第12章

BOOKIITHERANGER

CHAPTERXV

WestofthePecosRiverTexasextendedavastwildregion，barreninthenorthwheretheLlanoEstacadospreaditsshiftingsands，fertileinthesouthalongtheRioGrande。A

railroadmarkedanundeviatingcourseacrossfivehundredmilesofthiscountry，andtheonlyvillagesandtownslayonornearthislineofsteel。UnsettledaswasthiswesternTexas，anddespitetheacknowledgeddominanceoftheoutlawbands，thepioneerspushedsteadilyintoit。Firsthadcomethelonerancher;thenhisneighborsinnearandfarvalleys;thenthehamlets;atlasttherailroadandthetowns。Andstillthepioneerscame，spreadingdeeperintothevalleys，fartherandwiderovertheplains。Itwasmesquite—dotted，cactus—covereddesert，butrichsoiluponwhichwateractedlikemagic。Therewaslittlegrasstoanacre，butthereweremillionsofacres。

Theclimatewaswonderful。Cattleflourishedandranchersprospered。

TheRioGrandeflowedalmostduesouthalongthewesternboundaryforathousandmiles，andthen，wearyofitscourse，turnedabruptlynorth，tomakewhatwascalledtheBigBend。

Therailroad，runningwest，cutacrossthisbend，andallthatcountryboundedonthenorthbytherailroadandonthesouthbytheriverwasaswildastheStakedPlains。Itcontainednotonesettlement。AcrossthefaceofthisBigBend，asiftoisolateit，stretchedtheOrdmountainrange，ofwhichMountOrd，CathedralMount，andElephantMountraisedbleakpeaksabovetheirfellows。Inthevalleysofthefoothillsandoutacrosstheplainswereranches，andfarthernorthvillages，andthetownsofAlpineandMarfa。

LikeotherpartsofthegreatLoneStarState，thissectionofTexaswasaworldinitself——aworldwheretherichesoftherancherwereeverenrichingtheoutlaw。Thevillageclosesttothegatewayofthisoutlaw—infestedregionwasalittleplacecalledOrd，namedafterthedarkpeakthatloomedsomemilestothesouth。IthadbeensettledoriginallybyMexicans——therewerestilltheruinsofadobemissions——butwiththeadventoftherustlerandoutlawmanyinhabitantswereshotordrivenaway，sothatattheheightofOrd’sprosperityandevilswaytherewerebutfewMexicanslivingthere，andthesehadtheirchoicebetweenholdinghand—and—glovewiththeoutlawsorfurnishingtargetpracticeforthatwildelement。

TowardthecloseofadayinSeptemberastrangerrodeintoOrd，andinacommunitywhereallmenwereremarkableforonereasonoranotherheexcitedinterest。Hishorse，perhaps，receivedthefirstandmostengagingattention——horsesinthatregionbeingapparentlymoreimportantthanmen。Thisparticularhorsedidnotattractwithbeauty。Atfirstglanceheseemedugly。Buthewasagiant，blackascoal，roughdespitethecaremanifestlybestoweduponhim，longofbody，ponderousoflimb，hugeineveryway。Abystanderremarkedthathehadagrandhead。True，ifonlyhisheadhadbeenseenhewouldhavebeenabeautifulhorse。Likemen，horsesshowwhattheyareintheshape，thesize，theline，thecharacterofthehead。Thisonedenotedfire，speed，blood，loyalty，andhiseyeswereassoftanddarkasawoman’s。Hisfacewassolidblack，exceptinthemiddleofhisforehead，wheretherewasaroundspotofwhite。

"Saymister，mindtellin’mehisname？"askedaraggedurchin，withbornloveofahorseinhiseyes。

"Bullet，"repliedtherider。

"Thetthere’sferthewhitemark，ain’tit？"whisperedtheyoungstertoanother。"Say，ain’theawhopper？BiggesthossI

everseen。"

Bulletcarriedahugeblacksilver—ornamentedsaddleofMexicanmake，alariatandcanteen，andasmallpackrolledintoatarpaulin。

Thisriderapparentlyputallcareofappearancesuponhishorse。Hisapparelwastheordinaryjeansofthecowboywithoutvanity，anditwastornandtravel—stained。Hisbootsshowedevidenceofanintimateacquaintancewithcactus。Likehishorse，thismanwasagiantinstature，butrangier，notsoheavilybuilt。Otherwisetheonlystrikingthingabouthimwashissomberfacewithitspiercingeyes，andhairwhiteoverthetemples。Hepackedtwoguns，bothlowdown——butthatwastoocommonathingtoattractnoticeintheBigBend。Acloseobserver，however，wouldhavenotedasingularfact——thisrider’srighthandwasmorebronzed，moreweather—beatenthanhisleft。Heneverworeagloveonthatrighthand！

Hehaddismountedbeforearamshacklestructurethatboreuponitswide，high—boardedfrontthesign，"Hotel。"Therewerehorsemencomingandgoingdownthewidestreetbetweenitsrowsofoldstores，saloons，andhouses。Ordcertainlydidnotlookenterprising。AmericanshadmanifestlyassimilatedmuchoftheleisureoftheMexicans。Thehotelhadawideplatforminfront，andthisdiddutyasporchandsidewalk。Uponit，andleaningagainstahitching—rail，weremenofvaryingages，mostofthemslovenlyinoldjeansandslouchedsombreros。Somewerebooted，belted，andspurred。Nomanthereworeacoat，butallworevests。Thegunsinthatgroupwouldhaveoutnumberedthemen。

Itwasacrowdseeminglytoolazytobecurious。Goodnaturedidnotappeartobewanting，butitwasnotthefrankandboisterouskindnaturaltothecowboyorrancherintownforaday。Thesemenwereidlers;whatelse，perhaps，waseasytoconjecture。Certainlytothisarrivingstranger，whoflashedakeeneyeoverthem，theyworeanatmosphereneverassociatedwithwork。

Presentlyatallman，withadrooping，sandymustache，leisurelydetachedhimselffromthecrowd。

"Howdy，stranger，"hesaid。

Thestrangerhadbentovertoloosenthecinches;hestraightenedupandnodded。Then:"I’mthirsty！"

Thatbroughtabroadsmiletofaces。Itwascharacteristicgreeting。Oneandalltroopedafterthestrangerintothehotel。Itwasadark，ill—smellingbarnofaplace，withabarashighasashortman’shead。Abartenderwithascarredfacewasservingdrinks。

"Lineup，gents，"saidthestranger。

Theypiledoveroneanothertogettothebar，withcoarsejestsandoathsandlaughter。Noneofthemnotedthatthestrangerdidnotappearsothirstyashehadclaimedtobe。Infact，thoughhewentthroughthemotions，hedidnotdrinkatall。

"Myname’sJimFletcher，"saidthetallmanwiththedrooping，sandymustache。Hespokelaconically，neverthelesstherewasatonethatshowedheexpectedtobeknown。Somethingwentwiththatname。Thestrangerdidnotappeartobeimpressed。

"MynamemightbeBlazes，butitain’t，"hereplied。"Whatdoyoucallthisburg？"

"Stranger，thisheahme—tropolesbearsthehandleOrd。Isthetnewtoyou？"

Heleanedbackagainstthebar，andnowhislittleyelloweyes，clearascrystal，flawlessasahawk’s，fixedonthestranger。

Othermencrowdedclose，formingacircle，curious，readytobefriendlyorotherwise，accordingtohowthetallinterrogatormarkedthenew—comer。

"Sure，Ord’salittlestrangetome。Offtherailroadsome，ain’tit？Funnytrailshereabouts。"

"Howfurwasyougoin’？"

"IreckonIwasgoin’asfarasIcould，"repliedthestranger，withahardlaugh。

Hisreplyhadsubtlereactiononthatlisteningcircle。Someofthemenexchangedglances。Fletcherstrokedhisdroopingmustache，seemedthoughtful，butlostsomethingofthatpiercingscrutiny。

"Wal，Ord’sthejumpin’—offplace，"hesaid，presently。"Sureyou’veheerdoftheBigBendcountry？"

"Isurehave，an’wasmakin’tracksferit，"repliedthestranger。

Fletcherturnedtowardamanintheouteredgeofthegroup。

"Knell，comeinheah。"

Thisindividualelbowedhiswayinandwasseentobescarcelymorethanaboy，almostpalebesidethosebronzedmen，withalong，expressionlessface，thinandsharp。

"Knell，thisheah’s——"Fletcherwheeledtothestranger。

"What’dyoucallyourself？"

"I’dhatetomentionwhatI’vebeencallin’myselflately。"

Thissallyfetchedanotherlaugh。Thestrangerappearedcool，careless，indifferent。Perhapsheknew，astheotherspresentknew，thatthisshowofFletcher’s，thispretenseofintroduction，wasmerelytalkwhilehewaslookedover。

Knellsteppedup，anditwaseasytosee，fromthewayFletcherrelinquishedhispartinthesituation，thatamangreaterthanhehadappeareduponthescene。

"Anybusinesshere？"hequeried，curtly。Whenhespokehisexpressionlessfacewasinstrangecontrastwiththering，thequality，thecrueltyofhisvoice。Thisvoicebetrayedanabsenceofhumor，offriendliness，ofheart。

"Nope，"repliedthestranger。

"Knowanybodyhereabouts？"

"Naryone。"

"Jestridin’through？"

"Yep。"

"Slopin’ferbackcountry，eh？"

Therecameapause。Thestrangerappearedtogrowalittleresentfulanddrewhimselfupdisdainfully。

"Wal，considerin’you—allseemsodamnfriendlyan’oncuriousdownhereinthisBigBendcountry，Idon’tmindsayin’yes——I

aminonthedodge，"hereplied，withdeliberatesarcasm。

"FromwestofOrd——outElPasoway，mebbe？"

"Sure。"

"A—huh！Thetso？"Knell’swordscuttheair，stilledtheroom。

"You’refromwaydowntheriver。Thet’swhattheysaydownthere——’onthedodge。’……Stranger，you’realiar！"

Withswiftclinkofspurandthumpofbootthecrowdsplit，leavingKnellandthestrangerinthecenter。

Wildbreedofthatilknevermadeamistakeinjudgingaman’snerve。Knellhadcutoutwiththetrenchantcall，andstoodready。Thestrangersuddenlylosthiseverysemblancetotheroughandeasycharacterbeforemanifestinhim。Hebecamebronze。Thatsituationseemedfamiliartohim。Hiseyesheldasingularpiercinglightthatdancedlikeacompass—needle。

"SureIlied，"hesaid;"soIain’ttakin’offenseatthewayyoucalledme。I’mlookin’tomakefriends，notenemies。Youdon’tstrikemeasoneofthemfour—flushes，achin’tokillsomebody。Butifyouare——goaheadan’opentheball……Yousee，Ineverthrowagunonthemfellerstilltheygofertheirs。"

Knellcoollyeyedhisantagonist，hisstrangefacenotchangingintheleast。Yetsomehowitwasevidentinhislookthatherewasmetalwhichrangdifferentlyfromwhathehadexpected。

Invitedtostartafightorwithdraw，ashechose，Knellprovedhimselfbiginthemannercharacteristicofonlythegenuinegunman。

"Stranger，Ipass，"hesaid，and，turningtothebar，heorderedliquor。

Thetensionrelaxed，thesilencebroke，themenfilledupthegap;theincidentseemedclosed。JimFletcherattachedhimselftothestranger，andnowbothrespectandfriendlinesstemperedhisasperity。

"Wal，ferwantofabetterhandleI’llcallyouDodge，"hesaid。

"Dodge’sasgoodasany……Gents，lineupagain——an’ifyoucan’tbefriendly，becareful！"

SuchwasBuckDuane’sdebutinthelittleoutlawhamletofOrd。

DuanehadbeenthreemonthsoutoftheNuecescountry。AtElPasoheboughtthefinesthorsehecouldfind，and，armedandotherwiseoutfittedtosuithim，hehadtakentounknowntrails。Leisurelyherodefromtowntotown，villagetovillage，ranchtoranch，fittinghistalkandhisoccupationtotheimpressionhewantedtomakeupondifferentpeoplewhomhemet。Hewasinturnacowboy，arancher，acattleman，astock—

buyer，aboomer，aland—hunter;andlongbeforehereachedthewildandinhospitableOrdhehadactedthepartofanoutlaw，driftingintonewterritory。Hepassedonleisurelybecausehewantedtolearnthelayofthecountry，thelocationofvillagesandranches，thework，habit，gossip，pleasures，andfearsofthepeoplewithwhomhecameincontact。Theonesubjectmostimpellingtohim——outlaws——henevermentioned;butbytalkingallaroundit，siftingtheoldranchandcattlestory，heacquiredaknowledgecalculatedtoaidhisplot。Inthisgametimewasofnomoment;ifnecessaryhewouldtakeyearstoaccomplishhistask。Thestupendousandperilousnatureofitshowedintheslow，warypreparation。WhenheheardFletcher’snameandfacedKnellheknewhehadreachedtheplacehesought。Ordwasahamletonthefringeofthegrazingcountry，ofdoubtfulhonesty，fromwhich，surely，windingtrailsleddownintothatfreeandnever—disturbedparadiseofoutlaws——theBigBend。

Duanemadehimselfagreeable，yetnottoomuchso，toFletcherandseveralothermendisposedtotalkanddrinkandeat;andthen，afterhavingacareforhishorse，herodeoutoftownacoupleofmilestoagrovehehadmarked，andthere，wellhidden，hepreparedtospendthenight。Thisproceedingservedadoublepurpose——hewassafer，andthehabitwouldlookwellintheeyesofoutlaws，whowouldbemoreinclinedtoseeinhimthelone—wolffugitive。

LongsinceDuanehadfoughtoutabattlewithhimself，wonahard—earnedvictory。Hisouterlife，theaction，wasmuchthesameasithadbeen;buttheinnerlifehadtremendouslychanged。Hecouldneverbecomeahappyman，hecouldnevershakeutterlythosehauntingphantomsthathadoncebeenhisdespairandmadness;buthehadassumedataskimpossibleforanymansaveonelikehim，hehadfeltthemeaningofitgrowstrangelyandwonderfully，andthroughthatflourishedupconsciousnessofhowpassionatelyhenowclungtothisthingwhichwouldblotouthisformerinfamy。Theironfettersnomorethreatenedhishands;theirondoornomorehauntedhisdreams。Heneverforgotthathewasfree。Strangely，too，alongwiththisfeelingofnewmanhoodtheregatheredtheforceofimperiousdesiretorunthesechiefoutlawstotheirdooms。Henevercalledthemoutlaws——butrustlers，thieves，robbers，murderers，criminals。Hesensedthegrowthofarelentlessdrivingpassion，andsometimeshefearedthat，morethanthenewlyacquiredzealandprideinthisrangerservice，itwastheold，terribleinheritedkillinginstinctliftingitshydra—headinnewguise。Butofthathecouldnotbesure。Hedreadedthethought。Hecouldonlywait。

AnotheraspectofthechangeinDuane，neitherpassionatenordriving，yetnotimprobablyevenmorepotentofnewsignificancetolife，wastheimperceptiblereturnofanoldloveofnaturedeadduringhisoutlawdays。

Foryearsahorsehadbeenonlyamachineoflocomotion，tocarryhimfromplacetoplace，tobeatandspurandgoadmercilesslyinflight;nowthisgiantblack，withhissplendidhead，wasacompanion，afriend，abrother，alovedthing，guardedjealously，fedandtrainedandriddenwithanintenseappreciationofhisgreatspeedandendurance。Foryearsthedaytime，withitsbirthofsunriseonthroughlonghourstotheruddyclose，hadbeenusedforsleeporrestinsomerockyholeorwillowbrakeordesertedhut，hadbeenhatedbecauseitaugmenteddangerofpursuit，becauseitdrovethefugitivetolonely，wretchedhiding;nowthedawnwasagreeting，apromiseofanotherdaytoride，toplan，toremember，andsun，wind，cloud，rain，sky——allwerejoystohim，somehowspeakinghisfreedom。Foryearsthenighthadbeenablackspace，duringwhichhehadtorideunseenalongtheendlesstrails，topeerwithcat—eyesthroughgloomforthemovingshapethateverpursuedhim;nowthetwilightandtheduskandtheshadowsofgroveandcanondarkenedintonightwithitstrainofstars，andbroughthimcalmreflectionoftheday’shappenings，ofthemorrow’spossibilities，perhapsasad，briefprocessionoftheoldphantoms，thensleep。Foryearscanonsandvalleysandmountainshadbeenlookedatasretreatsthatmightbedarkandwildenoughtohideevenanoutlaw;nowhesawthesefeaturesofthegreatdesertwithsomethingoftheeyesoftheboywhohadonceburnedforadventureandlifeamongthem。

Thisnightawonderfulafterglowlingeredlonginthewest，andagainstthegolden—redofclearskythebold，blackheadofMountOrdreareditselfaloft，beautifulbutaloof，sinisteryetcalling。SmallwonderthatDuanegazedinfascinationuponthepeak！SomewheredeepinitscorrugatedsidesorlostinaruggedcanonwashiddenthesecretstrongholdofthemasteroutlawCheseldine。AlldownalongtheridefromElPasoDuanehadheardofCheseldine，ofhisband，hisfearfuldeeds，hiscunning，hiswidelyseparatedraids，ofhisflittinghereandtherelikeaJack—o’—lantern;butneverawordofhisden，neverawordofhisappearance。

NextmorningDuanedidnotreturntoOrd。Hestruckofftothenorth，ridingdownarough，slow—descendingroadthatappearedtohavebeenusedoccasionallyforcattle—driving。Ashehadriddeninfromthewest，thisnortherndirectionledhimintototallyunfamiliarcountry。Whilehepassedon，however，heexercisedsuchkeenobservationthatinthefuturehewouldknowwhatevermightbeofservicetohimifhechancedthatwayagain。

Therough，wild，brush—coveredslopedownfromthefoothillsgraduallyleveledoutintoplain，amagnificentgrazingcountry，uponwhichtillnoonofthatdayDuanedidnotseeaherdofcattleoraranch。Aboutthattimehemadeoutsmokefromtherailroad，andafteracoupleofhours’ridingheenteredatownwhichinquirydiscoveredtobeBradford。ItwasthelargesttownhehadvisitedsinceMarfa，andhecalculatedmusthaveathousandorfifteenhundredinhabitants，notincludingMexicans。Hedecidedthiswouldbeagoodplaceforhimtoholdupforawhile，beingthenearesttowntoOrd，onlyfortymilesaway。SohehitchedhishorseinfrontofastoreandleisurelysetaboutstudyingBradford。

Itwasafterdark，however，thatDuaneverifiedhissuspicionsconcerningBradford。Thetownwasawakeafterdark，andtherewasonelongrowofsaloons，dance—halls，gambling—resortsinfullblast。Duanevisitedthemall，andwassurprisedtoseewildnessandlicenseequaltothatoftheoldrivercampofBland’sinitspalmiestdays。Hereitwasforceduponhimthatthefartherwestonetraveledalongtheriverthesparsertherespectablesettlements，themorenumerousthehardcharacters，andinconsequencethegreatertheelementoflawlessness。

Duanereturnedtohislodging—housewiththeconvictionthatMacNelly’staskofcleaninguptheBigBendcountrywasastupendousone。Yet，hereflected，acompanyofintrepidandquick—shootingrangerscouldhavesooncleanedupthisBradford。

Theinnkeeperhadoneotherguestthatnight，alongblack—coatedandwide—sombreroedTexanwhoremindedDuaneofhisgrandfather。Thismanhadpenetratingeyes，acourtlymanner，andanunmistakableleaningtowardcompanionshipandmint—juleps。ThegentlemanintroducedhimselfasColonelWebb，ofMarfa，andtookitasamatterofcoursethatDuanemadenocommentabouthimself。

"Sir，it’sallonetome，"hesaid，blandly，wavinghishand。

"Ihavetraveled。Texasisfree，andthisfrontierisonewhereit’shealthierandjustasfriendlyforamantohavenocuriosityabouthiscompanion。YoumightbeCheseldine，oftheBigBend，oryoumightbeJudgeLittle，ofElPaso—it’sallonetome。Ienjoydrinkingwithyouanyway。"

Duanethankedhim，consciousofareserveanddignitythathecouldnothavefeltorpretendedthreemonthsbefore。Andthen，asalways，hewasagoodlistener。ColonelWebbtold，amongotherthings，thathehadcomeouttotheBigBendtolookovertheaffairsofadeceasedbrotherwhohadbeenarancherandasheriffofoneofthetowns，Fairdalebyname。

"Foundnoaffairs，noranch，notevenhisgrave，"saidColonelWebb。"AndItellyou，sir，ifhell’sanytougherthanthisFairdaleIdon’twanttoexpiatemysinsthere。"

"Fairdale……Iimaginesheriffshaveahardrowtohoeouthere，"repliedDuane，tryingnottoappearcurious。

TheColonelsworelustily。

"MybrotherwastheonlyhonestsheriffFairdaleeverhad。Itwaswonderfulhowlonghelasted。Buthehadnerve，hecouldthrowagun，andhewasonthesquare。Thenhewaswiseenoughtoconfinehisworktooffendersofhisowntownandneighborhood。Helettheridingoutlawsalone，elsehewouldn’thavelastedatall……Whatthisfrontierneeds，sir，isaboutsixcompaniesofTexasRangers。"

DuanewasawareoftheColonel’sclosescrutiny。

"Doyouknowanythingabouttheservice？"heasked。

"Iusedto。TenyearsagowhenIlivedinSanAntonio。Afinebodyofmen，sir，andthesalvationofTexas。"

"GovernorStonedoesn’tentertainthatopinion，"saidDuane。

HereColonelWebbexploded。Manifestlythegovernorwasnothischoiceforachiefexecutiveofthegreatstate。Hetalkedpoliticsforawhile，andofthevastterritorywestofthePecosthatseemednevertogetabenefitfromAustin。HetalkedenoughforDuanetorealizethatherewasjustthekindofintelligent，well—informed，honestcitizenthathehadbeentryingtomeet。Heexertedhimselfthereaftertobeagreeableandinteresting;andhesawpresentlythatherewasanopportunitytomakeavaluableacquaintance，ifnotafriend。

"I’mastrangerintheseparts，"saidDuane，finally。"Whatisthisoutlawsituationyouspeakof？"

"It’sdamnable，sir，andunbelievable。Notrustlinganymore，butjustwholesaleherd—stealing，inwhichsomebigcattlemen，supposedtobehonest，areequallyguiltywiththeoutlaws。Onthisborder，youknow，therustlerhasalwaysbeenabletostealcattleinanynumbers。Buttogetridofbigbunches——that’sthehardjob。ThegangoperatingbetweenhereandValentineevidentlyhavenotthistrouble。Nobodyknowswherethestolenstockgoes。ButI’mnotaloneinmyopinionthatmostofitgoestoseveralbigstockmen。TheyshiptoSanAntonio，Austin，NewOrleans，alsotoElPaso。Ifyoutravelthestock—roadbetweenhereandMarfaandValentineyou’llseedeadcattleallalongthelineandstraycattleoutinthescrub。Theherdshavebeendrivenfastandfar，andstragglersarenotroundedup。"

"Wholesalebusiness，eh？"remarkedDuane。"Whoarethese——er——bigstock—buyers？"

ColonelWebbseemedalittlestartledattheabruptquery。HebenthispenetratinggazeuponDuaneandthoughtfullystrokedhispointedbeard。

"Names，ofcourse，I’llnotmention。Opinionsareonething，directaccusationanother。Thisisnotahealthycountryfortheinformer。"

WhenitcametotheoutlawsthemselvesColonelWebbwasdisposedtotalkfreely。DuanecouldnotjudgewhethertheColonelhadahobbyofthatsubjectortheoutlawsweresostrikinginpersonalityanddeedthatanymanwouldknowallaboutthem。ThegreatnamealongtheriverwasCheseldine，butitseemedtobeanamedetachedfromanindividual。NopersonofveracityknowntoColonelWebbhadeverseenCheseldine，andthosewhoclaimedthatdoubtfulhonorvariedsodiverselyindescriptionsofthechiefthattheyconfusedtherealityandlenttotheoutlawonlyfurthermystery。Strangetosayofanoutlawleader，astherewasnoonew;hocouldidentifyhim，sotherewasnoonewhocouldprovehehadactuallykilledaman。

BloodflowedlikewaterovertheBigBendcountry，anditwasCheseldinewhospilledit。Yetthefactremainedtherewerenoeye—witnessestoconnectanyindividualcalledCheseldinewiththesedeedsofviolence。Butinstrikingcontrasttothismysterywastheperson，character，andcold—bloodedactionofPogginandKnell，thechief’slieutenants。TheywerefamiliarfiguresinallthetownswithintwohundredmilesofBradford。Knellhadarecord，butasgunmanwithanincrediblelistofvictimsPogginwassupreme。IfPogginhadafriendnooneeverheardofhim。Therewereahundredstoriesofhisnerve，hiswonderfulspeedwithagun，hispassionforgambling，hisloveofahorse——hiscold，implacable，inhumanwipingoutofhispathanymanthatcrossedit。

"Cheseldineisaname，aterriblename，"saidColonelWebb。

"SometimesIwonderifhe’snotonlyaname。Inthatcasewheredoesthebrainsofthisgangcomefrom？No;theremustbeamastercraftsmanbehindthisborderpillage;amastercapableofhandlingthoseterrorsPogginandKnell。OfallthethousandsofoutlawsdevelopedbywesternTexasinthelasttwentyyearsthesethreearethegreatest。InsouthernTexas，downbetweenthePecosandtheNueces，therehavebeenandarestillmanybadmen。ButIdoubtifanyoutlawthere，possiblyexceptingBuckDuane，everequaledPoggin。You’veheardofthisDuane？"

"Yes，alittle，"repliedDuane，quietly。"I’mfromsouthernTexas。BuckDuanethenisknownouthere？"

"Why，man，whereisn’thisnameknown？"returnedColonelWebb。

"I’vekepttrackofhisrecordasIhavealltheothers。Ofcourse，Duane，beingaloneoutlaw，issomewhatofamysteryalso，butnotlikeCheseldine。OutheretherehavedriftedmanystoriesofDuane，horriblesomeofthem。ButdespitethemasortofromanceclingstothatNuecesoutlaw。He’skilledthreegreatoutlawleaders，Ibelieve——Bland，Hardin，andtheotherI

forgot。HardinwasknownintheBigBend，hadfriendsthere。

BlandhadahardnameatDelRio。"

"ThenthismanDuaneenjoysratheranunusualreputewestofthePecos？"inquiredDuane。

"He’sconsideredmoreofanenemytohiskindthantohonestmen。IunderstandDuanehadmanyfriends，thatwholecountiesswearbyhim——secretly，ofcourse，forhe’sahuntedoutlawwithrewardsonhishead。Hisfameinthiscountryappearstohangonhismatchlessgun—playandhisenmitytowardoutlawchiefs。I’veheardmanyaranchersay:’IwishtoGodthatBuckDuanewoulddriftouthere！I’dgiveahundredpesostoseehimandPogginmeet。’It’sasingularthing，stranger，howjealousthesegreatoutlawsareofeachother。"

"Yes，indeed，allaboutthemissingular，"repliedDuane。"HasCheseldine’sgangbeenbusylately？"

"No。Thissectionhasbeenfreeofrustlingformonths，thoughthere’sunexplainedmovementsofstock。Probablyallthestockthat’sbeingshippednowwasrustledlongago。Cheseldineworksoverawidesection，toowidefornewstotravelinsideofweeks。Thensometimeshe’snotheardofatallforaspell。

Theselullsareprettysurelyindicativeofabigstormsoonerorlater。AndCheseldine’sdeals，astheygrowfewerandfartherbetween，certainlygetbigger，moredaring。TherearesomepeoplewhothinkCheseldinehadnothingtodowiththebank—robberiesandtrain—holdupsduringthelastfewyearsinthiscountry。Butthat’spoorreasoning。Thejobshavebeentoowelldone，toosurelycovered，tobetheworkofgreasersorordinaryoutlaws。"

"What’syourviewoftheoutlook？How’sallthisgoingtowindup？Willtheoutlaweverbedrivenout？"askedDuane。

"Never。TherewillalwaysbeoutlawsalongtheRioGrande。Allthearmiesintheworldcouldn’tcombthewildbrakesofthatfifteenhundredmilesofriver。Buttheswayoftheoutlaw，suchasisenjoyedbythesegreatleaders，willsoonerorlaterbepast。ThecriminalelementflocktotheSouthwest。Butnotsothickandfastasthepioneers。Besides，theoutlawskillthemselves，andtheranchersareslowlyrisinginwrath，ifnotinaction。Thatwillcomesoon。Iftheyonlyhadaleadertostartthefight！Butthatwillcome。There’stalkofVigilantes，thesamehatwereorganizedinCaliforniaandarenowinforceinIdaho。Sofarit’sonlytalk。Butthetimewillcome。AndthedaysofCheseldineandPogginarenumbered。"

Duanewenttobedthatnightexceedinglythoughtful。Thelongtrailwasgrowinghot。Thisvolublecolonelhadgivenhimnewideas。ItcametoDuaneinsurprisethathewasfamousalongtheupperRioGrande。Assuredlyhewouldnotlongbeabletoconcealhisidentity。Hehadnodoubtthathewouldsoonmeetthechiefsofthiscleverandboldrustlinggang。Hecouldnotdecidewhetherhewouldbesaferunknownorknown。Inthelattercasehisonechancelayinthefatalityconnectedwithhisname，inhispowertolookitandactit。Duanehadneverdreamedofanysleuth—houndtendencyinhisnature，butnowhefeltsomethinglikeone。AboveallothershismindfixedonPoggin——Pogginthebrute，theexecutorofCheseldine’swill，butmostlyuponPogginthegunman。ThisinitselfwasawarningtoDuane。Hefeltterribleforcesatworkwithinhim。TherewasthesternandindomitableresolvetomakeMacNelly’sboastgoodtothegovernorofthestate——tobreakupCheseldine’sgang。

YetthiswasnotinDuane’smindbeforeastrangegrimanddeadlyinstinct——whichhehadtodriveawayforfearhewouldfindinitapassiontokillPoggin，notforthestate，norforhiswordtoMacNelly，butforhimself。Hadhisfather’sbloodandthehardyearsmadeDuanethekindofmanwhoinstinctivelywantedtomeetPoggin？HewassworntoMacNelly’sservice，andhefoughthimselftokeepthat，andthatonly，inhismind。

DuaneascertainedthatFairdalewassituatedtwodays’ridefromBradfordtowardthenorth。Therewasastagewhichmadethejourneytwiceaweek。

NextmorningDuanemountedhishorseandheadedforFairdale。

Herodeleisurely，ashewantedtolearnallhecouldaboutthecountry。Therewerefewranches。Thefartherhetraveledthebettergrazingheencountered，and，strangetonote，thefewerherdsofcattle。

Itwasjustsunsetwhenhemadeoutaclusterofadobehousesthatmarkedthehalf—waypointbetweenBradfordandFairdale。

Here，Duanehadlearned，wasstationedacomfortableinnforwayfarers。

Whenhedrewupbeforetheinnthelandlordandhisfamilyandanumberofloungersgreetedhimlaconically。

"Beatthestagein，hey？"remarkedone。

"Thereshecomesnow，"saidanother。"Joelshoreisdrivin’

to—night。"

FardowntheroadDuanesawacloudofdustandhorsesandalumberingcoach。Whenhehadlookedaftertheneedsofhishorsehereturnedtothegroupbeforetheinn。Theyawaitedthestagewiththatinterestcommontoisolatedpeople。Presentlyitrolledup，alargemud—bespatteredanddustyvehicle，litteredwithbaggageontopandtiedonbehind。Anumberofpassengersalighted，threeofwhomexcitedDuane’sinterest。

Onewasatall，dark，striking—lookingman，andtheothertwowereladies，wearinglonggrayulstersandveils。DuaneheardtheproprietoroftheinnaddressthemanasColonelLongstreth，andasthepartyenteredtheinnDuane’squickearscaughtafewwordswhichacquaintedhimwiththefactthatLongstrethwastheMayorofFairdale。

Duanepassedinsidehimselftolearnthatsupperwouldsoonbeready。Attablehefoundhimselfoppositethethreewhohadattractedhisattention。

"Ruth，Ienvytheluckycowboys，"Longstrethwassaying。

Ruthwasacurly—headedgirlwithgrayorhazeleyes。

"I’mcrazytoridebronchos，"shesaid。