobewallsandroofedwithbrush。Itwasfullofrudebenches，tables，seats。Atonecorneranumberofkegsandbarrelslaysidebysideinarack。

AMexicanboywaslightinglampshungonpoststhatsustainedthelograftersoftheroof。

"Theonlyfellerwho’sgoin’toputacloseeyeonyouisBenson，"saidEuchre。"Herunstheplacean’sellsdrinks。ThegangcallshimJackrabbitBenson，becausehe’salwaysgothiseyepeeledan’hisearcocked。Don’tnoticehimifhelooksyouover，Buck。Bensonisscaredtodeathofeverynew—comerwhorustlesintoBland’scamp。An’thereason，Itakeit，isbecausehe’sdonesomebodydirt。He’shidin’。Notfromasherifforranger！Menwhohidefromthemdon’tactlikeJackrabbitBenson。He’shidin’fromsomeguywho’shuntin’himtokillhim。Wal，I’malwaysexpectin’toseesomefellerrideinherean’throwagunonBenson。Can’tsayI’dbegrieved。"

Duanecasuallyglancedinthedirectionindicated，andhesawaspare，gauntmanwithafacestrikinglywhitebesidetheredandbronzeanddarkskinsofthemenaroundhim。Itwasacadaverousface。Theblackmustachehungdown;aheavylockofblackhairdroppeddownoverthebrow;deep—set，hollow，staringeyeslookedoutpiercingly。Themanhadarestless，alert，nervousmanner。HeputhishandsontheboardthatservedasabarandstaredatDuane。ButwhenhemetDuane’sglanceheturnedhurriedlytogoonservingoutliquor。