shewouldforgetandbehappy;shewouldlivetobeagoodwifeandmother。Somehowthethoughtswelledhisheart。Hisact，death—dealingasithadbeen，wasanobleone，andhelpedhimtoholdontohisdriftinghopes。HardlyoncesinceJenniehadenteredintohisthoughthadthoseghostsreturnedtotormenthim。
To—morrowshewouldbegoneamonggood，kindpeoplewithapossibilityoffindingherrelatives。HethankedGodfor，that;
nevertheless，hefeltapang。
Shesleptmorethanhalftheday。Duanekeptguard，alwaysalert，whetherhewassitting，standing，orwalking。Therainpatteredsteadilyontheroofandsometimescameingustyflurriesthroughthedoor。Thehorseswereoutsideinashedthataffordedpoorshelter，andtheystampedrestlessly。Duanekeptthemsaddledandbridled。
AboutthemiddleoftheafternoonJennieawoke。Theycookedamealandafterwardsatbesidethelittlefire。Shehadneverbeen，inhisobservationofher，anythingbutatragicfigure，anunhappygirl，thefarthestremovedfromserenityandpoise。
Thatcharacteristiccapacityforagitationstruckhimasstrongerinherthisday。Heattributedit，however，tothelongstrain，thesuspensenearinganend。Yetsometimeswhenhereyeswereonhimshedidnotseemtobethinkingofherfreedom，ofherfuture。
"Thistimeto—morrowyou’llbeinShelbyville，"hesaid。
"Wherewillyoube？"sheasked，quickly。
"Me？Oh，I’llbemakingtracksforsomelonesomeplace，’hereplied。
Thegirlshuddered。
"I’vebeenbroughtupinTexas。Irememberwhatahardlotthemenofmyfamilyhad。Butpoorastheywere，theyhadaroofovertheirheads，ahearthwithafire，awarmbed——somebodytolovethem。Andyou，Duane——oh，myGod！Whatmustyourlifebe？
Youmustrideandhideandwatcheternally。Nodecentfood，nopillow，nofriendlyword，nocleanclothes，nowoman’shand！
Horses，guns，trails，rocks，holes——thesemustbetheimportantthingsinyourlife。Youmustgoonriding，hiding，killinguntilyoumeet——"
Sheendedwithasobanddroppedherheadonherknees。Duanewasamazed，deeplytouched。
"Mygirl，thankyouforthatthoughtofme，"hesaid，withatremorinhisvoice。"Youdon’tknowhowmuchthatmeanstome。"
Sheraisedherface，anditwastear—stained，eloquent，beautiful。
"I’veheardtell——thebestofmengotothebadoutthere。Youwon’t。Promisemeyouwon’t。Inever——knewanyman——likeyou。
I——I——wemayneverseeeachotheragain——afterto—day。I’llneverforgetyou。I’llprayforyou，andI’llnevergiveuptryingto——todosomething。Don’tdespair。It’snevertoolate。
Itwasmyhopethatkeptmealive——outthereatBland’s——beforeyoucame。Iwasonlyapoorweakgirl。ButifIcouldhope——socanyou。Stayawayfrommen。Bealonewolf。Fightforyourlife。Stickoutyourexile——andmaybe——someday——"
Thenshelosthervoice。Duaneclaspedherhandandwithfeelingasdeepasherspromisedtorememberherwords。Inherdespairforhimshehadspokenwisdom——pointedouttheonlycourse。
Duane’svigilance，momentarilybrokenbyemotion，hadnosoonerreasserteditselfthanhediscoveredthebayhorse，theoneJennierode，hadbrokenhishalterandgoneoff。Thesoftwetearthhaddeadenedthesoundofhishoofs。Histrackswereplaininthemud。Therewereclumpsofmesquiteinsight，amongwhichthehorsemighthavestrayed。Itturnedout，however，thathehadnotdoneso。
DuanedidnotwanttoleaveJenniealoneinthecabinsoneartheroad。Soheputheruponhishorseandbadeherfollow。
Therainhadceasedforthetimebeing，thoughevidentlythestormwasnotyetover。Thetracksledupawashtoawideflatwheremesquite，pricklypear，andthorn—bushgrewsothicklythatJenniecouldnotrideintoit。Duanewasthoroughlyconcerned。Hemusthaveherhorse。Timewasflying。Itwouldsoonbenight。Hecouldnotexpecthertoscramblequicklythroughthatbrakeonfoot。Thereforehedecidedtoriskleavingherattheedgeofthethicketandgoinalone。
Ashewentinasoundstartledhim。Wasitthebreakingofabranchhehadsteppedonorthrustaside？Heheardtheimpatientpoundofhishorse’shoofs。Thenallwasquiet。Stillhelistened，notwhollysatisfied。Hewasneversatisfiedinregardtosafety;heknewtoowellthattherenevercouldbesafetyforhiminthiscountry。
Thebayhorsehadthreadedtheaislesofthethicket。Duanewonderedwhathaddrawnhimthere。Certainlyithadnotbeengrass，fortherewasnone。Presentlyheheardthehorsetrampingalong，andthenheran。Themudwasdeep，andthesharpthornsmadegoingdifficult。Hecameupwiththehorse，andatthesamemomentcrossedamultitudeoffreshhorse—tracks。
Hebentlowertoexaminethem，andwasalarmedtofindthattheyhadbeenmadeveryrecently，evensinceithadceasedraining。Theyweretracksofwell—shodhorses。Duanestraightenedupwithacautiousglanceallaround。HisinstantdecisionwastohurrybacktoJennie。Buthehadcomeagoodlywaythroughthethicket，anditwasimpossibletorushback。
Onceortwiceheimaginedheheardcrashingsinthebrush，butdidnothalttomakesure。Certainhewasnowthatsomekindofdangerthreatened。
Suddenlytherecameanunmistakablethumpofhorses’hoofsoffsomewheretothefore。Thenascreamrenttheair。Itendedabruptly。Duaneleapedforward，torehiswaythroughthethornybrake。HeheardJenniecryagain——anappealingcallquicklyhushed。Itseemedmoretohisright，andheplungedthatway。
Heburstintoagladewhereasmolderingfireandgroundcoveredwithfootprintsandtracksshowedthatcampershadlatelybeen。Rushingacrossthis，hebrokehispassageouttotheopen。Buthewastoolate。Hishorsehaddisappeared。
Jenniewasgone。Therewerenoridersinsight。Therewasnosound。Therewasaheavytrailofhorsesgoingnorth。Jenniehadbeencarriedoff——probablybyoutlaws。Duanerealizedthatpursuitwasoutofthequestion——thatJenniewaslost。
CHAPTERX
AhundredmilesfromthehauntsmostfamiliarwithDuane’sdeeds，farupwheretheNuecesranatricklingclearstreambetweenyellowcliffs，stoodasmalldesertedshackofcoveredmesquitepoles。Ithadbeenmadelongago，butwaswellpreserved。Adoorfacedtheovergrowntrail，andanotherfaceddownintoagorgeofdensethickets。Ontheborderfugitivesfromlawandmenwhohidinfearofsomeonetheyhadwrongedneverlivedinhouseswithonlyonedoor。
Itwasawildspot，lonely，notfitforhumanhabitationexceptfortheoutcast。He，perhaps，mighthavefoundithardtoleaveformostoftheotherwildnooksinthatbarrencountry。Downinthegorgetherewasnever—failingsweetwater，grassalltheyearround，cool，shadyretreats，deer，rabbits，turkeys，fruit，andmilesandmilesofnarrow—twisting，deepcanonfullofbrokenrocksandimpenetrablethickets。Thescreamofthepantherwasheardthere，thesquallofthewildcat，thecoughofthejaguar。Innumerablebeesbuzzedinthespringblossoms，and，itseemed，scatteredhoneytothewinds。Alldaytherewascontinuoussongofbirds，thatofthemocking—birdloudandsweetandmockingabovetherest。
Oncleardays——andrareindeedwerecloudydays——withthesubsidingofthewindatsunsetahushseemedtofallaroundthelittlehut。Far—distantdim—bluemountainsstoodgold—rimmedgraduallytofadewiththeshadingoflight。
Atthisquiethouramanclimbedupoutofthegorgeandsatinthewestwarddoorofthehut。ThislonelywatcherofthewestandlistenertothesilencewasDuane。Andthishutwastheonewhere，threeyearsbefore，Jenniehadnursedhimbacktolife。
ThekillingofamannamedSellers，andthecombinationofcircumstancesthathadmadethetragedyamemorableregret，hadmarked，ifnotachange，atleastacessationinDuane’sactivities。HehadtrailedSellerstokillhimforthesupposedabductingofJennie。HehadtrailedhimlongafterhehadlearnedSellerstraveledalone。DuanewantedabsoluteassuranceofJennie’sdeath。Vaguerumors，afewwordshereandthere，unauthenticatedstories，wereallDuanehadgatheredinyearstosubstantiatehisbelief——thatJenniediedshortlyafterthebeginningofhersecondcaptivity。ButDuanedidnotknowsurely。Sellersmighthavetoldhim。Duaneexpected，ifnottoforceitfromhimattheend，toreaditinhiseyes。Butthebulletwenttoounerringly;itlockedhislipsandfixedhiseyes。
AfterthatmeetingDuanelaylongattheranchhouseofafriend，andwhenherecoveredfromthewoundSellershadgivenhimhestartedwithtwohorsesandapackforthelonelygorgeontheNueces。Therehehadbeenhiddenformonths，apreytoremorse，adreamer，avictimofphantoms。
Ittookworkforhimtofindsubsistenceinthatrockyfastness。Andwork，action，helpedtopassthehours。Buthecouldnotworkallthetime，evenifhehadfoundittodo。
Theninhisidlemomentsandatnighthistaskwastolivewiththehellinhismind。
Thesunsetandthetwilighthourmadealltherestbearable。
ThelittlehutontherimofthegorgeseemedtoholdJennie’spresence。Itwasnotasifhefeltherspirit。Ifithadbeenhewouldhavebeensureofherdeath。HehopedJenniehadnotsurvivedhersecondmisfortune;andthatintensehopehadburnedintobelief，ifnotsurety。Uponhisreturntothatlocality，ontheoccasionofhisfirstvisittothehut，hehadfoundthingsjustastheyhadleftthem，andapoor，fadedpieceofribbonJenniehadusedtotiearoundherbrighthair。
Nowanderingoutlawortravelerhadhappeneduponthelonelyspot，whichfurtherendearedittoDuane。
AstrangefeatureofthismemoryofJenniewasthefreshnessofit——thefailureofyears，toil，strife，death—dealingtodimit——todeadenthethoughtofwhatmighthavebeen。Hehadamarvelousgiftofvisualization。HecouldshuthiseyesandseeJenniebeforehimjustasclearlyasifshehadstoodthereintheflesh。Forhourshedidthat，dreaming，dreamingoflifehehadnevertastedandnowneverwouldtaste。HesawJennie’sslender，gracefulfigure，theoldbrownraggeddressinwhichhehadseenherfirstatBland’s，herlittlefeetinMexicansandals，herfinehandscoarsenedbywork，herroundarmsandswellingthroat，andherpale，sad，beautifulfacewithitsstaringdarkeyes。Herememberedeverylookshehadgivenhim，everywordshehadspokentohim，everytimeshehadtouchedhim。Hethoughtofherbeautyandsweetness，ofthefewthingswhichhadcometomeantohimthatshemusthavelovedhim;andhetrainedhimselftothinkoftheseinpreferencetoherlifeatBland’s，theescapewithhim，andthenherrecapture，becausesuchmemoriesledtobitter，fruitlesspain。Hehadtofightsufferingbecauseitwaseatingouthisheart。
Sittingthere，eyeswideopen，hedreamedoftheoldhomesteadandhiswhite—hairedmother。Hesawtheoldhomelife，sweetenedandfilledbydearnewfacesandaddedjoys，goonbeforehiseyeswithhimapartofit。
Thenintheinevitablereaction，intherefluxofbitterreality，hewouldsendoutavoicelesscrynolesspoignantbecauseitwassilent:"Poorfool！No，Ishallneverseemotheragain——nevergohome——neverhaveahome。IamDuane，theLoneWolf！Oh，God！Iwishitwereover！Thesedreamstortureme！
WhathaveItodowithamother，ahome，awife？Nobright—hairedboy，nodark—eyedgirlwilleverloveme。Iamanoutlaw，anoutcast，deadtothegoodanddecentworld。Iamalone——alone。Betterbeacallousbruteorbetterdead！Ishallgomadthinking！Man，whatislefttoyou？Ahiding—placelikeawolf’s——lonelysilentdays，lonelynightswithphantoms！Orthetrailandtheroadwiththeirbloodytracks，andthenthehardride，thesleepless，hungryridetosomeholeinrocksorbrakes。Whathellishthingdrivesme？Whycan’tIenditall？
Whatisleft？Onlythatdamnedunquenchablespiritofthegun—fightertolive——tohangontomiserablelife——tohavenofearofdeath，yettoclinglikealeach——todieasgun—fightersseldomdie，withbootsoff！Bain，youwerefirst，andyou’relongavenged。I’dchangewithyou。AndSellers，youwerelast，andyou’reavenged。Andyouothers——you’reavenged。
Liequietinyourgravesandgivemepeace！"
Buttheydidnotliequietintheirgravesandgivehimpeace。
Agroupofspecterstroopedoutoftheshadowsofduskand，gatheringroundhim，escortedhimtohisbed。
WhenDuanehadbeenridingthetrailspassion—benttoescapepursuers，orpassion—bentinhissearch，theconstantactionandtoilandexhaustionmadehimsleep。Butwheninhiding，astimepassed，graduallyherequiredlessrestandsleep，andhismindbecamemoreactive。Littlebylittlehisphantomsgainedholdonhim，andatlength，butforthesavingpowerofhisdreams，theywouldhaveclaimedhimutterly。
Howmanytimeshehadsaidtohimself:"Iamanintelligentman。I’mnotcrazy。I’minfullpossessionofmyfaculties。Allthisisfancy——imagination——conscience。I’venowork，noduty，noideal，nohope——andmymindisobsessed，throngedwithimages。AndtheseimagesnaturallyareofthemenwithwhomI
havedealt。Ican’tforgetthem。Theycomebacktome，hourafterhour;andwhenmytorturedmindgrowsweak，thenmaybeI’mnotjustrighttillthemoodwearsoutandletsmesleep。"
Sohereasonedashelaydowninhiscomfortablecamp。Thenightwasstar—brightabovethecanon—walls，darklyshadowingdownbetweenthem。Theinsectshummedandchirpedandthrummedacontinuousthicksong，lowandmonotonous。Slow—runningwatersplashedsoftlyoverstonesinthestream—bed。Fromfardownthecanoncamethemournfulhootofanowl。Themomenthelaydown，therebygivingupactionfortheday，allthesethingsweigheduponhimlikeagreatheavymantleofloneliness。Intruth，theydidnotconstituteloneliness。
Andhecouldnomorehavedispelledthoughtthanhecouldhavereachedouttotouchacold，brightstar。
Hewonderedhowmanyoutcastslikehimlayunderthisstar—studded，velvetyskyacrossthefifteenhundredmilesofwildcountrybetweenElPasoandthemouthoftheriver。Avastwildterritory——arefugeforoutlaws！SomewherehehadheardorreadthattheTexasRangerskeptabookwithnamesandrecordsofoutlaws——threethousandknownoutlaws。Yetthesecouldscarcelybehalfofthatunfortunatehordewhichhadbeenrecruitedfromalloverthestates。Duanehadtraveledfromcamptocamp，dentoden，hiding—placetohiding—place，andheknewthesemen。Mostofthemwerehopelesscriminals;somewereavengers;afewwerewrongedwanderers;andamongthemoccasionallywasaman，humaninhisway，honestashecouldbe，notyetlosttogood。
Butallofthemwereakininonesense——theiroutlawry;andthatstarrynighttheylaywiththeirdarkfacesup，someinpackslikewolves，othersalonelikethegraywolfwhoknewnomate。ItdidnotmakemuchdifferenceinDuane’sthoughtofthemthatthemajorityweresteepedincrimeandbrutality，moreoftenthannotstupidfromrum，incapableofafinefeeling，justlostwilddogs。
Duanedoubtedthattherewasamanamongthemwhodidnotrealizehismoralwreckandruin。Hehadmetpoor，halfwittedwretcheswhoknewit。Hebelievedhecouldenterintotheirmindsandfeelthetruthofalltheirlives——thehardenedoutlaw，coarse，ignorant，bestial，whomurderedasBillBlackhadmurdered，whostoleforthesakeofstealing，whocravedmoneytogambleanddrink，defiantlyreadyfordeath，and，likethatterribleoutlaw，Helm，whocriedoutonthescaffold，"Letherrip！"
Thewildyoungstersseekingnotorietyandrecklessadventure;
thecowboyswithanotchontheirguns，withboastfulprideintheknowledgethattheyweremarkedbyrangers;thecrookedmenfromtheNorth，defaulters，forgers，murderers，allpale—faced，flat—chestedmennotfitforthatwildernessandnotsurviving;
thedishonestcattlemen，handandglovewithoutlaws，drivenfromtheirhomes;theoldgrizzled，bow—leggedgenuinerustlers——alltheseDuanehadcomeincontactwith，hadwatchedandknown，andashefeltwiththemheseemedtoseethatastheirliveswerebad，soonerorlatertoenddismallyortragically，sotheymustpaysomekindofearthlypenalty——ifnotofconscience，thenoffear;ifnotoffear，thenofthatmostterribleofallthingstorestless，activemen——pain，thepangoffleshandbone。
Duaneknew，forhehadseenthempay。Bestofall，moreover，heknewtheinternallifeofthegun—fighterofthatselectbutbynomeanssmallclassofwhichhewasrepresentative。Theworldthatjudgedhimandhiskindjudgedhimasamachine，akilling—machine，withonlymindenoughtohunt，tomeet，toslayanotherman。IthadtakenthreeendlessyearsforDuanetounderstandhisownfather。Duaneknewbeyondalldoubtthatthegun—fighterslikeBland，likeAlloway，likeSellers，menwhowereevilandhadnoremorse，nospiritualaccusingNemesis，hadsomethingfarmoretorturingtomind，morehaunting，moremurderousofrestandsleepandpeace;andthatsomethingwasabnormalfearofdeath。Duaneknewthis，forhehadshotthesemen;hehadseenthequick，darkshadowineyes，thepresentimentthatthewillcouldnotcontrol，andthenthehorriblecertainty。Thesemenmusthavebeeninagonyateverymeetingwithapossibleorcertainfoe——moreagonythanthehotrendofabullet。Theywerehaunted，too，hauntedbythisfear，byeveryvictimcallingfromthegravethatnothingwassoinevitableasdeath，whichlurkedbehindeverycorner，hidineveryshadow，laydeepinthedarktubeofeverygun。Thesemencouldnothaveafriend;theycouldnotloveortrustawoman。
Theyknewtheironechanceofholdingontolifelayintheirowndistrust，watchfulness，dexterity，andthathope，bytheverynatureoftheirlives，couldnotbelasting。Theyhaddoomedthemselves。What，then，couldpossiblyhavedweltinthedepthsoftheirmindsastheywenttotheirbedsonastarrynightlikethis，withmysteryinsilenceandshadow，withtimepassingsurely，andthedarkfutureanditssecretapproachingeveryhour——what，then，buthell？
ThehellinDuane’smindwasnotfearofmanorfearofdeath。
Hewouldhavebeengladtolaydowntheburdenoflife，providingdeathcamenaturally。Manytimeshehadprayedforit。Butthatoverdeveloped，superhumanspiritofdefenseinhimprecludedsuicideortheinvitingofanenemy’sbullet。
Sometimeshehadavague，scarcelyanalyzedideathatthisspiritwaswhathadmadetheSouthwesthabitableforthewhiteman。
Everyoneofhisvictims，singlyandcollectively，returnedtohimforever，itseemed，incold，passionless，accusingdominationofthesehauntedhours。Theydidnotaccusehimofdishonororcowardiceorbrutalityormurder;theyonlyaccusedhimofDeath。Itwasasiftheyknewmorethanwhentheywerealive，hadlearnedthatlifewasadivinemysteriousgiftnottobetaken。Theythrongedabouthimwiththeirvoicelessclamoring，driftedaroundhimwiththeirfadingeyes。
CHAPTERXI
AfternearlysixmonthsintheNuecesgorgethelonelinessandinactionofhislifedroveDuaneoutuponthetrailsseekinganythingratherthantohidelongeralone，apreytothescourgeofhisthoughts。Themomentherodeintosightofmenaremarkabletransformationoccurredinhim。Astrangewarmthstirredinhim——alongingtoseethefacesofpeople，toheartheirvoices——apleasurableemotionsadandstrange。Butitwasonlyaprecursorofhisoldbitter，sleepless，andeternalvigilance。Whenhehidaloneinthebrakeshewassafefromallexcepthisdeeper，betterself;whenheescapedfromthisintothehauntsofmenhisforceandwillwenttothepreservationofhislife。
Mercerwasthefirstvillageherodeinto。Hehadmanyfriendsthere。MercerclaimedtooweDuaneadebt。Ontheoutskirtsofthevillagetherewasagraveovergrownbybrushsothattherude—letteredpostwhichmarkeditwasscarcelyvisibletoDuaneasherodeby。Hehadneverreadtheinscription。ButhethoughtnowofHardin，nootherthantheerstwhileallyofBland。FormanyyearsHardinhadharassedthestockmenandranchersinandaroundMercer。OnanevildayforhimheorhisoutlawshadbeatenandrobbedamanwhooncesuccoredDuanewhensoreinneed。DuanemetHardininthelittleplazaofthevillage，calledhimeverynameknowntobordermen，tauntedhimtodraw，andkilledhimintheact。
DuanewenttothehouseofoneJones，aTexanwhohadknownhisfather，andtherehewaswarmlyreceived。Thefeelofanhonesthand，thevoiceofafriend，theprattleofchildrenwhowerenotafraidofhimorhisgun，goodwholesomefood，andchangeofclothes——thesethingsforthetimebeingmadeachangedmanofDuane。Tobesure，hedidnotoftenspeak。Thepriceofhisheadandtheweightofhisburdenmadehimsilent。Buteagerlyhedrankinallthenewsthatwastoldhim。Intheyearsofhisabsencefromhomehehadneverheardawordabouthismotheroruncle。Thosewhowerehisrealfriendsontheborderwouldhavebeenthelasttomakeinquiries，towriteorreceivelettersthatmightgiveacluetoDuane’swhereabouts。
DuaneremainedalldaywiththishospitableJones，andastwilightfellwasloathtogoandyieldedtoapressinginvitationtoremainovernight。ItwasseldomindeedthatDuanesleptunderaroof。Earlyintheevening，whileDuanesatontheporchwithtwoawedandhero—worshipingsonsofthehouse，Jonesreturnedfromaquickvisitdowntothepost—office。
Summarilyhesenttheboysoff。Helaboredunderintenseexcitement。
"Duane，there’srangersintown，"hewhispered。"It’sallovertown，too，thatyou’rehere。Yourodeinlongaftersunup。Lotsofpeoplesawyou。Idon’tbelievethere’samanorboythat’dsquealonyou。Butthewomenmight。Theygossip，andtheserangersarehandsomefellows——devilswiththewomen。"
"Whatcompanyofrangers？"askedDuane，quickly。
"CompanyA，underCaptainMacNelly，thatnewranger。Hemadeabignameinthewar。Andsincehe’sbeenintherangerservicehe’sdonewonders。He’scleanedupsomebadplacessouth，andhe’sworkingnorth。"
"MacNelly。I’veheardofhim。Describehimtome。"
"Slight—builtchap，butwiryandtough。Cleanface，blackmustacheandhair。Sharpblackeyes。He’sgotalookofauthority。MacNelly’safineman，Duane。BelongstoagoodSouthernfamily。I’dhatetohavehimlookyouup。"
Duanedidnotspeak。
"MacNelly’sgotnerve，andhisrangersareallexperiencedmen。
Iftheyfindoutyou’reherethey’llcomeafteryou。MacNelly’snogun—fighter，buthewouldn’thesitatetodohisduty，evenifhefacedsuredeath。Whichhewouldinthiscase。Duane，youmustn’tmeetCaptainMacNelly。Yourrecordisclean，ifitisterrible。Younevermetarangeroranyofficerexceptarottensheriffnowandthen，likeRodBrown。"
StillDuanekeptsilence。Hewasnotthinkingofdanger，butofthefactofhowfleetingmustbehisstayamongfriends。
"I’vealreadyfixedupapackofgrub，"wentonJones。"I’llslipouttosaddleyourhorse。Youwatchhere。"
Hehadscarcelyutteredthelastwordwhensoft，swiftfootstepssoundedonthehardpath。Amanturnedinatthegate。Thelightwasdim，yetcleanenoughtodiscloseanunusuallytallfigure。Whenitappearednearerhewasseentobewalkingwithbotharmsraised，handshigh。Heslowedhisstride。
"DoesBurtJoneslivehere？"heasked，inalow，hurriedvoice。
"Ireckon。I’mBurt。WhatcanIdoforyou？"repliedJones。
Thestrangerpeeredaround，stealthilycamecloser，stillwithhishandsup。
"ItisknownthatBuckDuaneishere。CaptainMacNelly’scampingontheriverjustoutoftown。HesendswordtoDuanetocomeoutthereafterdark。"
Thestrangerwheeledanddepartedasswiftlyandstrangelyashehadcome。
"Bustme！Duane，whateverdoyoumakeofthat？"exclaimedJones。
"Anewoneonme，"repliedDuane，thoughtfully。
"FirstfoolthingIeverheardofMacNellydoing。Can’tmakeheadnortailsofit。I’dhavesaidoffhandthatMacNellywouldn’tdouble—crossanybody。Hestruckmeasasquareman，sandallthrough。But，hell！hemustmeantreachery。Ican’tseeanythingelseinthatdeal。"
"MaybetheCaptainwantstogivemeafairchancetosurrenderwithoutbloodshed，"observedDuane。"Prettydecentofhim，ifhemeantthat。"
"HeINVITESYOUouttohiscampAFTERDARK。Somethingstrangeaboutthis，Duane。ButMacNelly’sanewmanouthere。Hedoessomequeerthings。Perhapshe’sgettingaswelledhead。Well，whateverhisintentions，hispresencearoundMercerisenoughforus。Duane，youhittheroadandputsomemilesbetweenyoutheamiableCaptainbeforedaylight。To—morrowI’llgooutthereandaskhimwhatinthedevilhemeant。"
"Thatmessengerhesent——hewasaranger，"saidDuane。
"Surehewas，andanervyone！Itmusthavetakensandtocomebracingyouthatway。Duane，thefellowdidn’tpackagun。I’llsweartothat。Prettyodd，thistrick。Butyoucan’ttrustit。
Hittheroad，Duane。"
Alittlelaterablackhorsewithmuffledhoofs，bearingatall，darkriderwhopeeredkeenlyintoeveryshadow，trotteddownapasturelanebackofJones’shouse，turnedintotheroad，andthen，breakingintoswiftergait，rapidlyleftMercerbehind。
FifteenortwentymilesoutDuanedrewreininaforestofmesquite，dismounted，andsearchedaboutforagladewithalittlegrass。Herehestakedhishorseonalonglariat;and，usinghissaddleforapillow，hissaddle—blanketforcovering，hewenttosleep。
Nextmorninghewasoffagain，workingsouth。Duringthenextfewdayshepaidbriefvisitstoseveralvillagesthatlayinhispath。AndineachsomeoneparticularfriendhadapieceofnewstoimpartthatmadeDuaneprofoundlythoughtful。Arangerhadmadeaquiet，unobtrusivecalluponthesefriendsandleftthismessage，"TellBuckDuanetorideintoCaptainMacNelly’scampsometimeafternight。"
Duaneconcluded，andhisfriendsallagreedwithhim，thatthenewranger’smainpurposeintheNuecescountrywastocaptureorkillBuckDuane，andthatthismessagewassimplyanoriginalandstrikingruse，thedaringofwhichmightappealtocertainoutlaws。
ButitdidnotappealtoDuane。Hiscuriositywasaroused;itdidnot，however，tempthimtoanyfoolhardyact。Heturnedsouthwestandrodeahundredmilesuntilheagainreachedthesparselysettledcountry。Hereheheardnomoreofrangers。Itwasabarrenregionhehadneverbutonceriddenthrough，andthatridehadcosthimdear。Hehadbeencompelledtoshoothiswayout。Outlawswerenotinaccordwiththefewranchersandtheircowboyswhorangedthere。HelearnedthatbothoutlawsandMexicanraidershadlongbeenatbitterenmitywiththeseranchers。Beingunfamiliarwithroadsandtrails，Duanehadpushedonintotheheartofthisdistrict，whenallthetimehereallybelievedhewastravelingaroundit。Arifle—shotfromaranch—house，adeliberateattempttokillhimbecausehewasanunknownriderinthoseparts，discoveredtoDuanehismistake;
andahardridetogetawaypersuadedhimtoreturntohisoldmethodsofhidingbydayandtravelingbynight。
Hegotintoroughcountry，rodeforthreedayswithoutcoveringmuchground，butbelievedthathewasgettingonsaferterritory。Twicehecametoawidebottom—landgreenwithwillowandcottonwoodandthickaschaparral，somewherethroughthemiddleofwhichranariverhedecidedmustbethelowerNueces。
Oneevening，ashestoleoutfromacovertwherehehadcamped，hesawthelightsofavillage。Hetriedtopassitontheleft，butwasunabletobecausethebrakesofthisbottom—landextendedinalmosttotheoutskirtsofthevillage，andhehadtoretracehisstepsandgoroundtotheright。Wirefencesandhorsesinpasturemadethisatask，soitwaswellaftermidnightbeforeheaccomplishedit。Hemadetenmilesormorethenbydaylight，andafterthatproceededcautiouslyalongaroadwhichappearedtobewellwornfromtravel。Hepassedseveralthicketswherehewouldhavehaltedtohideduringthedaybutforthefactthathehadtofindwater。
Hewasalongwhileincomingtoit，andthentherewasnothicketorclumpofmesquitenearthewaterholethatwouldaffordhimcovert。Sohekepton。
Thecountrybeforehimwasridgyandbegantoshowcottonwoodshereandthereinthehollowsandyuccaandmesquiteonthehigherground。Ashemountedaridgehenotedthattheroadmadeasharpturn，andhecouldnotseewhatwasbeyondit。Heslowedupandwasmakingtheturn，whichwasdown—hillbetweenhighbanksofyellowclay，whenhismettlesomehorseheardsomethingtofrightenhimorshiedatsomethingandbolted。