Horsesandcattlewereeverywhere。Everyclumpofcottonwoodssurroundedasmalladobehouse。DuanesawMexicansworkinginthefieldsandhorsemengoingtoandfro。Presentlyhepassedahousebiggerthantheotherswithaporchattached。Awoman，youngandprettyhethought，watchedhimfromadoor。Nooneelseappearedtonoticehim。
　　Presentlythetrailwidenedintoaroad，andthatintoakindofsquarelinedbyanumberofadobeandlogbuildingsofrudeststructure。Withinsightwerehorses，dogs，acoupleofsteers，Mexicanwomenwithchildren，andwhitemen，allofwhomappearedtobedoingnothing。Hisadventcreatednointerestuntilherodeuptothewhitemen，whowerelollingintheshadeofahouse。Thisplaceevidentlywasastoreandsaloon，andfromtheinsidecamealazyhumofvoices。
　　AsDuanereinedtoahaltoneoftheloungersintheshaderosewithaloudexclamation:
　　"Bustmeifthetain’tLuke’shoss！"
　　Theothersaccordedtheirinterest，ifnotassent，byrisingtoadvancetowardDuane。
　　"Howaboutit，Euchre？Ain’tthetLuke’sbay？"queriedthefirstman。
　　"Plainasyournose，"repliedthefellowcalledEuchre。
　　"Thereain’tnodoubtaboutthet，then，"laughedanother，"ferBosomer’snoseisshoreplainonthelandscape。"
　　ThesemenlinedupbeforeDuane，andashecoollyregardedthemhethoughttheycouldhavebeenrecognizedanywhereasdesperadoes。ThemancalledBosomer，whohadsteppedforward，hadaforbiddingfacewhichshowedyelloweyes，anenormousnose，andaskinthecolorofdust，withathatchofsandyhair。
　　"Stranger，whoareyouan’whereinthehelldidyougitthetbayhoss？"hedemanded。HisyelloweyestookinStevens’shorse，thentheweaponshungonthesaddle，andfinallyturnedtheirglinting，hardlightupwardtoDuane。
　　Duanedidnotlikethetoneinwhichhehadbeenaddressed，andheremainedsilent。Atleasthalfhismindseemedbusywithcuriousinterestinregardtosomethingthatleapedinsidehimandmadehisbreastfeeltight。Herecognizeditasthatstrangeemotionwhichhadshotthroughhimoftenoflate，andwhichhaddecidedhimtogoouttothemeetingwithBain。Onlynowitwasdifferent，morepowerful。
　　"Stranger，whoareyou？"askedanotherman，somewhatmorecivilly。
　　"Myname’sDuane，"repliedDuane，curtly。
　　"An’how’dyoucomebythehoss？"
　　Duaneansweredbriefly，andhiswordswerefollowedbyashortsilence，duringwhichthemenlookedathim。Bosomerbegantotwisttheendsofhisbeard。
　　"Reckonhe’sdead，allright，ornobody’dhevhishossan’
　　guns，"presentlysaidEuchre。
　　"MisterDuane，"beganBosomer，inlow，stingingtones，"I
　　happentobeLukeStevens’sside—pardner。"
　　Duanelookedhimover，fromdusty，worn—outbootstohisslouchysombrero。ThatlookseemedtoinflameBosomer。
　　"An’Iwantthehossan’themguns，"heshouted。
　　"Youoranybodyelsecanhavethem，forallIcare。Ijustfetchedthemin。Butthepackismine，"repliedDuane。"Andsay，Ibefriendedyourpard。Ifyoucan’tuseaciviltongueyou’dbettercinchit。"
　　"Civil？Haw，haw！"rejoinedtheoutlaw。"Idon’tknowyou。Howdoweknowyoudidn’tplugStevens，an’stolehishoss，an’
　　jesthappenedtostumbledownhere？"
　　"You’llhavetotakemyword，that’sall，"repliedDuane，sharply。
　　"Iain’ttakin’yourword！Savvythet？An’IwasLuke’spard！"
　　WiththatBosomerwheeledand，pushinghiscompanionsaside，hestampedintothesaloon，wherehisvoicebrokeoutinaroar。
　　Duanedismountedandthrewhisbridle。
　　"Stranger，Bosomerisshorehot—headed，"saidthemanEuchre。
　　Hedidnotappearunfriendly，norweretheothershostile。
　　Atthisjunctureseveralmoreoutlawscrowdedoutofthedoor，andtheoneintheleadwasatallmanofstalwartphysique。
　　Hismannerproclaimedhimaleader。Hehadalongface，aflamingredbeard，andclear，coldblueeyesthatfixedinclosescrutinyuponDuane。HewasnotaTexan;intruth，Duanedidnotrecognizeoneoftheseoutlawsasnativetohisstate。
　　"I’mBland，"saidthetallman，authoritatively。"Who’reyouandwhat’reyoudoinghere？"
　　DuanelookedatBlandashehadattheothers。Thisoutlawchiefappearedtobereasonable，ifhewasnotcourteous。Duanetoldhisstoryagain，thistimealittlemoreindetail。
　　"Ibelieveyou，"repliedBland，atonce。"ThinkIknowwhenafellowislying。"
　　"Ireckonyou’reontherighttrail，"putinEuchre。"ThetaboutLukewantin’hisbootstookoff——thetsatisfiesme。Lukehedamortaldreadofdyin’withhisbootson。"
　　Atthissallythechiefandhismenlaughed。
　　"YousaidDuane——BuckDuane？"queriedBland。"AreyouasonofthatDuanewhowasagunfightersomeyearsback？"
　　"Yes，"repliedDuane。
　　"Nevermethim，andgladIdidn’t，"saidBland，withagrimhumor。"Soyougotintroubleandhadtogoonthedodge？Whatkindoftrouble？"
　　"Hadafight。"
　　"Fight？Doyoumeangun—play？"questionedBland。Heseemedeager，curious，speculative。
　　"Yes。Itendedingun—play，I’msorrytosay，"answeredDuane，"GuessIneedn’taskthesonofDuaneifhekilledhisman，"
　　wentonBland，ironically。"Well，I’msorryyoubuckedagainsttroubleinmycamp。Butasitis，Iguessyou’dbewisetomakeyourselfscarce。"
　　"DoyoumeanI’mpolitelytoldtomoveon？"askedDuane，quietly。
　　"Notexactlythat，"saidBland，asifirritated。"Ifthisisn’tafreeplacethereisn’toneonearth。Everymanisequalhere。
　　Doyouwanttojoinmyband？"
　　"No，Idon’t。"
　　"Well，evenifyoudidIimaginethatwouldn’tstopBosomer。
　　He’sanuglyfellow。He’soneofthefewgunmenI’vemetwhowantstokillsomebodyallthetime。Mostmenlikethatarefourflushes。ButBosomerisallonecolor，andthat’sred。
　　MerelyforyourownsakeIadviseyoutohitthetrail。"
　　"Thanks。Butifthat’sallI’llstay，"returnedDuane。Evenashespokehefeltthathedidnotknowhimself。
　　Bosomerappearedatthedoor，pushingmenwhotriedtodetainhim，andashejumpedclearofalastreachinghandheutteredasnarllikeanangrydog。Manifestlytheshortwhilehehadspentinsidethesaloonhadbeendevotedtodrinkingandtalkinghimselfintoafrenzy。Blandandtheotheroutlawsquicklymovedaside，lettingDuanestandalone。WhenBosomersawDuanestandingmotionlessandwatchfulastrangechangepassedquicklyinhim。Hehaltedinhistracks，andashedidthatthemenwhohadfollowedhimoutpiledoveroneanotherintheirhurrytogettooneside。
　　Duanesawalltheswiftaction，feltintuitivelythemeaningofit，andinBosomer’ssuddenchangeoffront。Theoutlawwaskeen，andhehadexpectedashrinking，oratleastafrightenedantagonist。Duaneknewhewasneither。Hefeltlikeiron，andyetthrillafterthrillranthroughhim。Itwasalmostasifthissituationhadbeenonelongfamiliartohim。Somehowheunderstoodthisyellow—eyedBosomer。Theoutlawhadcomeouttokillhim。Andnow，thoughsomewhatcheckedbythestandofastranger，hestillmeanttokill。Likesomanydesperadoesofhisilk，hewasvictimofapassiontokillforthesakeofkilling。DuanedivinedthatnosuddenanimositywasdrivingBosomer。Itwasjusthischance。Inthatmomentmurderwouldhavebeenjoytohim。Verylikelyhehadforgottenhispretextforaquarrel。VeryprobablyhisfacultieswereabsorbedinconjectureastoDuane’spossibilities。
　　Buthedidnotspeakaword。Heremainedmotionlessforalongmoment，hiseyespaleandsteady，hisrighthandlikeaclaw。
　　ThatinstantgaveDuaneapowertoreadinhisenemy’seyesthethoughtthatprecededaction。ButDuanedidnotwanttokillanotherman。Stillhewouldhavetofight，andhedecidedtocrippleBosomer。WhenBosomer’shandmovedDuane’sgunwasspoutingfire。Twoshotsonly——bothfromDuane’sgun——andtheoutlawfellwithhisrightarmshattered。Bosomercursedharshlyandflounderedinthedust，tryingtoreachthegunwithhislefthand。Hiscomrades，however，seeingthatDuanewouldnotkillunlessforced，closedinuponBosomerandpreventedanyfurthermadnessonhispart。
　　CHAPTERV
　　OftheoutlawspresentEuchreappearedtobetheonemostinclinedtolendfriendlinesstocuriosity;andheledDuaneandthehorsesawaytoasmalladobeshack。Hetiedthehorsesinanopenshedandremovedtheirsaddles。Then，gatheringupStevens’sweapons，heinvitedhisvisitortoenterthehouse。
　　Ithadtworooms——windowswithoutcoverings——barefloors。Oneroomcontainedblankets，weapons，saddles，andbridles;theotherastonefireplace，rudetableandbench，twobunks，aboxcupboard，andvariousblackenedutensils。
　　"Makeyourselftohomeaslongasyouwanttostay，"saidEuchre。"Iain’trichinthisworld’sgoods，butIownwhat’shere，an’you’rewelcome。"
　　"Thanks。I’llstayawhileandrest。I’mprettywellplayedout，"repliedDuane。
　　Euchregavehimakeenglance。
　　"Goaheadan’rest。I’lltakeyourhorsestograss。"
　　EuchreleftDuanealoneinthehouse。Duanerelaxedthen，andmechanicallyhewipedthesweatfromhisface。Hewaslaboringundersomekindofaspellorshockwhichdidnotpassoffquickly。Whenithadwornawayhetookoffhiscoatandbeltandmadehimselfcomfortableontheblankets。Andhehadathoughtthatifherestedorsleptwhatdifferencewoulditmakeonthemorrow？Norest，nosleepcouldchangethegrayoutlookofthefuture。HefeltgladwhenEuchrecamebustlingin，andforthefirsttimehetooknoticeoftheoutlaw。
　　Euchrewasoldinyears。Whatlittlehairhehadwasgray，hisfaceclean—shavenandfullofwrinkles;hiseyeswerehalfshutfromlonggazingthroughthesunanddust。Hestooped。Buthisthinframedenotedstrengthandendurancestillunimpaired。
　　"Heyadrinkorasmoke？"heasked。
　　Duaneshookhishead。Hehadnotbeenunfamiliarwithwhisky，andhehadusedtobaccomoderatelysincehewassixteen。Butnow，strangely，hefeltadisgustattheideaofstimulants。Hedidnotunderstandclearlywhathefelt。Therewasthatvagueideaofsomethingwildinhisblood，somethingthatmadehimfearhimself。
　　Euchrewaggedhisoldheadsympathetically。"Reckonyoufeelalittlesick。Whenitcomestoshootin’Irun。What’syourage？"
　　"I’mtwenty—three，"repliedDuane。
　　Euchreshowedsurprise。"You’reonlyaboy！Ithoughtyouthirtyanyways。Buck，IheardwhatyoutoldBland，an’puttin’
　　thetwithmyownfiggerin’，Ireckonyou’renocriminalyet。
　　Throwin’aguninself—defense——thetain’tnocrime！"
　　Duane，findingreliefintalking，toldmoreabouthimself。
　　"Huh，"repliedtheoldman。"I’vebeenonthisriverferyears，an’I’veseenhundredsofboyscomeinonthedodge。Mostofthem，though，wasnogood。An’thetkinddon’tlastlong。Thisrivercountryhasbeenan’istherefugefercriminalsfromalloverthestates。I’vebunkedwithbankcashiers，forgers，plainthieves，an’out—an’—outmurderers，allofwhichhadnobiznessontheTexasborder。FellerslikeBlandareexceptions。He’snoTexan——youseenthet。Thegangherulesherecomefromallover，an’they’retoughcusses，youcanbetonthet。Theylivefatan’easy。Ifitwasn’tferthefightin’amongthemselvesthey’dshoregrowpopulous。TheRimRockisnoplaceforapeaceable，decentfeller。IheardyoutellBlandyouwouldn’tjoinhisgang。Thet’llnotmakehimtakealikin’toyou。Haveyouanymoney？"
　　"Notmuch，"repliedDuane。
　　"Couldyoulivebygamblin’？Areyouanygoodatcards？"
　　"No。"
　　"Youwouldn’tstealhossesorrustlecattle？"
　　"No。"
　　"Whenyourmoney’sgonehow’nhellwillyoulive？Thereain’tanyworkadecentfellercoulddo。Youcan’therdwithgreasers。Why，Bland’smenwouldshootatyouinthefields。
　　What’llyoudo，son？"
　　"Godknows，"repliedDuane，hopelessly。"I’llmakemymoneylastaslongaspossible——thenstarve。"
　　"Wal，I’mprettypore，butyou’llneverstarvewhileIgotanythin’。"
　　HereitstruckDuaneagain——thatsomethinghumanandkindandeagerwhichhehadseeninStevens。Duane’sestimateofoutlawshadlackedthisquality。Hehadnotaccordedthemanyvirtues。
　　Tohim，astotheoutsideworld，theyhadbeenmerelyviciousmenwithoutoneredeemingfeature。
　　"I’mmuchobligedtoyou，Euchre，"repliedDuane。"ButofcourseIwon’tlivewithanyoneunlessIcanpaymyshare。"
　　"Haveitanywayyoulike，myson，"saidEuchre，good—humoredly。"Youmakeafire，an’I’llsetaboutgettin’
　　grub。I’masourdough，Buck。Thetmandoesn’tlivewhocanbeatmybread。"
　　"Howdoyoueverpacksuppliesinhere？"askedDuane，thinkingofthealmostinaccessiblenatureofthevalley。
　　"SomecomesacrossfromMexico，an’therestdowntheriver。
　　Thetrivertripisabird。It’smore’nfivehundredmilestoanysupplypoint。Blandhasmozos，greaserboatmen。Sometimes，too，hegetssuppliesinfromdown—river。Yousee，BlandsellsthousandsofcattleinCuba。An’allthisstockhastogodownbyboattomeettheships。"
　　"Whereoneartharethecattledrivendowntotheriver？"askedDuane。
　　"Thet’snotmysecret，"repliedEuchre，shortly。"Factis，I
　　don’tknow。I’verustledcattleforBland，butheneversentmethroughtheRimRockwiththem。"
　　Duaneexperiencedasortofpleasureintherealizationthatinteresthadbeenstirredinhim。HewascuriousaboutBlandandhisgang，andgladtohavesomethingtothinkabout。Foreveryonceinawhilehehadasensationthatwasalmostlikeapang。Hewantedtoforget。Inthenexthourhedidforget，andenjoyedhelpinginthepreparationandeatingofthemeal。
　　Euchre，afterwashingandhanginguptheseveralutensils，putonhishatandturnedtogoout。
　　"Comealongorstayhere，asyouwant，"hesaidtoDuane。
　　"I’llstay，"rejoinedDuane，slowly。
　　Theoldoutlawlefttheroomandtrudgedaway，whistlingcheerfully。
　　Duanelookedaroundhimforabookorpaper，anythingtoread;
　　butalltheprintedmatterhecouldfindconsistedofafewwordsoncartridge—boxesandanadvertisementonthebackofatobacco—pouch。Thereseemedtobenothingforhimtodo。Hehadrested;hedidnotwanttoliedownanymore。Hebegantowalktoandfro，fromoneendoftheroomtotheother。Andashewalkedhefellintothelatelyacquiredhabitofbroodingoverhismisfortune。
　　Suddenlyhestraightenedupwithajerk。Unconsciouslyhehaddrawnhisgun。Standingtherewiththebrightcoldweaponinhishand，helookedatitinconsternation。Howhadhecometodrawit？Withdifficultyhetracedhisthoughtsbackward，butcouldnotfindanythatwasaccountableforhisact。Hediscovered，however，thathehadaremarkabletendencytodrophishandtohisgun。Thatmighthavecomefromthehabitlongpracticeindrawinghadgivenhim。Likewise，itmighthavecomefromasubtlesense，scarcelythoughtofatall，ofthelate，close，andinevitablerelationbetweenthatweaponandhimself。
　　Hewasamazedtofindthat，bitterashehadgrownatfate，thedesiretoliveburnedstronginhim。Ifhehadbeenasunfortunatelysituated，butwiththedifferencethatnomanwantedtoputhiminjailortakehislife，hefeltthatthisburningpassiontobefree，tosavehimself，mightnothavebeensopowerful。Lifecertainlyheldnobrightprospectsforhim。Alreadyhehadbeguntodespairofevergettingbacktohishome。Buttogiveuplikeawhite—heartedcoward，tolethimselfbehandcuffedandjailed，torunfromadrunken，braggingcowboy，orbeshotincoldbloodbysomeborderbrutewhomerelywantedtoaddanothernotchtohisgun——thesethingswereimpossibleforDuanebecausetherewasinhimthetempertofight。Inthathourheyieldedonlytofateandthespiritinborninhim。Hereafterthisgunmustbealivingpartofhim。
　　Rightthenandtherehereturnedtoapracticehehadlongdiscontinued——thedraw。Itwasnowastern，bitter，deadlybusinesswithhim。Hedidnotneedtofirethegun，foraccuracywasagiftandhadbecomeassured。Swiftnessonthedraw，however，couldbeimproved，andhesethimselftoacquirethelimitofspeedpossibletoanyman。Hestoodstillinhistracks;hepacedtheroom;hesatdown，laydown，puthimselfinawkwardpositions;andfromeverypositionhepracticedthrowinghisgun——practicedittillhewashotandtiredandhisarmachedandhishandburned。Thatpracticehedeterminedtokeepupeveryday。Itwasonething，atleast，thatwouldhelppassthewearyhours。
　　Laterhewentoutdoorstothecoolershadeofthecottonwoods。
　　Fromthispointhecouldseeagooddealofthevalley。UnderdifferentcircumstancesDuanefeltthathewouldhaveenjoyedsuchabeautifulspot。Euchre’sshacksatagainstthefirstriseoftheslopeofthewall，andDuane，byclimbingafewrods，gotaviewofthewholevalley。Assuredlyitwasanoutlawsettlemeet。HesawagoodmanyMexicans，who，ofcourse，werehandandglovewithBland。Alsohesawenormousflat—boats，crudeofstructure，mooredalongthebanksoftheriver。TheRioGranderolledawaybetweenhighbluffs。Acable，saggingdeepinthemiddle，wasstretchedoverthewideyellowstream，andanoldscow，evidentlyusedasaferry，layanchoredonthefarshore。
　　Thevalleywasanidealretreatforanoutlawbandoperatingonabigscale。PursuitscarcelyneedbefearedoverthebrokentrailsoftheRimRock。Andtheopenendofthevalleycouldbedefendedagainstalmostanynumberofmencomingdowntheriver。AccesstoMexicowaseasyandquick。WhatpuzzledDuanewashowBlandgotcattledowntotheriver，andhewonderediftherustlerreallydidgetridofhisstolenstockbyuseofboats。
　　Duanemusthaveidledconsiderabletimeuponthehill，forwhenhereturnedtotheshackEuchrewasbusilyengagedaroundthecamp—fire。
　　"Wal，gladtoseeyouain’tsopaleaboutthegillsasyouwas，"hesaid，bywayofgreeting。"Pitchinan’we’llsoonhavegrubready。There’sshoreoneconsolin’factroundthisherecamp。"
　　"What’sthat？"askedDuane。
　　"Plentyofgoodjuicybeeftoeat。An’itdoesn’tcostashortbit。"
　　"Butitcostshardridesandtrouble，badconscience，andlife，too，doesn’tit？"
　　"Iain’tshoreaboutthebadconscience。Mineneverbotheredmenone。An’asforlife，why，thet’scheapinTexas。"
　　"WhoisBland？"askedDuane，quicklychangingthesubject。
　　"Whatdoyouknowabouthim？"
　　"Wedon’tknowwhoheisorwherehehailsfrom，"repliedEuchre。"Thet’salwaysbeensomethin’tointerestthegang。HemusthavebeenayoungmanwhenhestruckTexas。Nowhe’smiddle—aged。Irememberhowyearsagohewassoft—spokenan’
　　notroughintalkoractlikeheisnow。Blandain’tlikelyhisrightname。Heknowsalot。Hecandoctoryou，an’he’sshoreaknowin’fellerwithtools。He’sthekindthetrulesmen。
　　Outlawsarealwaysridin’inheretojoinhisgang，an’ifithadn’tbeenferthegamblin’an’gun—playhe’dhaveathousandmenaroundhim。"
　　"Howmanyinhisgangnow？"
　　"Ireckonthere’sshortofahundrednow。Thenumbervaries。
　　ThenBlandhasseveralsmallcampsupan’downtheriver。Alsohehasmenbackonthecattle—ranges。"
　　"Howdoeshecontrolsuchabigforce？"askedDuane。
　　"Especiallywhenhisband’scomposedofbadmen。LukeStevenssaidhehadnouseforBland。AndIheardoncesomewherethatBlandwasadevil。"
　　"Thet’sit。Heisadevil。He’sashardasflint，violentintemper，nevermadeanyfriendsexcepthisright—handmen，DaveRuggan’ChessAlloway。Bland’llshootatawink。He’skilledalotoffellers，an’somefernothin’。Thereasonthetoutlawsgatherroundhiman’stickisbecausehe’sasaferefuge，an’
　　thenhe’swellheeled。Blandisrich。Theysayhehasahundredthousandpesoshidsomewhere，an’lotsofgold。Buthe’sfreewithmoney。Hegambleswhenhe’snotoffwithashipmentofcattle。Hethrowsmoneyaround。An’thefactisthere’salwaysplentyofmoneywhereheis。Thet’swhatholdsthegang。Dirty，bloodymoney！"
　　"It’sawonderhehasn’tbeenkilled。Alltheseyearsontheborder！"exclaimedDuane。
　　"Wal，"repliedEuchre，dryly，"he’sbeenquickeronthedrawthantheotherfellerswhohankeredtokillhim，thet’sall。"
　　Euchre’sreplyratherchilledDuane’sinterestforthemoment。
　　Suchremarksalwaysmadehismindrevolveroundfactspertainingtohimself。
　　"Speakin’ofthishereswiftwristgame，"wentonEuchre，"there’sbeenconsiderabletalkincampaboutyourthrowin’ofagun。Youknow，Buck，thetamongusfellers——ushuntedmen——thereain’tanythin’calculatedtorouserespectlikeaslickhandwithagun。IheardBlandsaythisafternoon——an’hesaiditserious—likean’speculative——thethe’dneverseenyourequal。Hewaswatchin’ofyouclose，hesaid，an’justcouldn’tfollowyourhandwhenyoudrawed。AllthefellerswhoseenyoumeetBosomerhadsomethin’tosay。Bowasaboutashandywithagunasanymaninthiscamp，barrin’ChessAllowayan’mebbeBlandhimself。ChessisthecaptainwithaColt——orhewas。An’
　　heshoredidn’tlikethereferencesmadeaboutyourspeed。
　　Blandwashonestinacknowledgin’it，buthedidn’tlikeit，neither。Someofthefellersallowedyourdrawmighthavebeenjustaccident。Butmostofthemfiggereddifferent。An’theyallshutupwhenBlandtoldwhoan’whatyourDadwas。’PearstomeIonceseenyourDadinagunscrapeoveratSantone，yearsago。Wal，Iputmyoarinto—dayamongthefellers，an’I
　　says:’Whatailsyoulocoedgents？DidyoungDuanebudgeaninchwhenBocameroarin’out，bloodinhiseye？Wasn’thecoolan’quiet，steadyoflips，an’weren’thiseyesreadin’Bo’smind？An’thetlightnin’draw——can’tyou—allseethet’safamilygift？’"
　　Euchre’snarroweyestwinkled，andhegavethedoughhewasrollingaslapwithhisflour—whitenedhand。ManifestlyhehadproclaimedhimselfachampionandpartnerofDuane’s，withalltheprideanoldmancouldfeelinayoungonewhomheadmired。
　　"Wal，"heresumed，presently，"thet’syourintroductiontotheborder，Buck。An’yourcardwasahightrump。You’llbeletseverelyalonebyrealgun—fightersan’menlikeBland，Alloway，Rugg，an’thebossesoftheothergangs。Afterall，theserealmenaremen，youknow，an’onlessyoucrossthemthey’renomorelikelytointerferewithyouthanyouarewiththem。Butthere’sasightoffellerslikeBosomerintherivercountry。They’llallwantyourgame。An’everytownyourideintowillscareupsomecowpuncherfullofboozeoralong—hairedfour—flushgunmanorasheriff——an’thesemenwillbeplayin’tothecrowdan’yellin’foryourblood。Thet’stheTexasofit。You’llhavetohidefereverinthebrakesoryou’llhavetoKILLsuchmen。Buck，Ireckonthisain’tcheerfulnewstoadecentchaplikeyou。I’monlytellin’youbecauseI’vetakenalikin’toyou，an’Iseenrightoffthetyouain’tborder—wise。Let’seatnow，an’afterwardwe’llgooutsothegangcanseeyou’renothidin’。"
　　WhenDuanewentoutwithEuchrethesunwassettingbehindabluerangeofmountainsacrosstheriverinMexico。Thevalleyappearedtoopentothesouthwest。Itwasatranquil，beautifulscene。Somewhereinahousenearathandawomanwassinging。
　　AndintheroadDuanesawalittleMexicanboydrivinghomesomecows，oneofwhichworeabell。Thesweet，happyvoiceofawomanandawhistlingbarefootboy——theseseemedutterlyoutofplacehere。
　　EuchrepresentlyledtothesquareandtherowofroughhousesDuaneremembered。HealmoststeppedonawideimprintinthedustwhereBosomerhadconfrontedhim。Andasuddenfurybesethimthatheshouldbeaffectedstrangelybythesightofit。
　　"Let’shavealookinhere，"saidEuchre。
　　Duanehadtobendhisheadtoenterthedoor。Hefoundhimselfinaverylargeroominclosedbyadobewallsandroofedwithbrush。Itwasfullofrudebenches，tables，seats。Atonecorneranumberofkegsandbarrelslaysidebysideinarack。
　　AMexicanboywaslightinglampshungonpoststhatsustainedthelograftersoftheroof。
　　"Theonlyfellerwho’sgoin’toputacloseeyeonyouisBenson，"saidEuchre。"Herunstheplacean’sellsdrinks。ThegangcallshimJackrabbitBenson，becausehe’salwaysgothiseyepeeledan’hisearcocked。Don’tnoticehimifhelooksyouover，Buck。Bensonisscaredtodeathofeverynew—comerwhorustlesintoBland’scamp。An’thereason，Itakeit，isbecausehe’sdonesomebodydirt。He’shidin’。Notfromasherifforranger！Menwhohidefromthemdon’tactlikeJackrabbitBenson。He’shidin’fromsomeguywho’shuntin’himtokillhim。Wal，I’malwaysexpectin’toseesomefellerrideinherean’throwagunonBenson。Can’tsayI’dbegrieved。"
　　Duanecasuallyglancedinthedirectionindicated，andhesawaspare，gauntmanwithafacestrikinglywhitebesidetheredandbronzeanddarkskinsofthemenaroundhim。Itwasacadaverousface。Theblackmustachehungdown;aheavylockofblackhairdroppeddownoverthebrow;deep—set，hollow，staringeyeslookedoutpiercingly。Themanhadarestless，alert，nervousmanner。HeputhishandsontheboardthatservedasabarandstaredatDuane。ButwhenhemetDuane’sglanceheturnedhurriedlytogoonservingoutliquor。