WhenthenoiseofpursuitceasedDuanesatdowninthedarkness，hismindclampedbetweentwothings——whethertotryagaintoescapeorwaitforpossibleopportunity。Heseemedincapableofdecision。Hisintelligencetoldhimthateveryhourlessenedhischancesforescape。Hehadlittleenoughchanceinanycase，andthatwaswhatmadeanotherattemptsodesperatelyhard。Stillitwasnotloveoflifethatboundhim。
　　Therewouldcomeanhour，soonerorlater，whenhewouldwrenchdecisionoutofthischaosofemotionandthought。Butthattimewasnotyet。
　　hehadremainedquietlongenoughtocooloffandrecoverfromhisrunhefoundthathewastired。Hestretchedouttorest。
　　Buttheswarmsofviciousmosquitoespreventedsleep。Thiscornerofthebrakewaslowandneartheriver，abreeding—groundfortheblood—suckers。Theysangandhummedandwhinedaroundhiminanever—increasinghorde。Hecoveredhisheadandhandswithhiscoatandlaytherepatiently。Thatwasalongandwretchednight。Morningfoundhimstillstrongphysically，butinadreadfulstateofmind。
　　Firsthehurriedfortheriver。Hecouldwithstandthepangsofhunger，butitwasimperativetoquenchthirst。Hiswoundmadehimfeverish，andthereforemorethanusuallyhotandthirsty。
　　Againhewasrefreshed。Thatmorninghewashardputtoittoholdhimselfbackfromattemptingtocrosstheriver。Ifhecouldfindalightlogitwaswithintheboundsofpossibilitythathemightfordtheshallowwaterandbarsofquicksand。Butnotyet！Wearily，doggedlyhefacedabouttowardthebluff。
　　Allthatdayandallthatnight，allthenextdayandallthenextnight，hestolelikeahuntedsavagefromrivertobluff;
　　andeveryhourforceduponhimthebittercertaintythathewastrapped。
　　Duanelosttrackofdays，ofevents。Hehadcometoanevilpass。Therearrivedanhourwhen，closelypressedbypursuersattheextremesoutherncornerofthebrake，hetooktoadensethicketofwillows，driventowhathebelievedwashislaststand。
　　Ifonlythesehumanbloodhoundswouldswiftlycloseinonhim！
　　Lethimfighttothelastbittergaspandhaveitover！Butthesehunters，eagerastheyweretogethim，hadcareoftheirownskins。Theytookfewrisks。Theyhadhimcornered。
　　Itwasthemiddleoftheday，hot，dusty，oppressive，threateningstorm。LikeasnakeDuanecrawledintoalittlespaceinthedarkestpartofthethicketandlaystill。Menhadcuthimofffromthebluff，fromtheriver，seeminglyfromallsides。Butheheardvoicesonlyfrominfrontandtowardhisleft。Evenifhispassagetotheriverhadnotbeenblocked，itmightjustaswellhavebeen。
　　"Comeonfellers——downhyar，"calledonemanfromthebluff。
　　"Gothimcorralledatlast，"shoutedanother。
　　"Reckonyeneedn’tbetooshore。Wethoughtthetmore’nonce，"
　　tauntedanother。
　　"Iseenhim，Itellyou。"
　　"Aw，thetwasadeer。"
　　"ButBillfoundfreshtracksan’bloodonthewillows。’
　　"Ifhe’swingedweneedn’thurry。"
　　"Holdonthar，youboys，"cameashoutinauthoritativetonesfromfartherupthebluff。"Goslow。You—allairgittin’
　　foolishattheendofalongchase。"
　　"Thet’sright，Colonel。Hold’emback。There’snothin’shorerthansomebody’llbestoppin’leadprettyquick。He’llbehuntin’ussoon！"
　　"Let’ssurroundthiscorneran’starvehimout。"
　　"Firethebrake。"
　　HowclearlyallthistalkpiercedDuane’sears！Initheseemedtohearhisdoom。This，then，wastheendhehadalwaysexpected，whichhadbeenclosetohimbefore，yetneverlikenow。
　　"ByGod！"whisperedDuane，"thethingformetodonow——isgoout——meetthem！"
　　Thatwaspromptedbythefighting，thekillinginstinctinhim。
　　Inthatmomentithadalmostsuperhumanpower。Ifhemustdie，thatwasthewayforhimtodie。WhatelsecouldbeexpectedofBuckDuane？Hegottohiskneesanddrewhisgun。Withhisswollenandalmostuselesshandheheldwhatspareammunitionhehadleft。Heoughttocreepoutnoiselesslytotheedgeofthewillows，suddenlyfacehispursuers，then，whiletherewasabeatleftinhisheart，kill，kill，kill。Thesemenallhadrifles。Thefightwouldbeshort。Butthemarksmendidnotliveonearthwhocouldmakesuchafightgowhollyagainsthim。
　　Confrontingthemsuddenlyhecouldkillamanforeveryshotinhisgun。
　　ThusDuanereasoned。Sohehopedtoaccepthisfate——tomeetthisend。Butwhenhetriedtostepforwardsomethingcheckedhim。Heforcedhimself;yethecouldnotgo。Theobstructionthatopposedhiswillwasasinsurmountableasithadbeenphysicallyimpossibleforhimtoclimbthebluff。
　　Slowlyhefellback，crouchedlow，andthenlayflat。Thegrimandghastlydignitythathadbeenhisamomentbeforefellawayfromhim。Helaytherestrippedofhislastshredofself—respect。Hewonderedwasheafraid;hadhe，thelastoftheDuanes——hadhecometofeelfear？No！Neverinallhiswildlifehadhesolongedtogooutandmeetmenfacetoface。Itwasnotfearthatheldhimback。Hehatedthishiding，thiseternalvigilance，thishopelesslife。Thedamnableparadoxofthesituationwasthatifhewentouttomeetthesementherewasabsolutelynodoubtofhisdoom。Ifheclungtohiscoverttherewasachance，amerestchance，forhislife。Thesepursuers，doggedandunflaggingastheyhadbeen，weremortallyafraidofhim。Itwashisfamethatmadethemcowards。Duane’skeennesstoldhimthatattheverydarkestandmostperilousmomenttherewasstillachanceforhim。Andthebloodinhim，thetemperofhisfather，theyearsofhisoutlawry，theprideofhisunsoughtandhatedcareer，thenameless，inexplicablesomethinginhimmadehimacceptthatslimchance。
　　Waitingthenbecameaphysicalandmentalagony。Helayundertheburningsun，parchedbythirst，laboringtobreathe，sweatingandbleeding。Hisuncared—forwoundwaslikeared—hotpronginhisflesh。Blotchedandswollenfromthenever—endingattackoffliesandmosquitoeshisfaceseemedtwiceitsnaturalsize，anditachedandstung。
　　Ononeside，then，wasthisphysicaltorture;ontheothertheoldhell，terriblyaugmentedatthiscrisis，inhismind。Itseemedthatthoughtandimaginationhadneverbeensoswift。Ifdeathfoundhimpresently，howwoulditcome？Wouldhegetdecentburialorbeleftforthepeccariesandthecoyotes？
　　Wouldhispeopleeverknowwherehehadfallen？Howwretched，howmiserablehisstate！Itwascowardly，itwasmonstrousforhimtoclinglongertothisdoomedlife。Thenthehateinhisheart，thehellishhateofthesemenonhistrail——thatwaslikeascourge。Hefeltnolongerhuman。Hehaddegeneratedintoananimalthatcouldthink。Hisheartpounded，hispulsebeat，hisbreastheaved;andthisinternalstrifeseemedtothunderintohisears。Hewasnowenactingthetragedyofallcrippled，starved，huntedwolvesatbayintheirdens。Onlyhistragedywasinfinitelymoreterriblebecausehehadmindenoughtoseehisplight，hisresemblancetoalonelywolf，bloody—fanged，dripping，snarling，fire—eyedinalastinstinctivedefiance。
　　MounteduponthehorrorofDuane’sthoughtwasawatching，listeningintensitysosupremethatitregisteredimpressionswhichwerecreationsofhisimagination。Heheardstealthystepsthatwerenotthere;hesawshadowymovingfiguresthatwereonlyleaves。Ahundredtimeswhenhewasabouttopulltriggerhediscoveredhiserror。Yetvoicescamefromadistance，andstepsandcrackingsinthewillows，andothersoundsrealenough。ButDuanecouldnotdistinguishtherealfromthefalse。Thereweretimeswhenthewindwhichhadarisensentahot，patteringbreathdownthewillowaisles，andDuanehearditasanapproachingarmy。
　　ThisstrainingofDuane’sfacultiesbroughtonareactionwhichinitselfwasarespite。Hesawthesundarkenedbythickslowspreadingclouds。Astormappearedtobecoming。Howslowlyitmoved！Theairwaslikesteam。Iftherebrokeoneofthosedark，violentstormscommonthoughraretothecountry，Duanebelievedhemightslipawayinthefuryofwindandrain。Hope，thatseemedunquenchableinhim，resurgedagain。Hehaileditwithabitternessthatwassickening。
　　Thenatarustlingstephefrozeintotheoldstrainedattention。Heheardaslowpatterofsoftfeet。Atawnyshapecrossedalittleopeninginthethicket。Itwasthatofadog。
　　Themomentwhilethatbeastcameintofullviewwasanage。Thedogwasnotabloodhound，andifhehadatrailorascentheseemedtobeatfaultonit。Duanewaitedfortheinevitablediscovery。Anykindofahunting—dogcouldhavefoundhiminthatthicket。Voicesfromoutsidecouldbeheardurgingonthedog。Rovertheycalledhim。Duanesatupatthemomentthedogenteredthelittleshadedcovert。Duaneexpectedayelping，abaying，oratleastabarkthatwouldtellofhishiding—place。
　　AstrangereliefswiftlyswayedoverDuane。Theendwasnearnow。Hehadnofurtherchoice。Letthemcome——aquickfierceexchangeofshots——andthenthistorturepast！Hewaitedforthedogtogivethealarm。
　　Butthedoglookedathimandtrottedbyintothethicketwithoutayelp。Duanecouldnotbelievetheevidenceofhissenses。Hethoughthehadsuddenlygonedeaf。Hesawthedogdisappear，heardhimrunningtoandfroamongthewillows，gettingfartherandfartheraway，tillallsoundfromhimceased。
　　"Thar’sRover，"calledavoicefromthebluff—side。"He’sbeenthroughthetblackpatch。"
　　"Naryarabbitinthere，"repliedanother。
　　"Bah！Thetpup’snogood，"scornfullygrowledanotherman。"Putahoundatthetclumpofwillows。"
　　"Fire’sthegame。Burnthebrakebeforetheraincomes。"
　　Thevoicesdronedoffastheirownersevidentlywalkeduptheridge。
　　ThenuponDuanefellthecrushingburdenoftheoldwaiting，watching，listeningspell。Afterall，itwasnottoendjustnow。Hischancestillpersisted——lookedalittlebrighter——ledhimon，perhaps，toforlornhope。
　　Allatoncetwilightsettledquicklydownuponthewillowbrake，orelseDuanenoteditsuddenly。Heimaginedittobecausedbytheapproachingstorm。Buttherewaslittlemovementofairorcloud，andthunderstillmutteredandrumbledatadistance。Thefactwasthesunhadset，andatthistimeofovercastskynightwasathand。
　　Duanerealizeditwiththeawakeningofallhisoldforce。Hewouldyeteludehispursuers。Thatwasthemomentwhenheseizedthesignificanceofallthesefortunatecircumstanceswhichhadaidedhim。Withouthasteandwithoutsoundhebegantocrawlinthedirectionoftheriver。Itwasnotfar，andhereachedthebankbeforedarknesssetin。Thereweremenuponthebluffcarryingwoodtobuildabonfire。Foramomenthehalfyieldedtoatemptationtotrytoslipalongtheriver—shore，closeinunderthewillows。Butwhenheraisedhimselftopeerouthesawthatanattemptofthiskindwouldbeliabletofailure。Atthesamemomenthesawarough—hewnplanklyingbeneathhim，lodgedagainstsomewillows。Theendoftheplankextendedinalmosttoapointbeneathhim。Quickasaflashhesawwhereadesperatechanceinvitedhim。Thenhetiedhisguninanoilskinbagandputitinhispocket。，Thebankwassteepandcrumbly。Hemustnotbreakoffanyearthtosplashintothewater。Therewasawillowgrowingbacksomefewfeetfromtheedgeofthebank。Cautiouslyhepulleditdown，bentitoverthewatersothatwhenhereleasedittherewouldbenospringingback。Thenhetrustedhisweighttoit，withhisfeetslidingcarefullydownthebank。Hewentintothewateralmostuptohisknees，feltthequicksandgriphisfeet;
　　then，leaningforwardtillhereachedtheplank，hepulledittowardhimandlayuponit。
　　Withoutasoundoneendwentslowlyunderwaterandthefartherendappearedlightlybracedagainsttheoverhangingwillows。
　　VerycarefullythenDuanebegantoextricatehisrightfootfromthesuckingsand。Itseemedasifhisfootwasincasedinsolidrock。Buttherewasamovementupward，andhepulledwithallthepowerhedareduse。Itcameslowlyandatlengthwasfree。Theleftonehereleasedwithlessdifficulty。Thenextfewmomentsheputallhisattentionontheplanktoascertainifhisweightwouldsinkitintothesand。Thefarendslippedoffthewillowswithalittlesplashandgraduallysettledtorestuponthebottom。Butitsanknofarther，andDuane’sgreatestconcernwasrelieved。However，asitwasmanifestlyimpossibleforhimtokeephisheadupforlonghecarefullycrawledoutupontheplankuntilhecouldrestanarmandshoulderuponthewillows。
　　Whenhelookedupitwastofindthenightstrangelyluminouswithfires。Therewasabonfireontheextremeendofthe，bluff，anotherahundredpacesbeyond。Agreatflareextendedoverthebrakeinthatdirection。Duaneheardaroaringonthewind，andheknewhispursuershadfiredthewillows。Hedidnotbelievethatwouldhelpthemmuch。Thebrakewasdryenough，buttoogreentoburnreadily。Andasforthebonfireshediscoveredthatthemen，probablyhavingrunoutofwood，werekeepingupthelightwithoilandstufffromthevillage。
　　AdozenmenkeptwatchonthebluffscarcelyfiftypacesfromwhereDuanelayconcealedbythewillows。Theytalked，crackedjokes，sangsongs，andmanifestlyconsideredthisoutlaw—huntingagreatlark。AslongasthebrightlightlastedDuanedarednotmove。Hehadthepatienceandtheendurancetowaitforthebreakingofthestorm，andifthatdidnotcome，thentheearlyhourbeforedawnwhenthegrayfogandgloomwereovertheriver。
　　Escapewasnowinhisgrasp。Hefeltit。Andwiththatinhismindhewaited，strongassteelinhisconviction，capableofwithstandinganystrainendurablebythehumanframe。
　　Thewindblewinpuffs，grewwilder，androaredthroughthewillows，carryingbrightsparksupward。Thunderrolleddownovertheriver，andlightningbegantoflash。Thentherainfellinheavysheets，butnotsteadily。TheflashesoflightningandthebroadflaresplayedsoincessantlythatDuanecouldnottrusthimselfoutontheopenriver。Certainlythestormratherincreasedthewatchfulnessofthemenonthebluff。Heknewhowtowait，andhewaited，grimlystandingpainandcrampandchill。Thestormworeawayasdesultorilyasithadcome，andthelongnightsetin。ThereweretimeswhenDuanethoughthewasparalyzed，otherswhenhegrewsick，giddy，weakfromthestrainedposture。Thefirstpalingofthestarsquickenedhimwithakindofwildjoy。Hewatchedthemgrowpaler，dimmer，disappearonebyone。Ashadowhovereddown，restedupontheriver，andgraduallythickened。Thebonfireonthebluffshowedasthroughafoggyveil。Thewatchersweremeregropingdarkfigures。
　　Duane，awareofhowcrampedhehadbecomefromlonginaction，begantomovehislegsanduninjuredarmandbody，andatlengthovercameaparalyzingstiffness。Then，digginghishandinthesandandholdingtheplankwithhisknees，heedgeditoutintotheriver。Inchbyinchheadvanceduntilclearofthewillows。Lookingupward，hesawtheshadowyfiguresofthemenonthebluff。Herealizedtheyoughttoseehim，fearedthattheywould。Buthekepton，cautiously，noiselessly，withaheart—numbingslowness。Fromtimetotimehiselbowmadealittlegurgleandsplashinthewater。Tryashemight，hecouldnotpreventthis。Itgottobelikethehollowroarofarapidfillinghisearswithmockingsound。Therewasaperceptiblecurrentoutintheriver，andithinderedstraightadvancement。Inchbyinchhecrepton，expectingtohearthebangofrifles，thespatteringofbullets。Hetriednottolookbackward，butfailed。Thefireappearedalittledimmer，themovingshadowsalittledarker。
　　Oncetheplankstuckinthesandandfeltasifitweresettling。Bringingfeettoaidhishand，heshoveditoverthetreacherousplace。Thiswayhemadefasterprogress。Theobscurityoftheriverseemedtobeenvelopinghim。Whenhelookedbackagainthefiguresofthemenwerecoalescingwiththesurroundinggloom，thefireswerestreaky，blurredpatchesoflight。Buttheskyabovewasbrighter。Dawnwasnotfaroff。
　　Tothewestallwasdark。WithinfinitecareandimplacablespiritandwaningstrengthDuaneshovedtheplankalong，andwhenatlasthediscernedtheblackborderofbankitcameintime，hethought，tosavehim。Hecrawledout，restedtillthegraydawnbroke，andthenheadednorththroughthewillows。
　　CHAPTERXIII
　　HowlongDuanewastravelingoutofthatregionheneverknew。
　　Buthereachedfamiliarcountryandfoundarancherwhohadbeforebefriendedhim。Herehisarmwasattendedto;hehadfoodandsleep;andinacoupleofweekshewashimselfagain。
　　WhenthetimecameforDuanetorideawayonhisendlesstrailhisfriendreluctantlyimpartedtheinformationthatsomethirtymilessouth，nearthevillageofShirley，therewaspostedatacertaincross—roadarewardforBuckDuanedeadoralive。Duanehadheardofsuchnotices，buthehadneverseenone。Hisfriend’sreluctanceandrefusaltostateforwhatparticulardeedthisrewardwasofferedrousedDuane’scuriosity。HehadneverbeenanyclosertoShirleythanthisrancher’shome。Doubtlesssomepost—officeburglary，somegun—shootingscrapehadbeenattributedtohim。Andhehadbeenaccusedofworsedeeds。AbruptlyDuanedecidedtorideoverthereandfindoutwhowantedhimdeadoralive，andwhy。
　　Ashestartedsouthontheroadhereflectedthatthiswasthefirsttimehehadeverdeliberatelyhuntedtrouble。
　　Introspectionawardedhimthisknowledge;duringthatlastterribleflightonthelowerNuecesandwhilehelayabedrecuperatinghehadchanged。Afixed，immutable，hopelessbitternessabidedwithhim。Hehadreachedtheendofhisrope。
　　Allthepowerofhismindandsoulwereunavailabletoturnhimbackfromhisfate。
　　Thatfatewastobecomeanoutlawineverysenseoftheterm，tobewhathewascreditedwithbeing——thatistosay，toembraceevil。Hehadnevercommittedacrime。Hewonderednowwascrimeclosetohim？Hereasonedfinallythatthedesperationofcrimehadbeenforceduponhim，ifnotitsmotive;andthatifdriven，therewasnolimittohispossibilities。Heunderstoodnowmanyofthehithertoinexplicableactionsofcertainnotedoutlaws——whytheyhadreturnedtothesceneofthecrimethathadoutlawedthem;whytheytooksuchstrangelyfatalchances;whylifewasnomoretothemthanabreathofwind;whytheyrodestraightintothejawsofdeathtoconfrontwrongedmenorhuntingrangers，vigilantes，tolaughintheirveryfaces。Itwassuchbitternessasthisthatdrovethesemen。
　　Towardafternoon，fromthetopofalonghill，DuanesawthegreenfieldsandtreesandshiningroofsofatownheconsideredmustbeShirley。Andatthebottomofthehillhecameuponanintersectingroad。Therewasaplacardnailedonthecrossroadsign—post。Duanedrewreinnearitandleanedclosetoreadthefadedprint。$1000REWARDFORBUCKDUANEDEAD
　　ORALIVE。Peeringclosertoreadthefiner，morefadedprint，DuanelearnedthathewaswantedforthemurderofMrs。JeffAikenatherranchnearShirley。ThemonthSeptemberwasnamed，butthedatewasillegible。Therewardwasofferedbythewoman’shusband，whosenameappearedwiththatofasheriff’satthebottomoftheplacard。
　　Duanereadthethingtwice。Whenhestraightenedhewassickwiththehorrorofhisfate，wildwithpassionatthosemisguidedfoolswhocouldbelievethathehadharmedawoman。
　　ThenherememberedKateBland，and，asalwayswhenshereturnedtohim，hequakedinwardly。Yearsbeforewordhadgoneabroadthathehadkilledher，andsoitwaseasyformenwantingtofixacrimetonamehim。Perhapsithadbeendoneoften。Probablyheboreonhisshouldersaburdenofnumberlesscrimes。
　　Adark，passionatefurypossessedhim。Itshookhimlikeastormshakestheoak。Whenitpassed，leavinghimcold，withcloudedbrowandpiercingeye，hismindwasset。Spurringhishorse，herodestraighttowardthevillage。
　　Shirleyappearedtobealarge，pretentiouscountrytown。A
　　branchofsomerailroadterminatedthere。Themainstreetwaswide，borderedbytreesandcommodioushouses，andmanyofthestoreswereofbrick。Alargeplazashadedbygiantcottonwoodtreesoccupiedacentrallocation。
　　Duanepulledhisrunninghorseandhaltedhim，plungingandsnorting，beforeagroupofidlemenwholoungedonbenchesintheshadeofaspreadingcottonwood。HowmanytimeshadDuaneseenjustthatkindoflazyshirt—sleevedTexasgroup！Notoften，however，hadheseensuchplacid，lolling，good—naturedmenchangetheirexpression，theirattitudesoswiftly。Hisadventapparentlywasmomentous。Theyevidentlytookhimforanunusualvisitor。SofarasDuanecouldtell，notoneofthemrecognizedhim，hadahintofhisidentity。
　　Heslidoffhishorseandthrewthebridle。
　　"I’mBuckDuane，"hesaid。"Isawthatplacard——outthereonasign—post。It’sadamnlie！SomebodyfindthismanJeffAiken。
　　Iwanttoseehim。"
　　Hisannouncementwastakeninabsolutesilence。Thatwastheonlyeffecthenoted，forheavoidedlookingatthesevillagers。Thereasonwassimpleenough;Duanefelthimselfovercomewithemotion。Thereweretearsinhiseyes。Hesatdownonabench，puthiselbowsonhiskneesandhishandstohisface。Foroncehehadabsolutelynoconcernforhisfate。
　　Thisignominywasthelaststraw。
　　Presently，however，hebecameawareofsomekindofcommotionamongthesevillagers。Heheardwhisperings，low，hoarsevoices，thentheshuffleofrapidfeetmovingaway。Allatonceaviolenthandjerkedhisgunfromitsholster。WhenDuaneroseagauntman，lividofface，shakinglikealeaf，confrontedhimwithhisowngun。
　　"Handsup，thar，youBuckDuane！"heroared，wavingthegun。
　　Thatappearedtobethecueforpandemoniumtobreakloose。
　　Duaneopenedhislipstospeak，butifhehadyelledatthetopofhislungshecouldnothavemadehimselfheard。Inwearydisgusthelookedatthegauntman，andthenattheothers，whowereworkingthemselvesintoafrenzy。Hemadenomove，however，toholduphishands。Thevillagerssurroundedhim，emboldenedbyfindinghimnowunarmed。Thenseveralmenlayholdofhisarmsandpinionedthembehindhisback。ResistancewasuselessevenifDuanehadhadthespirit。Someoneofthemfetchedhishalterfromhissaddle，andwiththistheyboundhimhelpless。
　　Peoplewererunningnowfromthestreet，thestores，thehouses。Oldmen，cowboys，clerks，boys，rancherscameonthetrot。Thecrowdgrew。Theincreasingclamorbegantoattractwomenaswellasmen。Agroupofgirlsranup，thenhungbackinfrightandpity。
　　Thepresenceofcowboysmadeadifference。Theysplitupthecrowd，gottoDuane，andlayholdofhimwithrough，businesslikehands。Oneofthemliftedhisfistsandroaredatthefrenziedmobtofallback，tostoptheracket。Hebeatthembackintoacircle;butitwassomelittletimebeforethehubbubquieteddownsoavoicecouldbeheard。
　　"Shutup，willyou—all？"hewasyelling。"Giveusachancetohearsomethin’。Easynow——soho。Thereain’tnobodygoin’tobehurt。Thet’sright;everybodyquietnow。Let’sseewhat’scomeoff。"
　　Thiscowboy，evidentlyoneofauthority，oratleastoneofstrongpersonality，turnedtothegauntman，whostillwavedDuane’sgun。
　　"Abe，putthegundown，"hesaid。"Itmightgooff。Here，giveittome。Now，what’swrong？Who’sthisropedgent，an’what’shedone？"
　　Thegauntfellow，whoappearednowabouttocollapse，liftedashakinghandandpointed。
　　"Thettharfeller——he’sBuckDuane！"hepanted。
　　Anangrymurmurranthroughthesurroundingcrowd。
　　"Therope！Therope！Throwitoverabranch！Stringhimup！"
　　criedanexcitedvillager。
　　"BuckDuane！BuckDuane！"
　　"Hanghim！"
　　Thecowboysilencedthesecries。
　　"Abe，howdoyouknowthisfellowisBuckDuane？"heasked，sharply。
　　"Why——hesaidso，"repliedthemancalledAbe。
　　"What！"cametheexclamation，incredulously。
　　"It’satarnalfact，"pantedAbe，wavinghishandsimportantly。
　　Hewasanoldmanandappearedtobecarriedawaywiththesignificanceofhisdeed。"Heliketorid’hishossrightoverus—all。Thenhejumpedoff，sayshewasBuckDuane，an’hewantedtoseeJeffAikenbad。"
　　Thisspeechcausedasecondcommotionasnoisythoughnotsoenduringasthefirst。Whenthecowboy，assistedbyacoupleofhismates，hadrestoredorderagainsomeonehadslippedthenoose—endofDuane’sropeoverhishead。
　　"Upwithhim！"screechedawild—eyedyouth。
　　Themobsurgedcloserwasshovedbackbythecowboys。
　　"Abe，ifyouain’tdrunkorcrazytellthetover，"orderedAbe’sinterlocutor。
　　WithsomeshowofresentmentandmoreofdignityAbereiteratedhisformerstatement。
　　"Ifhe’sBuckDuanehow’nhelldidyougetholdofhisgun？"
　　bluntlyqueriedthecowboy。
　　"Why——hesetdownthar——an’hekindofhidhisfaceonhishand。An’Igrabbedhisgunan’gotthedroponhim。"
　　Whatthecowboythoughtofthiswasexpressedinalaugh。Hismateslikewisegrinnedbroadly。ThentheleaderturnedtoDuane。
　　"Stranger，Ireckonyou’dbetterspeakupforyourself，"hesaid。
　　Thatstilledthecrowdasnocommandhaddone。
　　"I’mBuckDuane，allright。"saidDuane，quietly。"Itwasthisway——"
　　Thebigcowboyseemedtovibratewithashock。Alltheruddywarmthlefthisface;hisjawbegantobulge;thecordedveinsinhisneckstoodoutinknots。Inaninstanthehadahard，stern，strangelook。HeshotoutapowerfulhandthatfastenedinthefrontofDuane’sblouse。
　　"Somethin’queerhere。Butifyou’reDuaneyou’resureinbad。
　　Anyfooloughttoknowthat。Youmeanit，then？"
　　"Yes。"
　　"Rodeintoshootupthetown，eh？Sameoldstuntofyougunfighters？Meanttokillthemanwhoofferedareward？WantedtoseeJeffAikenbad，huh？"
　　"No，"repliedDuane。"Yourcitizenheremisrepresentedthings。
　　Heseemsalittleoffhishead。"
　　"Reckonheis。Somebodyis，that’ssure。YouclaimBuckDuane，then，an’allhisdoings？"
　　"I’mDuane;yes。ButIwon’tstandfortheblameofthingsI
　　neverdid。That’swhyI’mhere。Isawthatplacardoutthereofferingthereward。UntilnowIneverwaswithinhalfaday’srideofthistown。I’mblamedforwhatIneverdid。Irodeinhere，toldwhoIwas，askedsomebodytosendforJeffAiken。"
　　"An’thenyousetdownan’letthisoldguythrowyourowngunonyou？"queriedthecowboyinamazement。
　　"Iguessthat’sit，"repliedDuane。
　　"Well，it’spowerfulstrange，ifyou’rereallyBuckDuane。"
　　Amanelbowedhiswayintothecircle。
　　"It’sDuane。Irecognizehim。Iseenhiminmore’noneplace，"
　　hesaid。"Sibert，youcanrelyonwhatItellyou。Idon’tknowifhe’slocoedorwhat。ButIdoknowhe’sthegenuineBuckDuane。Anyonewho’deverseenhimonctwouldneverforgethim。"
　　"WhatdoyouwanttoseeAikenfor？"askedthecowboySibert。
　　"Iwanttofacehim，andtellhimIneverharmedhiswife。"
　　"Why？"
　　"BecauseI’minnocent，that’sall。"
　　"SupposewesendforAikenan’hehearsyouan’doesn’tbelieveyou;whatthen？"
　　"Ifhewon’tbelieveme——why，thenmycase’ssobad——I’dbebetteroffdead。"
　　AmomentarysilencewasbrokenbySibert。
　　"Ifthisisn’taqueerdeal！Boys，reckonwe’dbettersendforJeff。"
　　"Somebodywentferhim。He’llbecomin’soon，"repliedaman。
　　Duanestoodaheadtallerthanthatcircleofcuriousfaces。Hegazedoutaboveandbeyondthem。Itwasinthiswaythathechancedtoseeanumberofwomenontheoutskirtsofthecrowd。
　　Somewereold，withhardfaces，likethemen。Somewereyoungandcomely，andmostoftheseseemedagitatedbyexcitementordistress。Theycastfearful，pityingglancesuponDuaneashestoodtherewiththatnooseroundhisneck。Womenweremorehumanthanmen，Duanethought。Hemeteyesthatdilated，seemedfascinatedathisgaze，butwerenotaverted。Itwastheoldwomenwhowerevoluble，loudinexpressionoftheirfeelings。
　　Nearthetrunkofthecottonwoodstoodaslenderwomaninwhite。Duane’swanderingglanceresteduponher。Hereyeswereriveteduponhim。Asoft—heartedwoman，probably，whodidnotwanttoseehimhanged！
　　"TharcomesJeffAikennow，"calledaman，loudly。
　　Thecrowdshiftedandtrampledineagerness。
　　Duanesawtwomencomingfast，oneofwhom，inthelead，wasofstalwartbuild。Hehadaguninhishand，andhismannerwasthatoffierceenergy。
　　ThecowboySibertthrustopenthejostlingcircleofmen。
　　"Holdon，Jeff，"hecalled，andheblockedthemanwiththegun。HespokesolowDuanecouldnothearwhathesaid，andhisformhidAiken’sface。Atthatjuncturethecrowdspreadout，closedin，andAikenandSibertwerecaughtinthecircle。
　　Therewasapushingforward，apressingofmanybodies，hoarsecriesandflinginghands——againtheinsanetumultwasabouttobreakout——thedemandforanoutlaw’sblood，thecallforawildjusticeexecutedathousandtimesbeforeonTexas’sbloodysoil。
　　Sibertbellowedatthedarkencroachingmass。Thecowboyswithhimbeatandcuffedinvain。
　　"Jeff，willyoulisten？"brokeinSibert，hurriedly，hishandontheotherman’sarm。