第13章

"An’sohelpme——Jorthletthemburytheirdaid！"

ThefactseemedtohavebeenmonstrouslystrangetoGastonIsbel。

Whenthewomenenteredtheoldmansaid，brokenly:"I’mshoreglad……An’IreckonIwaswrongtoopposeyou……an’wrongtosaywhatIdidabootJorth。"

NoonehadanychancetoreplytoIsbel，fortheJorthgang，asiftomakeupforlosttimeandsurchargedfeelingsofshame，renewedtheattackwithsuchapersistentandfuriousvolleyingthatthedefendersdidnotriskareturnshot。Theyallhadtolieflatnexttothelowestloginordertokeepfrombeinghit。Bulletsrainedinthroughthewindow。Andalltheclaybetweenthelogslowdownwasshotaway。Thisfusilladelastedformorethananhour，thengraduallythefirediminishedononesideandthenontheotheruntilitbecamedesultoryandfinallyceased。

"Ahuh！Shorethey’veshottheirbolt，"declaredGastonIsbel。

"Wal，Idoon’tknowabootthat，"returnedBlaisdell，"butthey’veshotahellofalotofshells。"

"Listen，"suddenlycalledJean。"Somebody’syellin’。"

"Hey，Isbel！"cameinloud，hoarsevoice。"Letyourwomenfightforyou。"

GastonIsbelsatupwithastartandhisfaceturnedlivid。JeanneedednomoretoprovethatthederisivevoicefromoutsidehadbelongedtoJorth。Theoldrancherlungeduptohisfullheightandwithrecklessdisregardoflifeherushedtothewindow。

"Jorth，"heroared，"Idareyoutomeetme——mantoman！"

Thiselicitednoanswer。Jeandraggedhisfatherawayfromthewindow。

Afterthatawaitingsilenceensued，graduallylessfraughtwithsuspense。Blaisdellstartedconversationbysayinghebelievedthefightwasoverforthatparticulartime。Noonedisputedhim。

EvidentlyGastonIsbelwasloathtobelieveit。Jean，however，watchingatthebackofthekitchen，eventuallydiscoveredthattheJorthganghadliftedthesiege。Jeansawthemcongregateattheedgeofthebrush，somewhatlowerdownthantheyhadbeenthedaybefore。

Ateamofmules，drawingawagon，appearedontheroad，andturnedtowardtheslope。Saddledhorseswereleddownoutofthejunipers。

Jeansawbodies，evidentlyofdeadmen，liftedintothewagon，tobehauledawaytowardthevillage。Sevenmountedmen，leadingfourriderlesshorses，rodeoutintothevalleyandfollowedthewagon。

"Dad，they’vegone，"declaredJean。"Wehadthebestofthisfight……IfonlyGuyan’Jacobshadlistened！"

Theoldmannoddedmoodily。Hehadagedconsiderablyduringthesetwotryingdays。Hishairwasgrayer。Nowthattheblazeandglowofthefighthadpassedheshowedasubtlechange，afixedandmorbidsadness，aresignationtoafatehehadaccepted。

TheordinaryroutineofranchlifedidnotreturnfortheIsbels。

Blaisdellreturnedhometosettlemattersthere，sothathecoulddevoteallhistimetothisfeud。GastonIsbelsatdowntowaitforthemembersofhisclan。

Themalemembersofthefamilykeptguardinturnovertheranchthatnight。Andanotherdaydawned。ItbroughtwordfromBlaisdellthatBlue，Fredericks，Gordon，andColmorwereallathishouse，onthewaytojointheIsbels。ThisnewsappearedgreatlytorejuvenateGastonIsbel。Buthisenthusiasmdidnotlastlong。Impatientandmoodybyturns，hepacedormopedaroundthecabin，alwayslookingout，sometimestowardBlaisdell’sranch，butmostlytowardGrassValley。

ItstruckJeanassingularthatneitherEstherIsbelnorMrs。Jacobssuggestedareburialoftheirhusbands。Thetwobereavedwomendidnotaskforassistance，butrepairedtothepasture，andtherespentseveralhoursworkingoverthegraves。Theyraisedmounds，whichtheysodded，andthenplacedstonesattheheadsandfeet。Lastly，theyfencedinthegraves。

"IreckonI’llhitchupan’drivebackhome，"saidMrs。Jacobs，whenshereturnedtothecabin。"I’vemuchtodoan’plan。ProbablyI’llgotomymother’shome。She’soldan’willbegladtohaveme。"

"IfIhadanyplacetogotoI’dsurego，"declaredEstherIsbel，bitterly。

GastonIsbelheardthisremark。Heraisedhisfacefromhishands，evidentlybothnettledandhurt。

"Esther，shorethat’snotkind，"hesaid。

Thered—hairedwoman——forshedidnotappeartobeagirlanymore——

haltedbeforehischairandgazeddownathim，withaterribleflareofscorninhergrayeyes。

"GastonIsbel，allI’vegottosaytoyouisthis，"sheretorted，withthevoiceofaman。"Seein’thatyouan’LeeJorthhateeachother，whycouldn’tyouactlikemen？……YoudamnedTexans，withyourbloodyfeuds，draggin’ineveryrelation，everyfriendtomurdereachother！

That’snotthewayofArizonamen……We’veallgottosuffer——an’

wewomenberuinedforlife——becauseYOUhaddifferenceswithJorth。

Ifyouwerehalfamanyou’dgooutan’killhimyourself，an’notleavealotofwidowsan’orphanedchildren！"

Jeanhimselfwrithedunderthelashofherscorn。GastonIsbelturnedadeadwhite。Hecouldnot。answerher。Heseemedstrickenwithmercilesstruth。Slowlydroppinghishead，heremainedmotionless，apatheticandtragicfigure;andhedidnotstiruntiltherapidbeatofhoofsdenotedtheapproachofhorsemen。Blaisdellappearedonhiswhitecharger，leadingapackanimal。Andbehindrodeagroupofmen，allheavilyarmed，andlikewisewithpacks。

"Getdownan’comein，"wasIsbel’sgreeting。"Bill——youlookaftertheirpacks。Betterleavethehossessaddled。"

Thebootedandspurredriderstroopedin，andtheirdemeanorfittedtheirerrand。Jeanwasacquaintedwithallofthem。FrederickswasalankyTexan，thecolorofdust，andhehadyellow，cleareyes，likethoseofahawk。HismotherhadbeenanIsbel。Gordon，too，wasrelatedtoJean’sfamily，thoughdistantly。Heresembledanindustriousminermorethanaprosperouscattleman。Bluewasthemoststrikingofthevisitors，ashewasthemostnoted。Alittle，shrunkengray—eyedman，withyearsofcowboywrittenalloverhim，helookedthequiet，easy，cool，anddeadlyTexanhewasreputedtobe。Blue’sTexasrecordwasshady，andwasseldomalludedto，asunfavorablecommenthadturnedouttobehazardous。Hewastheonlyoneofthegroupwhodidnotcarryarifle。Buthepackedtwoguns，ahabitnotoftennotedinTexans，andalmostneverinArizonians。

Colmor，AnnIsbel’sfiance，wastheyoungestmemberoftheclan，andtheoneclosesttoJean。HismeetingwithAnnaffectedJeanpowerfully，andbroughttoaclimaxanideathathadbeendevelopinginJean’smind。

Hissisterdevotedlylovedthislean—faced，keen—eyedArizonian;andittooknogreatinsighttodiscoverthatColmorreciprocatedheraffection。

Theywereyoung。Theyhadlonglifebeforethem。ItseemedtoJeanapitythatColmorshouldbedrawnintothiswar。Jeanwatchedthem，astheyconversedapart;andhesawAnn’shandscreepuptoColmor’sbreast，andhesawherdarkeyes，eloquent，hungry，fearful，liftedwithqueriesherlipsdidnotspeak。Jeansteppedbesidethem，andlaidanarmoverboththeirshoulders。

"Colmor，forAnn’ssakeyou’dbetterbackoutofthisJorth—Isbelfight，"

hewhispered。

Colmorlookedinsulted。"But，Jean，it’sAnn’sfather，"hesaid。

"I’malmostoneofthefamily。"

"You’reAnn’ssweetheart，an’，byHeaven，Isayyououghtn’ttogowithus！"whisperedJean。

"Go——with——you，"falteredAnn。

"Yes。Dadisgoin’straightafterJorth。Can’tyoutellthat？An’

there’llbeonehellofafight。"

AnnlookedupintoColmor’sfacewithallhersoulinhereyes，butshedidnotspeak。Herlookwasnoble。Sheyearnedtoguidehimright，yetherlipsweresealed。AndColmorbetrayedthetroubleofhissoul。

Thecodeofmenheldhimbound，andhecouldnotbreakfromit，thoughhedivinedinthatmomenthowtrulyitwaswrong。

"Jean，yourdadstartedmeinthecattlebusiness，"saidColmor，earnestly。"An’I’mdoin’wellnow。An’whenIaskedhimforAnnhesaidhe’dbegladtohavemeinthefamily……Well，whenthistalkoffightcomeup，Iaskedyourdadtoletmegoinonhisside。

Hewouldn’thearofit。Butafterawhile，asthetimepassedan’hemademoreenemies，hefinallyconsented。Ireckonheneedsmenow。

An’Ican’tbackout，notevenforAnn。"

"IwouldifIwereyou，"repliedjean，andknewthathelied。

"Jean，I’mgamblin’tocomeoutofthefight，"saidColmor，withasmile。

Hehadnomorbidfearsnorpresentiments，suchastroubledjean。

"Why，sure——youstandasgoodachanceasanyone，"rejoinedJean。

"Itwasn’tthatIwasworryin’aboutsomuch。"

"Whatwasit，then？"askedAnn，steadily。

"IfAndrewDOEScomethroughalivehe’llhavebloodonhishands，"

returnedJean，withpassion。"Hecan’tcomethroughwithoutit……

I’vebeguntofeelwhatitmeanstohavekilledmyfellowmen……

An’I’dratheryourhusbandan’thefatherofyourchildrenneverfeltthat。"

ColmordidnottakeJeanassubtlyasAnndid。Sheshrunkalittle。

Herdarkeyesdilated。ButColmorshowednothingofherspiritualreaction。Hewasyoung。Hehadwildblood。HewasloyaltotheIsbels。

"Jean，neverworryaboutmyconscience，"hesaid，withakeenlook。

"Nothin’wouldticklemeanymorethantogetashotateverydamnoneoftheJorths。"

ThatestablishedColmor’sstatusinregardtotheJorth—Isbelfeud。

Jeanhadnomoretosay。HerespectedAnn’sfriendandfeltpoignantsorrowforAnn。

GastonIsbelcalledformeatanddrinktobesetonthetableforhisguests。Whenhiswisheshadbeencompliedwiththewomentookthechildrenintotheadjoiningcabinandshutthedoor。

"Hah！Wal，wecaneatan’talknow。"

Firstthenewcomerswantedtohearparticularsofwhathadhappened。

Blaisdellhadtoldallheknewandhadseen，butthatwasnotsufficient。TheypliedGastonIsbelwithquestions。Laboriouslyandponderouslyherehearsedtheexperiencesofthefightattheranch，accordingtohisimpressions。BillIsbelwasexhortedtotalk，buthehadoflatemanifestedasullenandtaciturndisposition。

InspiteofJean’svigilanceBillhadcontinuedtoimbiberedliquor。

ThenJeanwascalledupontorelateallhehadseenanddone。IthadbeenJean’sintentiontokeephismouthshut，firstforhisownsakeand，secondly，becausehedidnotliketotalkofhisdeeds。Butwhenthusappealedtobythesesomber—faced，intent—eyedmenhedivinedthatthemorecarefullyhedescribedthecrueltyandbasenessoftheirenemies，andthemorevividlyhepresentedhisparticipationinthefirstfightofthefeudthemorestronglyhewouldbindthesefriendstotheIsbelcause。Sohetalkedforanhour，beginningwithhismeetingwithColterupontheRimandendingwithanaccountofhiskillingGreaves。Hislistenerssatthroughthislongnarrativewithunabatedinterestandattheclosetheywereleaningforward，breathlessandtense。

"Ah！SoGreavesgothisdessertsatlast，"exclaimedGordon。

Allthemenaroundthetablemadecomments，andthelast，fromBlue，wastheonethatstruckJeanforcibly。

"Shorethetwasastrangean’ahellofawaytokillGreaves。

Why’dyoudothet，Jean？"

"Itoldyou。Iwantedtoavoidnoisean’Ihopedtogetmoreofthem。"

Bluenoddedhislean，eagle—likeheadandsatthoughtfully，asifnotconvincedofanythingsaveJean’sprowess。AfteramomentBluespokeagain。

"Then，goin’backtoJean’stellin’aboottrackin’rustledCattle，I’vegotthistosay。I’velongsuspectedthetsomebodylivin’rightheahinthevalleyhasbeendrivin’offcattlean’dealin’withrustlers。An’nowI’mshoreofit。"

ThisspeechdidnotelicittheamazefromGastonIsbelthatJeanexpecteditwould。

"YoumeanGreavesorsomeofhisfriends？"

"No。Theywasn’tnoneoftheminthecattlebusiness，likeweare。

ShoreweallknowedGreaveswascrooked。ButwhatI’mfiggerin’isthetsomeso—calledhonestmaninoursettlementhasbeenmakin’

crookeddeals。

Bluewasamanofdeedsratherthanwords，andsomuchstrongspeechfromhim，whomeverybodyknewtoberemarkablyreliableandkeen，madeaprofoundimpressionuponmostoftheIsbelfaction。But，toJean’ssurprise，hisfatherdidnotrave。ItwasBlaisdellwhosuppliedtherageandinvective。BillIsbel，also，wasstrangelyindifferenttothisnewelementintheconditionofcattledealing。

SuddenlyJeancaughtavagueflashofthought，asifhehadinterceptedthethoughtofanother’smind，andhewondered——couldhisbrotherBillknowanythingaboutthiscrookedworkalludedtobyBlue？Dismissingtheconjecture，Jeanlistenedearnestly。

"An’ifit’strueitshoremakesthisdifference——wecain’tblamealltherustlin’ontoJorth，"concludedBlue。

"Wal，it’snottrue，"declaredGastonIsbel，roughly。"Jorthan’hisHashKnifeGangareatthebottomofalltherustlin’inthevalleyforyearsback。An’they’vegottobewipedout！"

"Isbel，Ireckonwe’dallfeelbetterifwetalkstraight，repliedBlue，coolly。"I’mheahtostandbytheIsbels。An’y’uknowwhatthetmeans。

ButI’mnotheahtofightJorthbecausehemaybearustler。Theothersmayhavetheirownreasons，butmineisthis——youoncestoodbymeinTexaswhenIwasneedin’friends。Wal，I’mstandin’byy’unow。

Jorthisyourenemy，an’soheismine。"

GastonIsbelbowedtothisultimatum，scarcelylessagitatedthanwhenEstherIsbelhaddenouncedhim。HisrabidandmorbidhateofJorthhadeatenintohishearttotakepossessionthere，liketheparasitethatbatteneduponthelifeofitsvictim。Blue’ssteelyvoice，hiscold，grayeyes，showedtheunbiasedtruthoftheman，aswellashisfidelitytohiscreed。Hereagain，butinadifferentmanner，GastonIsbelhadthefactflungathimthatothermenmustsuffer，perhapsdie，forhishate。AndtheverysouloftheoldrancherapparentlyroseinPassionaterevoltagainsttheblind，headlong，elementalstrengthofhisnature。SoitseemedtoJean，who，inloveandpitythathourlygrew，sawthroughhisfather。Wasittoolate？Alas！GastonIsbelcouldneverbeturnedback！Yetsomethingwasalteringhisbrooding，fixedmind。

"Wal，"saidBlaisdell，gruffly，"let’sgetdowntobusiness……

I’mforhavin’Bluebeforemanofthisheahoutfit，an’allofustodoashesays。"

GastonIsbelopposedthisselectionandindeedresentedit。

HeintendedtoleadtheIsbelfaction。

"Allright，then。Giveusahunchwhatwe’regoin’todo，"

repliedBlaisdell。

"We’regoin’torideoffonJorth’strail——an’onewayoranother——

killhim——KILLHIM！……Ireckonthat’llendthefight。"

WhatdidoldIsbelhaveinhismind？Hislistenersshooktheirheads。

"No，"assertedBlaisdell。"Killin’Jorthmightbetheendofyourdesires，Isbel，butit’dneverendourfight。We’llhavegonetoofar……IfwetakeJorth’strailfromheahitmeanswe’vegottowipeoutthatrustiergang，orstaytothelastman。"

"Yes，byGod！"exclaimedFredericks。

"Let’sdrinktothet！"saidBlue。StrangelytheyturnedtothisTexasgunman，instinctivelyrecognizinginhimthebrainandheart，andthepastdeeds，thatfittedhimfortheleadershipofsuchaclan。Bluehadallinlifetolose，andnothingtogain。Yethisspiritwassuchthathecouldnotleantoallthepossiblegainofthefuture，andleaveadebtunpaid。Thenhisvoice，hislook，hisinfluencewerethoseofafighter。Theyalldrankwithhim，evenJean，whohatedliquor。Andthisactofdrinkingseemedtheclimaxofthecouncil。

PreparationswereatoncebegunfortheirdepartureonJorth’strail。

Jeantookbutlittletimeforhisownneeds。Ahorse，ablanket，aknapsackofmeatandbread，acanteen，andhisweapons，withalltheammunitionhecouldpack，madeuphisoutfit。Heworehisbuckskinsuit，leggings，andmoccasins。Verysoonthecavalcadewasreadytodepart。JeantriednottowatchBillIsbelsaygood—bytohischildren，butitwasimpossiblenotto。WhateverBillwas，asaman，hewasfatherofthosechildren，andhelovedthem。Howstrangethatthelittleonesseemedtorealizethemeaningofthisgood—by？Theyweregrave，somber—eyed，paleuptothelastmoment，thentheybrokedownandwept。Didtheysensethattheirfatherwouldnevercomeback？

Jeancaughtthatdark，fatalisticpresentiment。BillIsbel’sconvulsedfaceshowedthathealsocaughtit。JeandidnotseeBillsaygood—bytohiswife。Butheheardher。OldGastonIsbelforgottospeaktothechildren，orelsecouldnot。Heneverlookedatthem。Andhisgood—bytoAnnwasasifhewereonlyridingtothevillageforaday。

Jeansawwoman’slove，woman’sintuition，woman’sgriefinhereyes。

Hecouldnotescapeher。"Oh，Jean！oh，brother！"shewhisperedassheenfoldedhim。"It’sawful！It’swrong！Wrong！Wrong！……

Good—by！……IfkillingMUSTbe——seethaty’ukilltheJorths！……Good—by！"

EveninAnn，gentleandmild，theIsbelbloodspokeatthelast。

JeangaveAnnovertothepale—facedColmor，whotookherinhisarms。

ThenJeanfledouttohishorse。Thiscold—bloodeddevastationofahomewasalmostmorethanhecouldbear。Therewaslovehere。

Whatwouldbeleft？

Colmorwasthelastonetocomeouttothehorses。Hedidnotwalkerect，norasonewhosesightwasclear。Then，asthesilent，tense，grimmenmountedtheirhorses，BillIsbel’seldestchild，theboy，appearedinthedoor。Hislittleformseemedinstinctwithaforcevastlydifferentfromgrief。HisfacewasthefaceofanIsbel。

"Daddy——kill’emall！"heshouted，withapassionallthefiercerforitsincongruitytothetreblevoice。

Sothepoisonhadspreadfromfathertoson。

CHAPTERIX

HalfamilefromtheIsbelranchthecavalcadepassedthelogcabinofEvarts，fatheroftheboywhohadtendedsheepwithBernardino。

ItsuitedGastonIsbeltohalthere。Noneedtocall！Evartsandhissonappearedsoquicklyastoconvinceobserversthattheyhadbeenwatching。

"Howdy，Jake！"saidIsbel。"I’mwantin’awordwithy’ualone。"

"Shore，boss，gitdownan’comein，"repliedEvarts。

Isbelledhimaside，andsaidsomethingforciblethatJeandivinedfromtheverygesturewhichaccompaniedit。HisfatherwastellingEvartsthathewasnottojoinintheIsbel—Jorthwar。EvartshadworkedfortheIsbelsalongtime，andhisfaithfulness，alongwithsomethingstrongeranddarker，showedinhisruggedfaceashestubbornlyopposedIsbel。Theoldmanraisedhisvoice:"No，Itellyou。An’thatsettlesit。"

Theyreturnedtothehorses，and，beforemounting，Isbel，asifherememberedsomething，directedhissombergazeonyoungEvarts。

"Son，didyouburyBernardino？"

"Dadan’mewentoveryestiddy，"repliedthelad。"Ishorewasgladthecoyoteshadn’tbeenround。"

"Howabootthesheep？"

"Ileftthemthere。Iwasgoin’tostay，butbein’allalone——Igotskeered……Thesheepwasdoin’fine。Goodwateran’somegrass。

An’thisain’ttimefervarmintstohanground。"

"Jake，keepyoureyeonthatflock，"returnedIsbel。"An’ifI

shouldn’thappentocomebacky’ucancallthemsheepyours……

I’dlikeyourboytorideuptothevillage。Notwithus，soanybodywouldseehim。Butafterward。We’llbeatAbelMeeker’s。"

AgainJeanwasconfrontedwithanuneasypremonitionastosomeideaorplanhisfatherhadnotsharedwithhisfollowers。WhenthecavalcadestartedonagainJeanrodetohisfather’ssideandaskedhimwhyhehadwantedtheEvartsboytocometoGrassValley。Andtheoldmanrepliedthat，astheboycouldruntoandfrointhevillagewithoutdanger，hemightbeusefulinreportingwhatwasgoingonatGreaves’sstore，whereundoubtedlytheJorthgangwouldholdforth。

Thisappearedreasonableenough，thereforeJeansmotheredtheobjectionhehadmeanttomake。

Thevalleyroadwasdeserted。When，amilefartheron，theriderspassedagroupofcabins，justontheoutskirtsofthevillage，Jean’squickeyecaughtsightofcuriousandevidentlyfrightenedpeopletryingtoseewhiletheyavoidedbeingseen。Nodoubtthewholesettlementwasinastateofsuspenseandterror。Notunlikelythisdark，closelygroupedbandofhorsemenappearedtothemasJorth’sganghadlookedtoJean。Itwasanorderly，trottingmarchthatmanifestedneitherhurrynorexcitement。ButanyWesterneyecouldhavecaughtthesingularaspectofsuchagroup，asiftheintentoftheriderswasavisiblething。

Soontheyreachedtheoutskirtsofthevillage。Heretheirapproachbadbeenwatchedfororhadbeenalreadyreported。Jeansawmen，women，childrenpeepingfrombehindcabinsandfromhalf—openeddoors。FartheronJeanespiedthedarkfiguresofmen，slippingoutthebackwaythroughorchardsandgardensandrunningnorth，towardthecenterofthevillage。CouldthesebefriendsoftheJorthcrowd，onthewaywithwarningsoftheapproachoftheIsbels？Jeanfeltconvincedofit。

HewaslearningthathisfatherhadnotbeenabsolutelycorrectinhisestimationofthewayJorthandhisfollowerswereregardedbytheirneighbors。Notimprobablytherewerereallymanyvillagerswho，beingmoreinterestedinsheepraisingthanincattle，hadanhonestleaningtowardtheJorths。Some，too，nodoubt，hadleaningsthatweredishonestindeedifnotinsincerity。

GastonIsbelledhisclanstraightdownthemiddleofthewideroadofGrassValleyuntilhereachedapointoppositeAbelMeeker’scabin。

JeanespiedthesamecuriosityfrombehindMeeker’sdoorandwindowsashadbeenshownallalongtheroad。Butpresently，atIsbel’scall，thedooropenedandashort，swarthymanappeared。Hecarriedarifle。

"Howdy，Gass！"hesaid。"What’sthegoodword？"

"Wal，Abel，it’snotgood，butbad。An’it’sshorestarted，"repliedIsbel。"I’maskin’y’utoletmehaveyourcabin。"

"You’rewelcome。I’llsendthefolks’roundtoJim’s，"returnedMeeker。

"An’ify’uwantme，I’mwithy’u，Isbel。"

"Thanks，Abel，butI’mnotleadin’anymorekinan’friendsintothisheahdeal。"

"Wal，jestasy’usay。ButI’dlikedamnbadtojinewithy’u……

MybrotherTedwasshotlastnight。"

"Ted！Ishedaid？"ejaculatedIsbel，blankly。

"Wecan’tfindout，"repliedMeeker。"JimsaysthetJeffCampbellsaidthetTedwentintoGreaves’splacelastnight。GreavesalluswasfriendlytoTed，butGreaveswasn’tthar——"

"No，heshorewasn’t，"interruptedIsbel，withadarksmile，"an’heneverwillbethereagain。"

Meekernoddedwithslowcomprehensionandashadecrossedhisface。

"Wal，Campbellclaimedhe’dheerdfromsomeonewhowasthar。Anyway，theJorthsweredrinkin’hard，an’theyraisedarowwithTed——sameoldsheeptalkan’somebodyshothim。CampbellsaidTedwasthrownoutback，an’hewasshorehewasn’tkilled。"

"Ahuh！Wal，I’msorry，Abel，yourfamilyhadtoloseinthis。MaybeTed’snotbadhurt。Ishorehopeso……An’y’uan’Jimkeepoutofthefight，anyway。"

"Allright，Isbel。ButIreckonI’llgivey’uahunch。IfthisheahfightlastslongthewholedamnBasinwillbeinit，ononesideort’other。"

"Abe，you’retalkin’sense，"brokeinBlaisdell。"An’that’swhywe’reupheahforquickaction。"

"Iheerdy’ugotDaggs，"whisperedMeeker，ashepeeredallaround。

"Wal，y’uheerdcorrect，"drawledBlaisdell。

Meekermutteredstrongwordsintohisbeard。"Say，wasDaggsinthetJorthoutfit？"

"HeWAS。ButhewalkedrightintoJean’sforty—four……

An’Ireckonhiscarcasswouldshowsomemore。"

"An’whar’sGuyIsbel？"demandedMeeker。

"Daidan’buried，Abel，"repledGastonIsbel。"An’nowI’dbeobligedify’u’llhurryyourfolksaway，an’letushaveyourcabinan’corral。

Haveyugotanyhayforthehosses？"

"Shore。Thebarn’shalffull，"repliedMeeker，asheturnedaway。

"Comeonin。"

"No。We’llwaittillyou’vegone。"

WhenMeekerhadgone，Isbelandhismensattheirhorsesandlookedaboutthemandspokelow。Theiradventhadbeenexpected，andthelittletownawoketotheimminenceoftheimpendingbattle。InsideMeeker’shousetherewasthesoundofindistinctvoicesofwomenandthebustleincidenttoahurriedvacating。

Acrossthewideroadpeoplewerepeeringoutonallsides，somehiding，otherswalkingtoandfro，fromfencetofence，whisperinginlittlegroups。Downthewideroad，atthepointwhereitturned，stoodGreaves’sfort—likestonehouse。Low，flat，isolated，withitsdark，eye—likewindows，itpresentedaforbiddingandsinisteraspect。

Jeandistinctlysawtheformsofmen，somedark，othersinshirtsleeves，cometothewidedoorandlookdowntheroad。