第10章

WhenthenoiseofpursuitceasedDuanesatdowninthedarkness，hismindclampedbetweentwothings——whethertotryagaintoescapeorwaitforpossibleopportunity。Heseemedincapableofdecision。Hisintelligencetoldhimthateveryhourlessenedhischancesforescape。Hehadlittleenoughchanceinanycase，andthatwaswhatmadeanotherattemptsodesperatelyhard。Stillitwasnotloveoflifethatboundhim。

Therewouldcomeanhour，soonerorlater，whenhewouldwrenchdecisionoutofthischaosofemotionandthought。Butthattimewasnotyet。

hehadremainedquietlongenoughtocooloffandrecoverfromhisrunhefoundthathewastired。Hestretchedouttorest。

Buttheswarmsofviciousmosquitoespreventedsleep。Thiscornerofthebrakewaslowandneartheriver，abreeding—groundfortheblood—suckers。Theysangandhummedandwhinedaroundhiminanever—increasinghorde。Hecoveredhisheadandhandswithhiscoatandlaytherepatiently。Thatwasalongandwretchednight。Morningfoundhimstillstrongphysically，butinadreadfulstateofmind。

Firsthehurriedfortheriver。Hecouldwithstandthepangsofhunger，butitwasimperativetoquenchthirst。Hiswoundmadehimfeverish，andthereforemorethanusuallyhotandthirsty。

Againhewasrefreshed。Thatmorninghewashardputtoittoholdhimselfbackfromattemptingtocrosstheriver。Ifhecouldfindalightlogitwaswithintheboundsofpossibilitythathemightfordtheshallowwaterandbarsofquicksand。Butnotyet！Wearily，doggedlyhefacedabouttowardthebluff。

Allthatdayandallthatnight，allthenextdayandallthenextnight，hestolelikeahuntedsavagefromrivertobluff;

andeveryhourforceduponhimthebittercertaintythathewastrapped。

Duanelosttrackofdays，ofevents。Hehadcometoanevilpass。Therearrivedanhourwhen，closelypressedbypursuersattheextremesoutherncornerofthebrake，hetooktoadensethicketofwillows，driventowhathebelievedwashislaststand。

Ifonlythesehumanbloodhoundswouldswiftlycloseinonhim！

Lethimfighttothelastbittergaspandhaveitover！Butthesehunters，eagerastheyweretogethim，hadcareoftheirownskins。Theytookfewrisks。Theyhadhimcornered。

Itwasthemiddleoftheday，hot，dusty，oppressive，threateningstorm。LikeasnakeDuanecrawledintoalittlespaceinthedarkestpartofthethicketandlaystill。Menhadcuthimofffromthebluff，fromtheriver，seeminglyfromallsides。Butheheardvoicesonlyfrominfrontandtowardhisleft。Evenifhispassagetotheriverhadnotbeenblocked，itmightjustaswellhavebeen。

"Comeonfellers——downhyar，"calledonemanfromthebluff。

"Gothimcorralledatlast，"shoutedanother。

"Reckonyeneedn’tbetooshore。Wethoughtthetmore’nonce，"

tauntedanother。

"Iseenhim，Itellyou。"

"Aw，thetwasadeer。"

"ButBillfoundfreshtracksan’bloodonthewillows。’

"Ifhe’swingedweneedn’thurry。"

"Holdonthar，youboys，"cameashoutinauthoritativetonesfromfartherupthebluff。"Goslow。You—allairgittin’

foolishattheendofalongchase。"

"Thet’sright，Colonel。Hold’emback。There’snothin’shorerthansomebody’llbestoppin’leadprettyquick。He’llbehuntin’ussoon！"

"Let’ssurroundthiscorneran’starvehimout。"

"Firethebrake。"

HowclearlyallthistalkpiercedDuane’sears！Initheseemedtohearhisdoom。This，then，wastheendhehadalwaysexpected，whichhadbeenclosetohimbefore，yetneverlikenow。

"ByGod！"whisperedDuane，"thethingformetodonow——isgoout——meetthem！"

Thatwaspromptedbythefighting，thekillinginstinctinhim。

Inthatmomentithadalmostsuperhumanpower。Ifhemustdie，thatwasthewayforhimtodie。WhatelsecouldbeexpectedofBuckDuane？Hegottohiskneesanddrewhisgun。Withhisswollenandalmostuselesshandheheldwhatspareammunitionhehadleft。Heoughttocreepoutnoiselesslytotheedgeofthewillows，suddenlyfacehispursuers，then，whiletherewasabeatleftinhisheart，kill，kill，kill。Thesemenallhadrifles。Thefightwouldbeshort。Butthemarksmendidnotliveonearthwhocouldmakesuchafightgowhollyagainsthim。

Confrontingthemsuddenlyhecouldkillamanforeveryshotinhisgun。

ThusDuanereasoned。Sohehopedtoaccepthisfate——tomeetthisend。Butwhenhetriedtostepforwardsomethingcheckedhim。Heforcedhimself;yethecouldnotgo。Theobstructionthatopposedhiswillwasasinsurmountableasithadbeenphysicallyimpossibleforhimtoclimbthebluff。

Slowlyhefellback，crouchedlow，andthenlayflat。Thegrimandghastlydignitythathadbeenhisamomentbeforefellawayfromhim。Helaytherestrippedofhislastshredofself—respect。Hewonderedwasheafraid;hadhe，thelastoftheDuanes——hadhecometofeelfear？No！Neverinallhiswildlifehadhesolongedtogooutandmeetmenfacetoface。Itwasnotfearthatheldhimback。Hehatedthishiding，thiseternalvigilance，thishopelesslife。Thedamnableparadoxofthesituationwasthatifhewentouttomeetthesementherewasabsolutelynodoubtofhisdoom。Ifheclungtohiscoverttherewasachance，amerestchance，forhislife。Thesepursuers，doggedandunflaggingastheyhadbeen，weremortallyafraidofhim。Itwashisfamethatmadethemcowards。Duane’skeennesstoldhimthatattheverydarkestandmostperilousmomenttherewasstillachanceforhim。Andthebloodinhim，thetemperofhisfather，theyearsofhisoutlawry，theprideofhisunsoughtandhatedcareer，thenameless，inexplicablesomethinginhimmadehimacceptthatslimchance。

Waitingthenbecameaphysicalandmentalagony。Helayundertheburningsun，parchedbythirst，laboringtobreathe，sweatingandbleeding。Hisuncared—forwoundwaslikeared—hotpronginhisflesh。Blotchedandswollenfromthenever—endingattackoffliesandmosquitoeshisfaceseemedtwiceitsnaturalsize，anditachedandstung。

Ononeside，then，wasthisphysicaltorture;ontheothertheoldhell，terriblyaugmentedatthiscrisis，inhismind。Itseemedthatthoughtandimaginationhadneverbeensoswift。Ifdeathfoundhimpresently，howwoulditcome？Wouldhegetdecentburialorbeleftforthepeccariesandthecoyotes？

Wouldhispeopleeverknowwherehehadfallen？Howwretched，howmiserablehisstate！Itwascowardly，itwasmonstrousforhimtoclinglongertothisdoomedlife。Thenthehateinhisheart，thehellishhateofthesemenonhistrail——thatwaslikeascourge。Hefeltnolongerhuman。Hehaddegeneratedintoananimalthatcouldthink。Hisheartpounded，hispulsebeat，hisbreastheaved;andthisinternalstrifeseemedtothunderintohisears。Hewasnowenactingthetragedyofallcrippled，starved，huntedwolvesatbayintheirdens。Onlyhistragedywasinfinitelymoreterriblebecausehehadmindenoughtoseehisplight，hisresemblancetoalonelywolf，bloody—fanged，dripping，snarling，fire—eyedinalastinstinctivedefiance。

MounteduponthehorrorofDuane’sthoughtwasawatching，listeningintensitysosupremethatitregisteredimpressionswhichwerecreationsofhisimagination。Heheardstealthystepsthatwerenotthere;hesawshadowymovingfiguresthatwereonlyleaves。Ahundredtimeswhenhewasabouttopulltriggerhediscoveredhiserror。Yetvoicescamefromadistance，andstepsandcrackingsinthewillows，andothersoundsrealenough。ButDuanecouldnotdistinguishtherealfromthefalse。Thereweretimeswhenthewindwhichhadarisensentahot，patteringbreathdownthewillowaisles，andDuanehearditasanapproachingarmy。

ThisstrainingofDuane’sfacultiesbroughtonareactionwhichinitselfwasarespite。Hesawthesundarkenedbythickslowspreadingclouds。Astormappearedtobecoming。Howslowlyitmoved！Theairwaslikesteam。Iftherebrokeoneofthosedark，violentstormscommonthoughraretothecountry，Duanebelievedhemightslipawayinthefuryofwindandrain。Hope，thatseemedunquenchableinhim，resurgedagain。Hehaileditwithabitternessthatwassickening。

Thenatarustlingstephefrozeintotheoldstrainedattention。Heheardaslowpatterofsoftfeet。Atawnyshapecrossedalittleopeninginthethicket。Itwasthatofadog。

Themomentwhilethatbeastcameintofullviewwasanage。Thedogwasnotabloodhound，andifhehadatrailorascentheseemedtobeatfaultonit。Duanewaitedfortheinevitablediscovery。Anykindofahunting—dogcouldhavefoundhiminthatthicket。Voicesfromoutsidecouldbeheardurgingonthedog。Rovertheycalledhim。Duanesatupatthemomentthedogenteredthelittleshadedcovert。Duaneexpectedayelping，abaying，oratleastabarkthatwouldtellofhishiding—place。

AstrangereliefswiftlyswayedoverDuane。Theendwasnearnow。Hehadnofurtherchoice。Letthemcome——aquickfierceexchangeofshots——andthenthistorturepast！Hewaitedforthedogtogivethealarm。

Butthedoglookedathimandtrottedbyintothethicketwithoutayelp。Duanecouldnotbelievetheevidenceofhissenses。Hethoughthehadsuddenlygonedeaf。Hesawthedogdisappear，heardhimrunningtoandfroamongthewillows，gettingfartherandfartheraway，tillallsoundfromhimceased。

"Thar’sRover，"calledavoicefromthebluff—side。"He’sbeenthroughthetblackpatch。"

"Naryarabbitinthere，"repliedanother。

"Bah！Thetpup’snogood，"scornfullygrowledanotherman。"Putahoundatthetclumpofwillows。"

"Fire’sthegame。Burnthebrakebeforetheraincomes。"

Thevoicesdronedoffastheirownersevidentlywalkeduptheridge。

ThenuponDuanefellthecrushingburdenoftheoldwaiting，watching，listeningspell。Afterall，itwasnottoendjustnow。Hischancestillpersisted——lookedalittlebrighter——ledhimon，perhaps，toforlornhope。

Allatoncetwilightsettledquicklydownuponthewillowbrake，orelseDuanenoteditsuddenly。Heimaginedittobecausedbytheapproachingstorm。Buttherewaslittlemovementofairorcloud，andthunderstillmutteredandrumbledatadistance。Thefactwasthesunhadset，andatthistimeofovercastskynightwasathand。

Duanerealizeditwiththeawakeningofallhisoldforce。Hewouldyeteludehispursuers。Thatwasthemomentwhenheseizedthesignificanceofallthesefortunatecircumstanceswhichhadaidedhim。Withouthasteandwithoutsoundhebegantocrawlinthedirectionoftheriver。Itwasnotfar，andhereachedthebankbeforedarknesssetin。Thereweremenuponthebluffcarryingwoodtobuildabonfire。Foramomenthehalfyieldedtoatemptationtotrytoslipalongtheriver—shore，closeinunderthewillows。Butwhenheraisedhimselftopeerouthesawthatanattemptofthiskindwouldbeliabletofailure。Atthesamemomenthesawarough—hewnplanklyingbeneathhim，lodgedagainstsomewillows。Theendoftheplankextendedinalmosttoapointbeneathhim。Quickasaflashhesawwhereadesperatechanceinvitedhim。Thenhetiedhisguninanoilskinbagandputitinhispocket。，Thebankwassteepandcrumbly。Hemustnotbreakoffanyearthtosplashintothewater。Therewasawillowgrowingbacksomefewfeetfromtheedgeofthebank。Cautiouslyhepulleditdown，bentitoverthewatersothatwhenhereleasedittherewouldbenospringingback。Thenhetrustedhisweighttoit，withhisfeetslidingcarefullydownthebank。Hewentintothewateralmostuptohisknees，feltthequicksandgriphisfeet;

then，leaningforwardtillhereachedtheplank，hepulledittowardhimandlayuponit。

Withoutasoundoneendwentslowlyunderwaterandthefartherendappearedlightlybracedagainsttheoverhangingwillows。

VerycarefullythenDuanebegantoextricatehisrightfootfromthesuckingsand。Itseemedasifhisfootwasincasedinsolidrock。Buttherewasamovementupward，andhepulledwithallthepowerhedareduse。Itcameslowlyandatlengthwasfree。Theleftonehereleasedwithlessdifficulty。Thenextfewmomentsheputallhisattentionontheplanktoascertainifhisweightwouldsinkitintothesand。Thefarendslippedoffthewillowswithalittlesplashandgraduallysettledtorestuponthebottom。Butitsanknofarther，andDuane’sgreatestconcernwasrelieved。However，asitwasmanifestlyimpossibleforhimtokeephisheadupforlonghecarefullycrawledoutupontheplankuntilhecouldrestanarmandshoulderuponthewillows。

Whenhelookedupitwastofindthenightstrangelyluminouswithfires。Therewasabonfireontheextremeendofthe，bluff，anotherahundredpacesbeyond。Agreatflareextendedoverthebrakeinthatdirection。Duaneheardaroaringonthewind，andheknewhispursuershadfiredthewillows。Hedidnotbelievethatwouldhelpthemmuch。Thebrakewasdryenough，buttoogreentoburnreadily。Andasforthebonfireshediscoveredthatthemen，probablyhavingrunoutofwood，werekeepingupthelightwithoilandstufffromthevillage。

AdozenmenkeptwatchonthebluffscarcelyfiftypacesfromwhereDuanelayconcealedbythewillows。Theytalked，crackedjokes，sangsongs，andmanifestlyconsideredthisoutlaw—huntingagreatlark。AslongasthebrightlightlastedDuanedarednotmove。Hehadthepatienceandtheendurancetowaitforthebreakingofthestorm，andifthatdidnotcome，thentheearlyhourbeforedawnwhenthegrayfogandgloomwereovertheriver。

Escapewasnowinhisgrasp。Hefeltit。Andwiththatinhismindhewaited，strongassteelinhisconviction，capableofwithstandinganystrainendurablebythehumanframe。

Thewindblewinpuffs，grewwilder，androaredthroughthewillows，carryingbrightsparksupward。Thunderrolleddownovertheriver，andlightningbegantoflash。Thentherainfellinheavysheets，butnotsteadily。TheflashesoflightningandthebroadflaresplayedsoincessantlythatDuanecouldnottrusthimselfoutontheopenriver。Certainlythestormratherincreasedthewatchfulnessofthemenonthebluff。Heknewhowtowait，andhewaited，grimlystandingpainandcrampandchill。Thestormworeawayasdesultorilyasithadcome，andthelongnightsetin。ThereweretimeswhenDuanethoughthewasparalyzed，otherswhenhegrewsick，giddy，weakfromthestrainedposture。Thefirstpalingofthestarsquickenedhimwithakindofwildjoy。Hewatchedthemgrowpaler，dimmer，disappearonebyone。Ashadowhovereddown，restedupontheriver，andgraduallythickened。Thebonfireonthebluffshowedasthroughafoggyveil。Thewatchersweremeregropingdarkfigures。

Duane，awareofhowcrampedhehadbecomefromlonginaction，begantomovehislegsanduninjuredarmandbody，andatlengthovercameaparalyzingstiffness。Then，digginghishandinthesandandholdingtheplankwithhisknees，heedgeditoutintotheriver。Inchbyinchheadvanceduntilclearofthewillows。Lookingupward，hesawtheshadowyfiguresofthemenonthebluff。Herealizedtheyoughttoseehim，fearedthattheywould。Buthekepton，cautiously，noiselessly，withaheart—numbingslowness。Fromtimetotimehiselbowmadealittlegurgleandsplashinthewater。Tryashemight，hecouldnotpreventthis。Itgottobelikethehollowroarofarapidfillinghisearswithmockingsound。Therewasaperceptiblecurrentoutintheriver，andithinderedstraightadvancement。Inchbyinchhecrepton，expectingtohearthebangofrifles，thespatteringofbullets。Hetriednottolookbackward，butfailed。Thefireappearedalittledimmer，themovingshadowsalittledarker。

Oncetheplankstuckinthesandandfeltasifitweresettling。Bringingfeettoaidhishand，heshoveditoverthetreacherousplace。Thiswayhemadefasterprogress。Theobscurityoftheriverseemedtobeenvelopinghim。Whenhelookedbackagainthefiguresofthemenwerecoalescingwiththesurroundinggloom，thefireswerestreaky，blurredpatchesoflight。Buttheskyabovewasbrighter。Dawnwasnotfaroff。

Tothewestallwasdark。WithinfinitecareandimplacablespiritandwaningstrengthDuaneshovedtheplankalong，andwhenatlasthediscernedtheblackborderofbankitcameintime，hethought，tosavehim。Hecrawledout，restedtillthegraydawnbroke，andthenheadednorththroughthewillows。

CHAPTERXIII

HowlongDuanewastravelingoutofthatregionheneverknew。

Buthereachedfamiliarcountryandfoundarancherwhohadbeforebefriendedhim。Herehisarmwasattendedto;hehadfoodandsleep;andinacoupleofweekshewashimselfagain。

WhenthetimecameforDuanetorideawayonhisendlesstrailhisfriendreluctantlyimpartedtheinformationthatsomethirtymilessouth，nearthevillageofShirley，therewaspostedatacertaincross—roadarewardforBuckDuanedeadoralive。Duanehadheardofsuchnotices，buthehadneverseenone。Hisfriend’sreluctanceandrefusaltostateforwhatparticulardeedthisrewardwasofferedrousedDuane’scuriosity。HehadneverbeenanyclosertoShirleythanthisrancher’shome。Doubtlesssomepost—officeburglary，somegun—shootingscrapehadbeenattributedtohim。Andhehadbeenaccusedofworsedeeds。AbruptlyDuanedecidedtorideoverthereandfindoutwhowantedhimdeadoralive，andwhy。

Ashestartedsouthontheroadhereflectedthatthiswasthefirsttimehehadeverdeliberatelyhuntedtrouble。

Introspectionawardedhimthisknowledge;duringthatlastterribleflightonthelowerNuecesandwhilehelayabedrecuperatinghehadchanged。Afixed，immutable，hopelessbitternessabidedwithhim。Hehadreachedtheendofhisrope。

Allthepowerofhismindandsoulwereunavailabletoturnhimbackfromhisfate。

Thatfatewastobecomeanoutlawineverysenseoftheterm，tobewhathewascreditedwithbeing——thatistosay，toembraceevil。Hehadnevercommittedacrime。Hewonderednowwascrimeclosetohim？Hereasonedfinallythatthedesperationofcrimehadbeenforceduponhim，ifnotitsmotive;andthatifdriven，therewasnolimittohispossibilities。Heunderstoodnowmanyofthehithertoinexplicableactionsofcertainnotedoutlaws——whytheyhadreturnedtothesceneofthecrimethathadoutlawedthem;whytheytooksuchstrangelyfatalchances;whylifewasnomoretothemthanabreathofwind;whytheyrodestraightintothejawsofdeathtoconfrontwrongedmenorhuntingrangers，vigilantes，tolaughintheirveryfaces。Itwassuchbitternessasthisthatdrovethesemen。

Towardafternoon，fromthetopofalonghill，DuanesawthegreenfieldsandtreesandshiningroofsofatownheconsideredmustbeShirley。Andatthebottomofthehillhecameuponanintersectingroad。Therewasaplacardnailedonthecrossroadsign—post。Duanedrewreinnearitandleanedclosetoreadthefadedprint。$1000REWARDFORBUCKDUANEDEAD

ORALIVE。Peeringclosertoreadthefiner，morefadedprint，DuanelearnedthathewaswantedforthemurderofMrs。JeffAikenatherranchnearShirley。ThemonthSeptemberwasnamed，butthedatewasillegible。Therewardwasofferedbythewoman’shusband，whosenameappearedwiththatofasheriff’satthebottomoftheplacard。

Duanereadthethingtwice。Whenhestraightenedhewassickwiththehorrorofhisfate，wildwithpassionatthosemisguidedfoolswhocouldbelievethathehadharmedawoman。

ThenherememberedKateBland，and，asalwayswhenshereturnedtohim，hequakedinwardly。Yearsbeforewordhadgoneabroadthathehadkilledher，andsoitwaseasyformenwantingtofixacrimetonamehim。Perhapsithadbeendoneoften。Probablyheboreonhisshouldersaburdenofnumberlesscrimes。

Adark，passionatefurypossessedhim。Itshookhimlikeastormshakestheoak。Whenitpassed，leavinghimcold，withcloudedbrowandpiercingeye，hismindwasset。Spurringhishorse，herodestraighttowardthevillage。

Shirleyappearedtobealarge，pretentiouscountrytown。A

branchofsomerailroadterminatedthere。Themainstreetwaswide，borderedbytreesandcommodioushouses，andmanyofthestoreswereofbrick。Alargeplazashadedbygiantcottonwoodtreesoccupiedacentrallocation。

Duanepulledhisrunninghorseandhaltedhim，plungingandsnorting，beforeagroupofidlemenwholoungedonbenchesintheshadeofaspreadingcottonwood。HowmanytimeshadDuaneseenjustthatkindoflazyshirt—sleevedTexasgroup！Notoften，however，hadheseensuchplacid，lolling，good—naturedmenchangetheirexpression，theirattitudesoswiftly。Hisadventapparentlywasmomentous。Theyevidentlytookhimforanunusualvisitor。SofarasDuanecouldtell，notoneofthemrecognizedhim，hadahintofhisidentity。

Heslidoffhishorseandthrewthebridle。

"I’mBuckDuane，"hesaid。"Isawthatplacard——outthereonasign—post。It’sadamnlie！SomebodyfindthismanJeffAiken。

Iwanttoseehim。"

Hisannouncementwastakeninabsolutesilence。Thatwastheonlyeffecthenoted，forheavoidedlookingatthesevillagers。Thereasonwassimpleenough;Duanefelthimselfovercomewithemotion。Thereweretearsinhiseyes。Hesatdownonabench，puthiselbowsonhiskneesandhishandstohisface。Foroncehehadabsolutelynoconcernforhisfate。

Thisignominywasthelaststraw。

Presently，however，hebecameawareofsomekindofcommotionamongthesevillagers。Heheardwhisperings，low，hoarsevoices，thentheshuffleofrapidfeetmovingaway。Allatonceaviolenthandjerkedhisgunfromitsholster。WhenDuaneroseagauntman，lividofface，shakinglikealeaf，confrontedhimwithhisowngun。

"Handsup，thar，youBuckDuane！"heroared，wavingthegun。

Thatappearedtobethecueforpandemoniumtobreakloose。

Duaneopenedhislipstospeak，butifhehadyelledatthetopofhislungshecouldnothavemadehimselfheard。Inwearydisgusthelookedatthegauntman，andthenattheothers，whowereworkingthemselvesintoafrenzy。Hemadenomove，however，toholduphishands。Thevillagerssurroundedhim，emboldenedbyfindinghimnowunarmed。Thenseveralmenlayholdofhisarmsandpinionedthembehindhisback。ResistancewasuselessevenifDuanehadhadthespirit。Someoneofthemfetchedhishalterfromhissaddle，andwiththistheyboundhimhelpless。

Peoplewererunningnowfromthestreet，thestores，thehouses。Oldmen，cowboys，clerks，boys，rancherscameonthetrot。Thecrowdgrew。Theincreasingclamorbegantoattractwomenaswellasmen。Agroupofgirlsranup，thenhungbackinfrightandpity。

Thepresenceofcowboysmadeadifference。Theysplitupthecrowd，gottoDuane，andlayholdofhimwithrough，businesslikehands。Oneofthemliftedhisfistsandroaredatthefrenziedmobtofallback，tostoptheracket。Hebeatthembackintoacircle;butitwassomelittletimebeforethehubbubquieteddownsoavoicecouldbeheard。

"Shutup，willyou—all？"hewasyelling。"Giveusachancetohearsomethin’。Easynow——soho。Thereain’tnobodygoin’tobehurt。Thet’sright;everybodyquietnow。Let’sseewhat’scomeoff。"

Thiscowboy，evidentlyoneofauthority，oratleastoneofstrongpersonality，turnedtothegauntman，whostillwavedDuane’sgun。

"Abe，putthegundown，"hesaid。"Itmightgooff。Here，giveittome。Now，what’swrong？Who’sthisropedgent，an’what’shedone？"

Thegauntfellow，whoappearednowabouttocollapse，liftedashakinghandandpointed。

"Thettharfeller——he’sBuckDuane！"hepanted。

Anangrymurmurranthroughthesurroundingcrowd。

"Therope！Therope！Throwitoverabranch！Stringhimup！"

criedanexcitedvillager。

"BuckDuane！BuckDuane！"

"Hanghim！"

Thecowboysilencedthesecries。

"Abe，howdoyouknowthisfellowisBuckDuane？"heasked，sharply。

"Why——hesaidso，"repliedthemancalledAbe。

"What！"cametheexclamation，incredulously。

"It’satarnalfact，"pantedAbe，wavinghishandsimportantly。

Hewasanoldmanandappearedtobecarriedawaywiththesignificanceofhisdeed。"Heliketorid’hishossrightoverus—all。Thenhejumpedoff，sayshewasBuckDuane，an’hewantedtoseeJeffAikenbad。"

Thisspeechcausedasecondcommotionasnoisythoughnotsoenduringasthefirst。Whenthecowboy，assistedbyacoupleofhismates，hadrestoredorderagainsomeonehadslippedthenoose—endofDuane’sropeoverhishead。

"Upwithhim！"screechedawild—eyedyouth。

Themobsurgedcloserwasshovedbackbythecowboys。

"Abe，ifyouain’tdrunkorcrazytellthetover，"orderedAbe’sinterlocutor。

WithsomeshowofresentmentandmoreofdignityAbereiteratedhisformerstatement。

"Ifhe’sBuckDuanehow’nhelldidyougetholdofhisgun？"

bluntlyqueriedthecowboy。

"Why——hesetdownthar——an’hekindofhidhisfaceonhishand。An’Igrabbedhisgunan’gotthedroponhim。"

Whatthecowboythoughtofthiswasexpressedinalaugh。Hismateslikewisegrinnedbroadly。ThentheleaderturnedtoDuane。

"Stranger，Ireckonyou’dbetterspeakupforyourself，"hesaid。

Thatstilledthecrowdasnocommandhaddone。

"I’mBuckDuane，allright。"saidDuane，quietly。"Itwasthisway——"

Thebigcowboyseemedtovibratewithashock。Alltheruddywarmthlefthisface;hisjawbegantobulge;thecordedveinsinhisneckstoodoutinknots。Inaninstanthehadahard，stern，strangelook。HeshotoutapowerfulhandthatfastenedinthefrontofDuane’sblouse。

"Somethin’queerhere。Butifyou’reDuaneyou’resureinbad。

Anyfooloughttoknowthat。Youmeanit，then？"

"Yes。"

"Rodeintoshootupthetown，eh？Sameoldstuntofyougunfighters？Meanttokillthemanwhoofferedareward？WantedtoseeJeffAikenbad，huh？"

"No，"repliedDuane。"Yourcitizenheremisrepresentedthings。

Heseemsalittleoffhishead。"

"Reckonheis。Somebodyis，that’ssure。YouclaimBuckDuane，then，an’allhisdoings？"

"I’mDuane;yes。ButIwon’tstandfortheblameofthingsI

neverdid。That’swhyI’mhere。Isawthatplacardoutthereofferingthereward。UntilnowIneverwaswithinhalfaday’srideofthistown。I’mblamedforwhatIneverdid。Irodeinhere，toldwhoIwas，askedsomebodytosendforJeffAiken。"

"An’thenyousetdownan’letthisoldguythrowyourowngunonyou？"queriedthecowboyinamazement。

"Iguessthat’sit，"repliedDuane。

"Well，it’spowerfulstrange，ifyou’rereallyBuckDuane。"

Amanelbowedhiswayintothecircle。

"It’sDuane。Irecognizehim。Iseenhiminmore’noneplace，"

hesaid。"Sibert，youcanrelyonwhatItellyou。Idon’tknowifhe’slocoedorwhat。ButIdoknowhe’sthegenuineBuckDuane。Anyonewho’deverseenhimonctwouldneverforgethim。"

"WhatdoyouwanttoseeAikenfor？"askedthecowboySibert。

"Iwanttofacehim，andtellhimIneverharmedhiswife。"

"Why？"

"BecauseI’minnocent，that’sall。"

"SupposewesendforAikenan’hehearsyouan’doesn’tbelieveyou;whatthen？"

"Ifhewon’tbelieveme——why，thenmycase’ssobad——I’dbebetteroffdead。"

AmomentarysilencewasbrokenbySibert。

"Ifthisisn’taqueerdeal！Boys，reckonwe’dbettersendforJeff。"

"Somebodywentferhim。He’llbecomin’soon，"repliedaman。

Duanestoodaheadtallerthanthatcircleofcuriousfaces。Hegazedoutaboveandbeyondthem。Itwasinthiswaythathechancedtoseeanumberofwomenontheoutskirtsofthecrowd。

Somewereold，withhardfaces，likethemen。Somewereyoungandcomely，andmostoftheseseemedagitatedbyexcitementordistress。Theycastfearful，pityingglancesuponDuaneashestoodtherewiththatnooseroundhisneck。Womenweremorehumanthanmen，Duanethought。Hemeteyesthatdilated，seemedfascinatedathisgaze，butwerenotaverted。Itwastheoldwomenwhowerevoluble，loudinexpressionoftheirfeelings。

Nearthetrunkofthecottonwoodstoodaslenderwomaninwhite。Duane’swanderingglanceresteduponher。Hereyeswereriveteduponhim。Asoft—heartedwoman，probably，whodidnotwanttoseehimhanged！

"TharcomesJeffAikennow，"calledaman，loudly。

Thecrowdshiftedandtrampledineagerness。

Duanesawtwomencomingfast，oneofwhom，inthelead，wasofstalwartbuild。Hehadaguninhishand，andhismannerwasthatoffierceenergy。

ThecowboySibertthrustopenthejostlingcircleofmen。

"Holdon，Jeff，"hecalled，andheblockedthemanwiththegun。HespokesolowDuanecouldnothearwhathesaid，andhisformhidAiken’sface。Atthatjuncturethecrowdspreadout，closedin，andAikenandSibertwerecaughtinthecircle。

Therewasapushingforward，apressingofmanybodies，hoarsecriesandflinginghands——againtheinsanetumultwasabouttobreakout——thedemandforanoutlaw’sblood，thecallforawildjusticeexecutedathousandtimesbeforeonTexas’sbloodysoil。

Sibertbellowedatthedarkencroachingmass。Thecowboyswithhimbeatandcuffedinvain。

"Jeff，willyoulisten？"brokeinSibert，hurriedly，hishandontheotherman’sarm。