第17章

Later，whenDuanestartedupannouncinghisintentiontogethishorseandmakeforcampoutinthebrush，Fletcherseemedgrievouslyoffended。

"Whydon’tyoustaywithme？I’vegotacomfortable’dobeoverhere。Didn’tIstickbyyouwhenGuthriean’hisbunchcomeup？

Supposin’Ihedn’tshoweddownacoldhandtohim？You’dbeswingin’somewheresnow。Itellyou，Dodge，itain’tsquare。"

"I’llsquareit。Ipaymydebts，"repliedDuane。"ButIcan’tputuphereallnight。IfIbelongedtothegangit’dbedifferent。"

"Whatgang？"askedFletcher，bluntly。

"Why，Cheseldine’s。"

Fletcher’sbeardnoddedashisjawdropped。

Duanelaughed。"Irunintohimtheotherday。Knowedhimonsight。Sure，he’stheking—pinrustler。Whenheseenmean’

askedmewhatreasonIhadforbein’onearthorsomesuchlike——why，Iupan’toldhim。"

Fletcherappearedstaggered。

"Whoinall—firedhellairyoutalkin’about？"

"Didn’tItellyouonce？Cheseldine。HecallshimselfLongstrethoverthere。"

AllofFletcher’sfacenotcoveredbyhairturnedadirtywhite。"Cheseldine——Longstreth！"hewhispered，hoarsely。"GordAlmighty！Youbracedthe——"Thenaremarkabletransformationcameovertheoutlaw。Hegulped;hestraightenedhisface;hecontrolledhisagitation。Buthecouldnotsendthehealthybrownbacktohisface。Duane，watchingthisrudeman，marveledatthechangeinhim，thesuddencheckingmovement，theproofofawonderfulfearandloyalty。ItallmeantCheseldine，amasterofmen！

"WHOAIRYOU？"queriedFletcher，inaqueer，strainedvoice。

"Yougavemeahandle，didn’tyou？Dodge。Thet’sasgoodasany。Shoreithitsmehard。Jim，I’vebeenprettylonelyforyears，an’I’mgettin’inneedofpals。Thinkitover，willyou？Seeyoumanana。"

TheoutlawwatchedDuanegooffafterhishorse，watchedhimashereturnedtothetavern，watchedhimrideoutintothedarkness——allwithoutaword。

Duaneleftthetown，threadedaquietpassagethroughcactusandmesquitetoaspothehadmarkedbefore，andmadereadyforthenight。Hismindwassofullthathefoundsleepaloof。Luckatlastwasplayinghisgame。Hesensedthefirstslowheaveofamightycrisis。Theend，alwayshaunting，hadtobesternlyblottedfromthought。Itwastheapproachthatneededallhismind。

Hepassedthenightthere，andlateinthemorning，afterwatchingtrailandroadfromaridge，hereturnedtoOrd。IfJimFletchertriedtodisguisehissurprisetheeffortwasafailure。CertainlyhehadnotexpectedtoseeDuaneagain。

DuaneallowedhimselfalittlefreedomwithFletcher，anattitudehithertolacking。

ThatafternoonahorsemanrodeinfromBradford，anoutlawevidentlywellknownandlikedbyhisfellows，andDuanebeardhimsay，beforehecouldpossiblyhavebeentoldthetrain—robberwasinOrd，thatthelossofmoneyintheholdupwasslight。LikeaflashDuanesawtheluckofthisreport。Hepretendednottohaveheard。

IntheearlytwilightatanopportunemomenthecalledFletchertohim，and，linkinghisarmwithintheoutlaw’s，hedrewhimoffinastrolltoalogbridgespanningalittlegully。Hereaftergazingaround，hetookoutarollofbills，spreaditout，splititequally，andwithoutawordhandedonehalftoFletcher。WithclumsyfingersFletcherranthroughtheroll。

"Fivehundred！"heexclaimed。"Dodge，thet’sdamnhandsomeofyou，considerin’thejobwasn’t——"

"Considerin’nothin’，"interruptedDuane。"I’mmakin’noreferencetoajobhereorthere。Youdidmeagoodturn。I

splitmypile。Ifthetdoesn’tmakeuspards，goodturnsan’

moneyain’tnouseinthiscountry。"

Fletcherwaswon。

Thetwomenspentmuchtimetogether。Duanemadeupashortfictitioushistoryabouthimselfthatsatisfiedtheoutlaw，onlyitdrewforthalaughingjestuponDuane’smodesty。ForFletcherdidnothidehisbeliefthatthisnewpartnerwasamanofachievements。KnellandPoggin，andthenCheseldinehimself，wouldbepersuadedofthisfact，soFletcherboasted。

Hehadinfluence。Hewoulduseit。HethoughthepulledastrokewithKnell。Butnobodyonearth，noteventheboss，hadanyinfluenceonPoggin。Pogginwasconcentratedicepartofthetime;alltheresthewasburstinghell。ButPogginlovedahorse。Heneverlovedanythingelse。HecouldbewonwiththatblackhorseBullet。CheseldinewasalreadywonbyDuane’smonumentalnerve;otherwisehewouldhavekilledDuane。

LittlebylittlethenextfewdaysDuanelearnedthepointshelongedtoknow;andhowindeliblytheyetchedthemselvesinhismemory！Cheseldine’shiding—placewasonthefarslopeofMountOrd，inadeep，high—walledvalley。Healwayswenttherejustbeforeacontemplatedjob，wherehemetandplannedwithhislieutenants。Thenwhiletheyexecutedhebaskedinthesunshinebeforeoneoranotherofthepublicplacesheowned。HewasthereintheOrddennow，gettingreadytoplanthebiggestjobyet。Itwasabank—robbery;butwhere，Fletcherhadnotasyetbeenadvised。

ThenwhenDuanehadpumpedthenowamenableoutlawofalldetailspertainingtothepresenthegathereddataandfactsandplacescoveringaperiodoftenyearsFletcherhadbeenwithCheseldine。Andherewithwasunfoldedahistorysodarkinitsbloodyregime，soincredibleinitsbrazendaring，soappallinginitsproofoftheoutlaw’ssweepandgraspofthecountryfromPecostoRioGrande，thatDuanewasstunned。

ComparedtothisCheseldineoftheBigBend，tothisrancher，stock—buyer，cattle—speculator，property—holder，alltheoutlawsDuanehadeverknownsankintoinsignificance。ThepowerofthemanstunnedDuane;thestrangefidelitygivenhimstunnedDuane;theintricateinsideworkingofhisgreatsystemwasequallystunning。ButwhenDuanerecoveredfromthattheoldterriblepassiontokillconsumedhim，anditragedfiercelyanditcouldnotbechecked。Ifthatred—handedPoggin，ifthatcold—eyed，dead—facedKnellhadonlybeenatOrd！Buttheywerenot，andDuanewithhelpoftimegotwhathehopedwastheupperhandofhimself。

CHAPTERXXII

AgaininactionandsuspensedraggedatDuane’sspirit。LikealeashedhoundwithakeenscentinhisfaceDuanewantedtoleapforthwhenhewasbound。Healmostfretted。Somethingcalledtohimoverthebold，wildbrowofMountOrd。ButwhileFletcherstayedinOrdwaitingforKnellandPoggin，orfororders，Duaneknewhisgamewasagainawaitingone。

ButonedaythereweresignsofthelongquietofOrdbeingbroken。AmessengerstrangetoDuanerodeinonasecretmissionthathadtodowithFletcher。WhenhewentawayFletcherbecameaddictedtothoughtfulmoodsandlonelywalks。

Heseldomdrank，andthisinitselfwasastrikingcontrasttoformerbehavior。Themessengercameagain。Whatevercommunicationhebrought，ithadaremarkableeffectupontheoutlaw。Duanewaspresentinthetavernwhenthefellowarrived，sawthefewwordswhispered，butdidnothearthem。

Fletcherturnedwhitewithangerorfear，perhapsboth，andhecursedlikeamadman。Themessenger，alean，dark—faced，hard—ridingfellowremindingDuaneofthecowboyGuthrie，leftthetavernwithoutevenadrinkandrodeawayofftothewest。

ThiswestmystifiedandfascinatedDuaneasmuchasthesouthbeyondMountOrd。WherewereKnellandPoggin？Apparentlytheywerenotatpresentwiththeleaderonthemountain。AfterthemessengerleftFletchergrewsilentandsurly。HehadpresentedavarietyofmoodstoDuane’sobservation，andthislatestonewasprovocativeofthought。Fletcherwasdangerous。Itbecameclearnowthattheotheroutlawsofthecampfearedhim，keptoutofhisway。Duanelethimalone，yetcloselywatchedhim。

Perhapsanhourafterthemessengerhadleft，notlonger，Fletchermanifestlyarrivedatsomedecision，andhecalledforhishorse。Thenhewenttohisshackandreturned。ToDuanetheoutlawlookedinshapebothtorideandtofight。Hegaveordersforthemenincamptokeepcloseuntilhereturned。

Thenhemounted。

"Comehere，Dodge，"hecalled。

Duanewentupandlaidahandonthepommelofthesaddle。

Fletcherwalkedhishorse，withDuanebesidehim，tilltheyreachedthelogbridge，whenhehalted。

"Dodge，I’minbadwithKnell，"hesaid。"An’it’pearsI’mthecauseoffrictionbetweenKnellan’Poggy。Knellneverhadanyuseferme，butPoggy’sbeensquare，ifnotfriendly。Thebosshasabigdealon，an’hereit’sbeenheldupbecauseofthisscrap。He’swaitin’overthereonthemountaintogiveorderstoKnellorPoggy，an’neitherone’sshowin’up。I’vegottostandinthebreach，an’Iain’tenjoyin’theprospects。"

"What’sthetroubleabout，Jim？"askedDuane。

"Reckonit’salittleaboutyou，Dodge，"saidFletcher，dryly。

"Knellhadn’tanyuseferyouthetday。Heain’tgotnouseferamanonlesshecanrulehim。SomeoftheboysherehevblabbedbeforeIedgedinwithmysay，an’there’shelltopay。Knellclaimstoknowsomethin’aboutyouthat’llmakeboththebossan’Poggysickwhenhespringsit。Buthe’skeepin’quiet。Hardmantofigger，thetKnell。Reckonyou’dbettergobacktoBradfordferadayorso，thencampoutnearheretillIcomeback。"

"Why？"

"Wal，becausethereain’tanyuseferyoutogitinbad，too。"

"Thegangwillrideoverhereanyday。Ifthey’refriendly，I’lllightafireonthehillthere，saythreenightsfromto—night。Ifyoudon’tseeitthetnightyouhitthetrail。

I’lldowhatIcan。JimFletcherstickstohispals。Solong，Dodge。"

Thenherodeaway。

HeleftDuaneinaquandary。Thisnewswasblack。Thingshadbeenworkingoutsowell。Herewasasetback。AtthemomentDuanedidnotknowwhichwaytoturn，butcertainlyhehadnoideaofgoingbacktoBradford。FrictionbetweenthetwogreatlieutenantsofCheseldine！Openhostilitybetweenoneofthemandanotherofthechief’sright—handmen！Amongoutlawsthatsortofthingwasdeadlyserious。Generallysuchmattersweresettledwithguns。Duanegatheredencouragementevenfromdisaster。PerhapsthedisintegrationofCheseldine’sgreatbandhadalreadybegun。ButwhatdidKnellknow？Duanedidnotcirclearoundtheideawithdoubtsandhopes;ifKnellknewanythingitwasthatthisstrangerinOrd，thisnewpartnerofFletcher’s，wasnolessthanBuckDuane。Well，itwasabouttime，thoughtDuane，thathemadeuseofhisnameifitweretohelphimatall。ThatnamehadbeenMacNelly’shope。HehadanchoredallhisschemetoDuane’sfame。DuanewastemptedtorideoffafterFletcherandstaywithhim。This，however，wouldhardlybefairtoanoutlawwhohadbeenfairtohim。DuaneconcludedtoawaitdevelopmentsandwhenthegangrodeintoOrd，probablyfromtheirvarioushiding—places，hewouldbetherereadytobedenouncedbyKnell。DuanecouldnotseeanyotherculminationofthisseriesofeventsthanameetingbetweenKnellandhimself。IfthatterminatedfatallyforKnelltherewasallprobabilityofDuane’sbeinginnoworsesituationthanhewasnow。IfPoggintookupthequarrel！HereDuaneaccusedhimselfagain——triedinvaintorevoltfromajudgmentthathewasonlyreasoningoutexcusestomeettheseoutlaws。

Meanwhile，insteadofwaiting，whynothuntupCheseldineinhismountainretreat？ThethoughtnosoonerstruckDuanethanhewashurryingforhishorse。

HeleftOrd，ostensiblytowardBradford，but，onceoutofsight，heturnedofftheroad，circledthroughthebrush，andseveralmilessouthoftownhestruckanarrowgrass—growntrailthatFletcherhadtoldhimledtoCheseldine’scamp。Thehorsetracksalongthistrailwerenotlessthanaweekold，andverylikelymuchmore。Itwoundbetweenlow，brush—coveredfoothills，througharroyosandgullieslinedwithmesquite，cottonwood，andscrub—oak。

InanhourDuanestrucktheslopeofMountOrd，andasheclimbedhegotaviewoftherolling，black—spottedcountry，partlydesert，partlyfertile，withlong，brightlinesofdrystream—bedswindingawaytogrowdiminthedistance。Hegotamongbrokenrocksandcliffs，andheretheopen，downward—rollinglanddisappeared，andhewashardputtoittofindthetrail。Helostitrepeatedlyandmadeslowprogress。

Finallyheclimbedintoaregionofallrockbenches，roughhere，smooththere，withonlyanoccasionalscratchofironhorseshoetoguidehim。Manytimeshehadtogoaheadandthenworktorightorlefttillhefoundhiswayagain。Itwasslowwork;ittookallday;andnightfoundhimhalf—wayupthemountain。Hehaltedatalittleside—canonwithgrassandwater，andherehemadecamp。Thenightwasclearandcoolatthatheight，withadark—blueskyandastreakofstarsblinkingacross。Withthisdayofactionbehindhimhefeltbettersatisfiedthanhehadbeenforsometime。Here，onthisventure，hewasansweringtoacallthathadsooftendirectedhismovements，perhapshislife，anditwasonethatlogicorintelligencecouldtakelittlestockof。Andonthisnight，lonelyliketheonesheusedtospendintheNuecesgorge，andmemorableofthembecauseofalikenesstothatoldhiding—place，hefeltthepressingreturnofoldhauntingthings——thepastsolongago，wildflights，deadfaces——andtheplacesoftheseweretakenbyonequiveringlyalive，white，tragic，withitsdark，intent，speakingeyes——RayLongstreth’s。

Thatlastmemoryheyieldedtountilheslept。

Inthemorning，satisfiedthathehadleftstillfewertracksthanhehadfollowedupthistrail，heledhishorseuptotheheadofthecanon，thereanarrowcrackinlowcliffs，andwithbranchesofcedarfencedhimin。Thenhewentbackandtookupthetrailonfoot。

Withoutthehorsehemadebettertimeandclimbedthroughdeepclefts，widecanons，overridges，upshelvingslopes，alongprecipices——along，hardclimb——tillhereachedwhatheconcludedwasadivide。Goingdownwaseasier，thoughthefartherhefollowedthisdimandwindingtrailthewiderthebrokenbattlementsofrock。Abovehimhesawtheblackfringeofpinonandpine，andabovethattheboldpeak，bare，yellow，likeadesertbutte。Once，throughawidegatewaybetweengreatescarpments，hesawthelowercountrybeyondtherange，andbeyondthis，vastandclearasitlayinhissight，wasthegreatriverthatmadetheBigBend。Hewentdownanddown，wonderinghowahorsecouldfollowthatbrokentrail，believingtheremustbeanotherbetteronesomewhereintoCheseldine’shiding—place。

Heroundedajuttingcorner，whereviewhadbeenshutoff，andpresentlycameoutupontherimofahighwall。Beneath，likeagreengulfseenthroughbluehaze，layanamphitheaterwalledinonthetwosideshecouldsee。Itlayperhapsathousandfeetbelowhim;and，plainasalltheotherfeaturesofthatwildenvironment，thereshoneoutabigredstoneoradobecabin，whitewatershiningawaybetweengreatborders，andhorsesandcattledottingthelevels。Itwasapeaceful，beautifulscene。Duanecouldnothelpgrindinghisteethatthethoughtofrustlerslivingthereinquietandease。

Duaneworkedhalf—waydowntothelevel，and，wellhiddeninaniche，hesettledhimselftowatchbothtrailandvalley。Hemadenoteofthepositionofthesunandsawthatifanythingdevelopedorifhedecidedtodescendanyfarthertherewassmalllikelihoodofhisgettingbacktohiscampbeforedark。

Totrythatafternightfallheimaginedwouldbevaineffort。

Thenhebenthiskeeneyesdownward。Thecabinappearedtobeacrudestructure。Thoughlargeinsize，ithad，ofcourse，beenbuiltbyoutlaws。

Therewasnogarden，nocultivatedfield，nocorral。Exceptingfortherudepileofstonesandlogsplasteredtogetherwithmud，thevalleywasaswild，probably，asonthedayofdiscovery。Duaneseemedtohavebeenwatchingforalongtimebeforehesawanysignofman，andthisoneapparentlywenttothestreamforwaterandreturnedtothecabin。

Thesunwentdownbehindthewall，andshadowswereborninthedarkerplacesofthevalley。Duanebegantowanttogetclosertothatcabin。Whathadhetakenthisarduousclimbfor？Heheldback，however，tryingtoevolvefurtherplans。

Whilehewasponderingtheshadowsquicklygatheredanddarkened。Ifhewastogobacktocamphemustsetoutatonce。

Stillhelingered。Andsuddenlyhiswide—rovingeyecaughtsightoftwohorsemenridingupthevalley。Themusthaveenteredatapointbelow，roundthehugeabutmentofrock，beyondDuane’srangeofsight。Theirhorsesweretiredandstoppedatthestreamforalongdrink。

Duanelefthisperch，tooktothesteeptrail，anddescendedasfastashecouldwithoutmakingnoise。Itdidnottakehimlongtoreachthevalleyfloor。Itwasalmostlevel，withdeepgrass，andhereandthereclumpsofbushes。Twilightwasalreadythickdownthere。Duanemarkedthelocationofthetrail，andthenbegantosliplikeashadowthroughthegrassandfrombushtobush。Hesawabrightlightbeforehemadeoutthedarkoutlineofthecabin。Thenheheardvoices，amerrywhistle，acoarsesong，andtheclinkofironcooking—utensils。

Hesmelledfragrantwood—smoke。Hesawmovingdarkfigurescrossthelight。Evidentlytherewasawidedoor，orelsethefirewasoutintheopen。

Duaneswervedtotheleft，outofdirectlinewiththelight，andthuswasabletoseebetter。Thenheadvancednoiselesslybutswiftlytowardthebackofthehouse。Thereweretreesclosetothewall。Hewouldmakenonoise，andhecouldscarcelybeseen——ifonlytherewasnowatch—dog！Butallhisoutlawdayshehadtakenriskswithonlyhisuselesslifeatstake;now，withthatchanged，headvancedstealthyandboldasanIndian。Hereachedthecoverofthetrees，knewhewashiddenintheirshadows，foratfewpaces’distancehehadbeenabletoseeonlytheirtops。Fromthereheslippeduptothehouseandfeltalongthewallwithhishands。

Hecametoalittlewindowwherelightshonethrough。Hepeepedin。Hesawaroomshroudedinshadows，alampturnedlow，atable，chairs。Hesawanopendoor，withbrightflarebeyond，butcouldnotseethefire。Voicescameindistinctly。WithouthesitationDuanestolefartheralong——allthewaytotheendofthecabin。Peepinground，hesawonlytheflareoflightonbareground。Retracinghiscautioussteps，hepausedatthecrackagain，sawthatnomanwasintheroom，andthenhewentonroundthatendofthecabin。Fortunefavoredhim。Therewerebushes，anoldshed，awood—pile，allthecoverheneededatthatcorner。Hedidnotevenneedtocrawl。

BeforehepeeredbetweentheroughcornerofwallandthebushgrowingclosetoitDuanepausedamoment。Thisexcitementwasdifferentfromthathehadalwaysfeltwhenpursued。Ithadnobitterness，nopain，nodread。Therewasasmuchdangerhere，perhapsmore，yetitwasnotthesame。Thenhelooked。

Hesawabrightfire，ared—facedmanbendingoverit，whistling，whilehehandledasteamingpot。Overhimwasaroofedshedbuiltagainstthewall，withtwoopensidesandtwosupportingposts。Duane’ssecondglance，notsoblindedbythesuddenbrightlight，madeoutothermen，threeintheshadow，twointheflare，butwithbackstohim。

"It’sasmoothertrailbylongodds，butain’tsoshortasthisonerightoverthemountain，"oneoutlawwassaying。

"What’seatin’you，Panhandle？"ejaculatedanother。"Blossoman’merodefromFarawaySprings，wherePogginiswithsomeofthegang。"

"Excuseme，Phil。ShoreIdidn’tseeyoucomein，an’Boldtneversaidnothin’。"

"Ittookyoualongtimetogethere，butIguessthat’sjustaswell，"spokeupasmooth，suavevoicewitharinginit。

Longstreth’svoice——Cheseldine’svoice！

Heretheywere——Cheseldine，PhilKnell，BlossomKane，PanhandleSmith，Boldt——howwellDuanerememberedthenames！——allhere，thebigmenofCheseldine’sgang，exceptthebiggest——Poggin。

Duanehadholedthem，andhissensationsofthemomentdeadenedsightandsoundofwhatwasbeforehim。Hesankdown，controlledhimself，silencedamountingexultation，thenfromaless—strainedpositionhepeeredforthagain。

Theoutlawswerewaitingforsupper。Theirconversationmighthavebeenthatofcowboysincamp，ranchersataroundup。Duanelistenedwitheagerears，waitingforthebusinesstalkthathefeltwouldcome。Allthetimehewatchedwiththeeyesofawolfuponitsquarry。BlossomKanewasthelean—limbedmessengerwhohadsoangeredFletcher。Boldtwasagiantinstature，dark，bearded，silent。PanhandleSmithwasthered—facedcook，merry，profane，ashort，bow—leggedmanresemblingmanyrustlersDuanehadknown，particularlyLukeStevens。AndKnell，whosatthere，tall，slim，likeaboyinbuild，likeaboyinyears，withhispale，smooth，expressionlessfaceandhiscold，grayeyes。AndLongstreth，wholeanedagainstthewall，handsome，withhisdarkfaceandbeardlikeanaristocrat，resembledmanyarichLouisianaplanterDuanehadmet。Thesixthmansatsomuchintheshadowthathecouldnotbeplainlydiscerned，and，thoughaddressed，hisnamewasnotmentioned。

PanhandleSmithcarriedpotsandpansintothecabin，andcheerfullycalledout:"Ifyougentsairhungryfergrub，don’tlookfermetofeedyouwithaspoon。"

Theoutlawspiledinside，madeagreatbustleandclatterastheysattotheirmeal。Likehungrymen，theytalkedlittle。

Duanewaitedthereawhile，thenguardedlygotupandcreptroundtotheothersideofthecabin。Afterhebecameusedtothedarkagainheventuredtostealalongthewalltothewindowandpeepedin。Theoutlawswereinthefirstroomandcouldnotbeseen。

Duanewaited。Themomentsdraggedendlessly。Hisheartpounded。

Longstrethentered，turnedupthelight，and，takingaboxofcigarsfromthetable，hecarrieditout。

"Here，youfellows，gooutsideandsmoke，"hesaid。"Knell，comeoninnow。Let’sgetitover。"

Hereturned，satdown，andlightedacigarforhimself。Heputhisbootedfeetonthetable。

Duanesawthattheroomwascomfortably，evenluxuriouslyfurnished。Theremusthavebeenagoodtrail，hethought，elsehowcouldallthatstuffhavebeenpackedinthere。Mostassuredlyitcouldnothavecomeoverthetrailhehadtraveled。Presentlyheheardthemengooutside，andtheirvoicesbecameindistinct。ThenKnellcameinandseatedhimselfwithoutanyofhischief’sease。Heseemedpreoccupiedand，asalways，cold。

"What’swrong，Knell？Whydidn’tyougetheresooner？"queriedLongstreth。

"Poggin，damnhim！We’reontheoutsagain。"

"Whatfor？"

"Aw，heneedn’thavegotsore。He’sbreakin’anewhossoveratFaraway，anyouknowhimwhereahoss’sconcerned。Thatkepthim，Ireckon，morethananythin’。"

"Whatelse？Getitoutofyoursystemsowecangoontothenewjob。"

"Well，itbeginsbackaways。Idon’tknowhowlongago——

weeks——astrangerrodeintoOrdan’gotdowneasy—likeasifheownedtheplace。Heseemedfamiliartome。ButIwasn’tsure。

Welookedhimover，an’Ileft，tryin’toplacehiminmymind。"

"What’dhelooklike？"

"Rangy，powerfulman，whitehairoverhistemples，still，hardface，eyeslikeknives。Thewayhepackedhisguns，thewayhewalkedan’stoodan’swunghisrighthandshowedmewhathewas。Youcan’tfoolmeonthegun—sharp。An’hehadagrandhorse，abigblack。"

"I’vemetyourman，"saidLongstreth。

"No！"exclaimedKnell。Itwaswonderfultohearsurpriseexpressedbythismanthatdidnotintheleastshowitinhisstrangephysiognomy。Knelllaughedashort，grim，hollowlaugh。

"Boss，thisherebiggentdriftsintoOrdagainan’makesuptoJimFletcher。Jim，youknow，iseasyled。Helikesmen。An’

whenapossecomealongtrailin’ablindlead，huntin’thewrongwayforthemanwhoheldupNo。6，why，Jim——heupan’

takesthisstrangertobetheflyroad—agentan’cottonstohim。Gotmoneyoutofhimsure。An’that’swhatstumpsmemore。

What’sthisman’sgame？Ihappentoknow，boss，thathecouldn’thaveheldupNo。6。"

"Howdoyouknow？"demandedLongstreth。

"BecauseIdidthejobmyself。"

Adarkandstormypassioncloudedthechief’sface。

"Damnyou，Knell！You’reincorrigible。You’reunreliable。

Anotherbreaklikethatqueersyouwithme。DidyoutellPoggin？"

"Yes。That’sonereasonwefellout。Heraved。Ithoughthewasgoin’tokillme。"

"Whydidyoutacklesuchariskyjobwithouthelporplan？"

"Itoffered，that’sall。An’itwaseasy。Butitwasamistake。

Igotthecountryan’therailroadhollerin’fornothin’。I

justcouldn’thelpit。Youknowwhatidlenessmeanstooneofus。Youknowalsothatthisverylifebreedsfatality。It’swrong——that’swhy。Iwasbornofgoodparents，an’Iknowwhat’sright。We’rewrong，an’wecan’tbeattheend，that’sall。An’formypartIdon’tcareadamnwhenthatcomes。"

"Finewisetalkfromyou，Knell，"saidLongstreth，scornfully。

"Goonwithyourstory。"

"AsIsaid，Jimcottonstothepretender，an’theygetchummy。

They’retogetherallthetime。YoucangambleJimtoldallheknewan’thensome。Alittleliquorloosenshistongue。SeveraloftheboysrodeoverfromOrd，an’oneofthemwenttoPogginan’saysJimFletcherhasanewmanforthegang。Poggin，youknow，isalwaysreadyforanynewman。Hesaysifonedoesn’tturnoutgoodhecanbeshutoffeasy。HeratherlikedthewaythisnewpartofJim’swasboosted。Jiman’Pogginalwayshitituptogether。SountilIgotonthedealJim’spardwasalreadyinthegang，withoutPogginoryoueverseein’him。

ThenIgottofigurin’hard。JustwherehadIeverseenthatchap？Asitturnedout，Ineverhadseenhim，whichaccountsformybein’doubtful。I’dneverforgetanymanI’dseen。Idugupalotofoldpapersfrommykitan’wentoverthem。Letters，pictures，clippin’s，an’allthat。IguessIhadaprettygoodnotionwhatIwaslookin’foran’whoIwantedtomakesureof。

AtlastIfoundit。An’Iknewmyman。ButIdidn’tspringitonPoggin。Ohno！Iwanttohavesomefunwithhimwhenthetimecomes。He’llbewilderthanatrappedwolf。IsentBlossomovertoOrdtogetwordfromJim，an’whenheverifiedallthistalkIsentBlossomagainwithamessagecalculatedtomakeJimhump。Poggingotsore，saidhe’dwaitforJim，an’Icouldcomeoverheretoseeyouaboutthenewjob。He’dmeetmeinOrd。"

Knellhadspokenhurriedlyandlow，nowandthenwithpassion。

Hispaleeyesglintedlikefireinice，andnowhisvoicefelltoawhisper。

"WhodoyouthinkFletcher’snewmanis？"

"Who？"demandedLongstreth。

"BUCKDUANE！"

DowncameLongstreth’sbootswithacrash，thenhisbodygrewrigid。

"ThatNuecesoutlaw？Thattwo—shotace—of—spadesgun—throwerwhokilledBland，Alloway——？"

"An’Hardin。"Knellwhisperedthislastnamewithmorefeelingthantheapparentcircumstancedemanded。

"Yes;andHardin，thebestoneoftheRimRockfellows——BuckDuane！"

Longstrethwassoghastlywhitenowthathisblackmustacheseemedoutlinedagainstchalk。Heeyedhisgrimlieutenant。

Theyunderstoodeachotherwithoutmorewords。ItwasenoughthatBuckDuanewasthereintheBigBend。Longstrethrosepresentlyandreachedforaflask，fromwhichhedrank，thenofferedittoKnell。Hewaveditaside。

"Knell，"beganthechief，slowly，ashewipedhislips，"I

gatheredyouhavesomegrudgeagainstthisBuckDuane。"

"Yes。"

"Well，don’tbeafoolnowanddowhatPogginoralmostanyofyoumenwould——don’tmeetthisBuckDuane。I’vereasontobelievehe’saTexasRangernow。"

"Thehellyousay！"exclaimedKnell。

"Yes。GotoOrdandgiveJimFletcherahunch。He’llgetPoggin，andthey’llfixevenBuckDuane。"

"Allright。I’lldomybest。ButifIrunintoDuane——"

"Don’trunintohim！"Longstreth’svoicefairlyrangwiththeforceofitspassionandcommand。Hewipedhisface，drankagainfromtheflask，satdown，resumedhissmoking，and，drawingapaperfromhisvestpockethebegantostudyit。

"Well，I’mgladthat’ssettled，"hesaid，evidentlyreferringtotheDuanematter。"Nowforthenewjob。ThisisOctobertheeighteenth。Onorbeforethetwenty—fifththerewillbeashipmentofgoldreachtheRancher’sBankofValVerde。AfteryoureturntoOrdgivePoggintheseorders。Keepthegangquiet。You，Poggin，Kane，Fletcher，PanhandleSmith，andBoldttobeinonthesecretandthejob。Nobodyelse。You’llleaveOrdonthetwenty—third，rideacrosscountrybythetrailtillyougetwithinsightofMercer。It’sahundredmilesfromBradfordtoValVerde——aboutthesamefromOrd。TimeyourtraveltogetyounearValVerdeonthemorningofthetwenty—sixth。Youwon’thavetomorethantrotyourhorses。Attwoo’clockintheafternoon，sharp，rideintotownanduptotheRancher’sBank。ValVerde’saprettybigtown。Neverbeenanyholdupsthere。Townfeelssafe。Makeitaclean，fast，daylightjob。That’sall。Haveyougotthedetails？"

Knelldidnotevenaskforthedatesagain。