"Wal，boys，I’lltellthewomen，"hesaid。"Shoreyouneedn’tworrynoneabootthem。They’llbegame。"
　　Jeanrodeawaytoanopenknollashortdistancefromthehouse，andherehestationedhimselftowatchallpoints。ThecedaredridgebackoftheranchwastheoneapproachbywhichJorth’sgangmightcomeclosewithoutbeingdetected，butevenso，Jeancouldseethemandridetothehouseintimetopreventasurprise。Themomentsdraggedby，andattheendofanhourJeanwasinhopesthatBlaisdellwouldsooncome。Thesehopeswerewellfounded。Presentlyheheardaclatterofhoofsonhardgroundtothesouth，anduponwheelingtolookhesawthefriendlyneighborcomingfastalongtheroad，ridingabigwhitehorse。Blaisdellcarriedarifleinhishand，andthesightofhimgaveJeanaglowofwarmth。HewasoneoftheTexanswhowouldstandbytheIsbelstothelastman。Jeanwatchedhimridetothehouse——watchedthemeetingbetweenhimandhislifelongfriend。
　　TherefloatedouttoJeanoldBlaisdell’sroarofrage。
　　ThenoutonthegreenofGrassValley，wherealong，swellingplainsweptawaytowardthevillage，thereappearedamovingdarkpatch。
　　Abunchofhorses！Jean’sbodygaveaslightstart——theshockofsuddenpropulsionofbloodthroughallhisveins。Thosehorsesboreriders。Theywerecomingstraightdowntheopenvalley，onthewagonroadtoIsbel’sranch。Nosubterfugenorsecrecynorsneakinginthatadvance！AhotthrillranoverJean。
　　"ByHeaven！Theymeanbusiness！"hemuttered。UptothelastmomenthehadunconsciouslyhopedJorth’sgangwouldnotcomeboldlylikethat。
　　TheverificationsofallaTexan’sinheritedinstinctsleftnodoubts，nohopes，noillusions——onlyagrimcertaintythatthiswasnotconjecturenorprobability，butfact。ForamomentlongerJeanwatchedtheslowlymovingdarkpatchofhorsemenagainstthegreenbackground，thenhehurriedbacktotheranch。Hisfathersawhimcoming——strodeoutasbefore。
　　"Dad——Jorthiscomin’，"saidJean，huskily。Howhehatedtobeforcedtotellhisfatherthat！Theboyishloveofoldhadflashedup。
　　"Whar？"demandedtheoldman，hiseaglegazesweepingthehorizon。
　　"DowntheroadfromGrassValley。Youcan’tseefromhere。"
　　"Wal，comeinan’let’sgetready。"
　　Isbel’shousehadnotbeenconstructedwiththeideaofrepellinganattackfromabandofApaches。Thelonglivingroomofthemaincabinwastheoneselectedfordefenseandprotection。Thisroomhadtwowindowsandadoorfacingthelane，andadoorateachend，oneofwhichopenedintothekitchenandtheotherintoanadjoiningandlater—builtcabin。Thelogsofthismaincabinwereoflargesize，andthedoorsandwindowcoveringswereheavy，affordingsaferprotectionfrombulletsthantheothercabins。
　　WhenJeanwentinheseemedtoseeahostofwhitefacesliftedtohim。
　　HissisterAnn，histwosisters—in—law，thechildren，allmutelywatchedhimwitheyesthatwouldhaunthim。
　　"Wal，Blaisdell，JeansaysJorthan’hispreciousgangofrustlersareonthewayheah，"announcedtherancher。
　　"Damnmeifit’snotabaddayferLeeJorth！"declaredBlaisdell。
　　"Clearoffthattable，"orderedIsbel，"an’fetchoutallthegunsan’shellswegot。"
　　Oncelaiduponthetablethesepresentedaformidablearsenal，whichconsistedofthethreenew。44WinchestersthatJeanhadbroughtwithhimfromthecoast;theenormousbuffalo，orso—called"needle"gun，thatGastonIsbelhadusedforyears;aHenryriflewhichBlaisdellhadbrought，andhalfadozensix—shooters。Pilesandpackagesofammunitionlitteredthetable。
　　"Sortouttheseheahshells，"saidIsbel。"Everybodywantstogetholdofhisown。"
　　Jacobs，theneighborwhowaspresent，wasathick—set，beardedman，ratherjovialamongthoselean—jawedTexans。Hecarrieda。44rifleofanoldpattern。"Wal，boys，ifI’dknowedwewasinfersomefunI’dhevfetchedmoreshells。Onlygotonemagazinefull。Mebbethemnew。44’swillfitmygun。"
　　ItwasdiscoveredthattheammunitionJeanhadbroughtinquantityfittedJacob’srifle，afactwhichaffordedpeculiarsatisfactiontoallthemenpresent。
　　"Wal，shorewe’relucky，"declaredGastonIsbel。
　　Thewomensatapart，inthecomertowardthekitchen，andthereseemedtobeastrangefascinationfortheminthetalkandactionofthemen。
　　ThewifeofJacobswasalittlewoman，withhomelyfaceandverybrighteyes。Jeanthoughtshewouldbeahelpinthathouseholdduringthenextdoubtfulhours。
　　EverymomentJeanwouldgotothewindowandpeeroutdowntheroad。
　　Hiscompanionsevidentlyrelieduponhim，fornooneelselookedout。
　　Nowthatthesuspenseofdaysandweekswasover，theseTexansfacedtheissuewithtalkandactnotnoticeablydifferentfromthoseofordinarymoments。
　　AtlastJeanespiedthedarkmassofhorsemenoutinthevalleyroad。
　　Theywereclosetogether，walkingtheirmounts，andevidentlyinearnestconversation。AfterseveralineffectualattemptsJeancountedelevenhorses，everyoneofwhichhewassureborearider。
　　"Dad，lookout！"calledJean。
　　GastonIsbelstrodetothedoorandstoodlooking，withoutaword。
　　Theothermencrowdedtothewindows。Blaisdellcursedunderhisbreath。Jacobssaid:"ByGolly！Cometopayusacall！"Thewomensatmotionless，withdark，strainedeyes。Thechildrenceasedtheirplayandlookedfearfullytotheirmother。
　　Whenjustoutofrifleshotofthecabinsthebandofhorsemenhaltedandlinedupinahalfcircle，allfacingtheranch。TheywerecloseenoughforJeantoseetheirgestures，buthecouldnotrecognizeanyoftheirfaces。Itstruckhimsingularlythatnotoneofthemworeamask。
　　"Jean，doyouknowanyofthem？"askedhisfather"No，notyet。They’retoofaroff。"
　　"Dad，I’llgetyouroldtelescope，"saidGuyIsbel，andheranouttowardtheadjoiningcabin。
　　Blaisdellshookhisbig，hoaryheadandrumbledoutofhisbull—likeneck，"Wal，nowyou’reheah，yousheepfellars，whatareyougoin’
　　todoabootit？"
　　GuyIsbelreturnedwithayard—longtelescope，whichhepassedtohisfather。Theoldmantookitwithshakinghandsandleveledit。
　　Suddenlyitwasasifhehadbeentransfixed;thenheloweredtheglass，shakingviolently，andhisfacegrewgraywithanexceedingbitterwrath。
　　"Jorth！"heswore，harshly。
　　Jeanhadonlytolookathisfathertoknowthatrecognitionhadbeenlikeamortalshock。Itpassed。Againtherancherleveledtheglass。
　　"Wal，Blaisdell，there’souroldTexasfriend，Daggs，"hedrawled，dryly。
　　"An’Greaves，ourhoneststorekeeperofGrassValley。An’there’sStonewallJacksonJorth。An’TadJorth，withthesameoldrednose！……An’，say，damnifoneofthatgangisn’tQueen，asbadagunfighterasTexaseverbred。ShoreIthoughthe’dbeenkilledintheBigBendcountry。SoIheard……An’there’sCraig，anotherrespectablesheepmanofGrassValley。Haw—haw！An’，wal，Idon’trecognizeanymoreofthem。"
　　Jeanforthwithtooktheglassandmoveditslowlyacrossthefacesofthatgroupofhorsemen。"SimmBruce，"hesaid，instantly。"IseeColter。And，yes，Greavesisthere。I’veseenthemannexttohim——facelikeaham……"
　　"ShorethatisCraig，"interruptedhisfather。
　　JeanknewthedarkfaceofLeeJorthbytheresemblanceitboretoEllen’s，andtherecognitionbroughtatwinge。Hethought，too，thathecouldtelltheotherJorths。HeaskedhisfathertodescribeDaggsandthenQueen。ItwasnotlikelythatJeanwouldfailtoknowtheseseveralmeninthefuture。ThenBlaisdellaskedforthetelescopeand，whenhegotthroughlookingandcursing，hepasseditontoothers，who，onebyone，tookalonglook，untilfinallyitcamebacktotheoldrancher。
　　"Wal，Daggsiswavin’hishandheahan’there，likeageneralaboottosendoutscouts。Haw—haw！……An’’pearstomehe’snotoverlookin’
　　ourhosses。Wal，that’snaturalforarustler。He’dhavetostealahossorasteerbeforegoin’intoafightortodinnerortoafuneral。"
　　"It’llbehisfuneralifhegoestofoolin’’roundthemhosses，"
　　declaredGuyIsbel，peeringanxiouslyoutofthedoor。
　　"Wal，son，shoreit’llbesomebody’sfuneral，"repliedhisfather。
　　Jeanpaidbutlittleheedtotheconversation。Withsharpeyesfixeduponthehorsemen，hetriedtograspattheirintention。Daggspointedtothehorsesinthepasturelotthatlaybetweenhimandthehouse。
　　TheseanimalswerethebestontherangeandbelongedmostlytoGuyIsbel，whowasthehorsefancierandtraderofthefamily。Hishorseswerehispassion。
　　"Lookslikethey’ddosomehorsestealin’，"saidJean。
　　"Lendmethatglass，"demandedGuy，forcefully。Hesurveyedthebandofmenforalongmoment，thenhehandedtheglassbacktoJean。
　　"I’mgoin’outthereaftermybosses，"hedeclared。
　　"No！"exclaimedhisfather。
　　"Thatgangcometostealan’nottofight。Can’tyouseethat？
　　Iftheymeanttofightthey’ddoit。They’reouttherearguin’
　　aboutmyhosses。"
　　Guypickeduphisrifle。Helookedsullenlydeterminedandthegleaminhiseyewasoneoffearlessness。
　　"Son，IknowDaggs，"saidhisfather。"An’IknowJorth。They’vecometokillus。It’llbeshoredeathfory’utogooutthere。"
　　"I’mgoin’，anyhow。Theycan’tstealmyhossesoutfromundermyeyes。
　　An’theyain’tinrange。"
　　"Wal，Guy，youain’tgoin’alone，"spokeupJacobs，cheerily，ashecameforward。
　　Thered—hairedyoungwifeofGuyIsbelshowednochangeofhergraveface。Shehadbeenrearedinasternschool。Sheknewmenintimeslikethese。ButJacobs’swifeappealedtohim，"Bill，don’triskyourlifeforahorseortwo。"
　　Jacobslaughedandanswered，"Notmuchrisk，"andwentoutwithGuy。
　　ToJeantheiractionseemedfoolhardy。HekeptakeeneyeonthemandsawinstantlywhenthebandbecameawareofGuy’sandJacobs’sentranceintothepasture。IttookonlyanothersecondthentorealizethatDaggsandJorthhaddeadlyintent。JeansawDaggsslipoutofhissaddle，rifleinhand。Othersofthegangdidlikewise，untilhalfofthemweredismounted。
　　"Dad，they’regoin’toshoot，"calledoutJean，sharply。"YellforGuyandJacobs。Makethemcomeback。"
　　Theoldmanshouted;BillIsbelyelled;Blaisdellliftedhisstentorianvoice。
　　Jeanscreamedpiercingly:"Guy！Run！Run！"
　　ButGuyIsbelandhiscompanionstrodeonintothepasture，asiftheyhadnotheard，asifnomenacinghorsethieveswerewithinmiles。Theyhadcoveredaboutaquarterofthedistanceacrossthepasture，andwerenearingthehorses，whenJeansawredflashesandwhitepuffsofsmokeburstoutfromthefrontofthatdarkbandofrustlers。Thenfollowedthesharp，rattlingcrackofrifles。
　　GuyIsbelstoppedshort，and，droppinghisgun，hethrewuphisarmsandfellheadlong。Jacobsactedasifhehadsuddenlyencounteredaninvisibleblow。Hehadbeenhit。Turning，hebegantorunandranfastforafewpaces。Thereweremorequick，sharpshots。Heletgoofhisrifle。Hisrunningbroke。Walking，reeling，staggering，hekepton。
　　Ahoarsecrycamefromhim。Thenasinglerifleshotpealedout。Jeanheardthebulletstrike。Jacobsfelltohisknees，thenforwardonhisface。
　　JeanIsbelfelthimselfturnedtomarble。Thesuddennessofthistragedyparalyzedhim。Hisgazeremainedrivetedonthoseprostrateforms。
　　Ahandclutchedhisarm——ashakingwoman’shand，slimandhardandtense。
　　"Bill’s——killed！"whisperedabrokenvoice。"Iwaswatchin’……They’rebothdead！"
　　ThewivesofJacobsandGuyIsbelhadslippedupbehindJeanandfrombehindhimtheyhadseenthetragedy。
　　"IaskedBill——notto——go，"falteredtheJacobswoman，and，coveringherfacewithherhands，shegropedbacktothecomerofthecabin，wheretheotherwomen，shakingandwhite，receivedherintheirarms。
　　GuyIsbel’swifestoodatthewindow，peeringoverJean’sshoulder。
　　Shehadthenerveofaman。Shehadlookedoutupondeathbefore。
　　"Yes，they’redead，"shesaid，bitterly。"An’howarewegoin’togettheirbodies？"
　　AtthisGastonIsbelseemedtorousefromthecoldspellthathadtransfixedhim。
　　"God，thisishellforourwomen，"hecriedout，hoarsely。Myson——
　　myson！……MurderedbytheJorths！"Thenhesworeaterribleoath。
　　Jeansawtheremainderofthemountedrustlersgetoff，andthen，allofthemleadingtheirhorses，theybegantomovearoundtotheleft。
　　"Dad，they’removin’round，"saidJean。
　　"Uptosometrick，"declaredBillIsbel。
　　"Bill，youmakeaholethroughthebackwall，sayabootthefifthlogup，"orderedthefather。"Shorewe’vegottolookout。"
　　Theeldersongraspedatooland，scatteringthechildren，whohadbeenplayingnearthebackcorner，hebegantoworkatthepointdesignated。Thelittlechildrenbackedawaywithfixed，wondering，graveeyes。Thewomenmovedtheirchairs，andhuddledtogetherasifwaitingandlistening。
　　Jeanwatchedtherustlersuntiltheypassedoutofhissight。Theyhadmovedtowardthesloping，brushygroundtothenorthandwestofthecabins。
　　"Letmeknowwhenyougetaholeinthebackwall，"saidJean，andhewentthroughthekitchenandcautiouslyoutanotherdoortoslipintoalow—roofed，shed—likeendoftheramblingcabin。Thissmallspacewasusedtostorewinterfirewood。Thechinksbetweenthewallshadnotbeenfilledwithadobeclay，andhecouldseeoutonthreesides。
　　Therustlersweregoingintothejuniperbrush。Theymovedoutofsight，andpresentlyreappearedwithouttheirhorses。ItlookedtoJeanasiftheyintendedtoattackthecabins。Thentheyhaltedattheedgeofthebrushandheldalongconsultation。Jeancouldseethemdistinctly，thoughtheyweretoofardistantforhimtorecognizeanyparticularman。Oneofthem，however，stoodandmovedapartfromthecloselymassedgroup。Evidently，fromhisstridesandgestures，hewasexhortinghislisteners。JeanconcludedthiswaseitherDaggsorJorth。Whoeveritwashadaloud，coarsevoice，andthisandhisactionsimpressedJeanwithasuspicionthatthemanwasundertheinfluenceofthebottle。
　　PresentlyBillIsbelcalledJeaninalowvoice。"Jean，Igottheholemade，butwecan’tseeanyone。"
　　"Iseethem，"Jeanreplied。"They’rehavin’apowwow。LookstomelikeeitherJorthorDaggsisdrunk。He’sarguin’tochargeus，an’
　　therestofthegangareholdin’back……Telldad，an’allofyoukeepwatchin’。I’llletyouknowwhentheymakeamove。"
　　Jorth’sgangappearedtobeinnohurrytoexposetheirplanofbattle。
　　Graduallythegroupdisintegratedalittle;someofthemsatdown;
　　otherswalkedtoandfro。Presentlytwoofthemwentintothebrush，probablybacktothehorses。Inafewmomentstheyreappeared，carryingapack。Andwhenthiswasdepositedonthegroundalltherustlerssatdownaroundit。Theyhadbroughtfoodanddrink。Jeanhadtoutteragrimlaughattheircoolness;andhewasremindedofmanydare—devildeedsknowntohavebeenperpetratedbytheHashKnifeGang。Jeanwasgladofareprieve。ThelongertherustlersputoffanattackthemoretimethealliesoftheIsbelswouldhavetogethere。Ratherhazardous，however，woulditbenowforanyonetoattempttogettotheIsbelcabinsinthedaytime。Nightwouldbemorefavorable。
　　TwiceBillIsbelcamethroughthekitchentowhispertoJean。Thestraininthelargeroom，fromwhichtherustlerscouldnotbeseen，musthavebeengreat。Jeantoldhimallhehadseenandwhathethoughtaboutit。
　　"Eatin’an’drinkin’！"ejaculatedBill。"Well，I’llbe——！That’lljartheoldman。Hewantstogetthefightover。
　　"TellhimIsaidit’llbeovertooquick——forus——unlessaremightycareful，"repliedJean，sharply。
　　Billwentbackmutteringtohimself。Thenfollowedalongwait，fraughtwithsuspense，duringwhichJeanwatchedtherustlersregalethemselves。
　　Thedaywashotandstill。Andtheunnaturalsilenceofthecabinwasbrokennowandthenbythegaylaughterofthechildren。ThesoundshockedandhauntedJean。Playingchildren！Thenanothersound，sofainthehadtostraintohearit，disturbedandsaddenedhim——hisfather’sslowtreadupanddownthecabinfloor，toandfro，toandfro。
　　Whatmustbeinhisfather’sheartthisday！
　　Atlengththerustlersroseand，withriflesinhand，theymovedasonemandowntheslope。Theycameseveralhundredyardscloser，untilJean，grimlycockinghisrifle，mutteredtohimselfthatafewmorerodscloserwouldmeantheendofseveralofthatgang。Theyknewtherangeofariflewellenough，andoncemoresheeredoffatrightangleswiththecabin。WhentheygotevenwiththelineofcorralstheystoopeddownandwerelosttoJean’ssight。Thisfactcausedhimalarm。
　　Theywere，ofcourse，crawlinguponthecabins。Attheendofthatlineofcorralsranaditch，thebankofwhichwashighenoughtoaffordcover。Moreover，itranalonginfrontofthecabins，scarcelyahundredyards，anditwascoveredwithgrassandlittleclumpsofbrush，frombehindwhichtherustlerscouldfireintothewindowsandthroughtheclaychinkswithoutanyconsiderablerisktothemselves。
　　Astheydidnotcomeintosightagain，Jeanconcludedhehaddiscoveredtheirplan。Still，hewaitedawhilelonger，untilhesawfaint，littlecloudsofdustrisingfrombehindthefarendoftheembankment。Thatdiscoverymadehimrushout，andthroughthekitchentothelargecabin，wherehissuddenappearancestartledthemen。
　　"Getbackoutofsight！"heordered，sharply，andwithswiftstepshereachedthedoorandclosedit。"They’rebehindthebankouttherebythecorrals。An’they’regoin’tocrawldowntheditchclosertous……Itlooksbad。They’llhavegrassan’brushtoshootfrom。
　　We’vegottobemightycarefulhowwepeepout。"
　　"Ahuh！Allright，"repliedhisfather。"Youwomenkeepthekidswithyouinthatcorner。An’youallbetterlaydownflat。"
　　Blaisdell，BillIsbel，andtheoldmancrouchedatthelargewindow，peepingthroughcracksintheroughedgesofthelogs。Jeantookhispostbesidethesmallwindow，withhiskeeneyesvibratinglikeacompassneedle。Themovementofabladeofgrass，theflightofagrasshoppercouldnotescapehistrainedsight。
　　"Looksharpnow！"hecalledtotheothermen。"Iseedust……
　　They’reworkin’alongalmosttothatbarespotonthebank……
　　Isawthetipofarifle……ablackhat……moredust。They’respreadin’alongbehindthebank。"
　　Loudvoices，andthenthickcloudsofyellowdust，comingfrombehindthehighestandbrushiestlineoftheembankment，attestedtothetruthofJean’sobservation，andalsotoarecklessdisregardofdanger。
　　SuddenlyJeancaughtaglintofmovingcolorthroughthefringeofbrush。Instantlyhewasstrunglikeawhipcord。
　　Thenatall，hatlessandcoatlessmansteppedupinplainsight。
　　Thesunshoneonhisfair，ruffledhair。Daggs！
　　Hey，you————Isbels！"hebawled，inmagnificentderisiveboldness。
　　"Comeoutan’fight！"
　　QuickaslightningJeanthrewuphisrifleandfired。HesawtuftsoffairhairflyfromDaggs’shead。Hesawthesquirtofredblood。
　　Thenquickshotsfromhis，comradesrangout。Theyallhittheswayingbodyoftherustler。ButJeanknewwithaterriblethrillthathisbullethadkilledDaggsbeforetheotherthreestruck。Daggsfellforward，hisarmsandhalfhisbodyrestingover，theembankment。
　　Thentherustlersdraggedhimbackoutofsight。Hoarseshoutsrose。
　　Acloudofyellowdustdriftedawayfromthespot。
　　"Daggs！"burstoutGastonIsbel。"Jean，youknockedoffthetopofhishaid。IseenthatwhenIwaspullin’trigger。Shoreweoverheahwastedourshots。"
　　"God！hemusthavebeencrazyordrunk——topopupthere——an’braceusthatway，"saidBlaisdell，breathinghard。
　　"ArizonaisbadforTexans，"repliedIsbel，sardonically。"Shoreit’sbeentoopeacefulheah。Rustlershavenopracticeatfightin’。An’I
　　reckonDaggsforgot。"
　　"DaggsmadeascrazyamoveasthatofGuyan’Jacobs，"spokeupJean。
　　"Theywereoverbold，an’hewasdrunk。Letthembealessontous。"
　　Jeanhadsmelledwhiskyuponhisentrancetothiscabin。Billwasaharddrinker，andhisfatherwasnotimmune。Blaisdell，too，drankheavilyuponoccasions。Jeanmadeamentalnotethathewouldnotpermittheirchancestobecomeimpairedbyliquor。
　　Riflesbegantocrack，andpuffsofsmokeroseallalongtheembankmentforthespaceofahundredfeet。Bulletswhistledthroughtherudewindowcasingandspatteredontheheavydoor，andonesplittheclaybetweenthelogsbeforeJean，narrowlymissinghim。Anothervolleyfollowed，thenanother。Therustlershadrepeatingriflesandtheywereemptyingtheirmagazines。Jeanchangedhisposition。Theothermenprofitedbyhiswisemove。Thevolleyshadmergedintoonecontinuousrattlingroarofrifleshots。Thencameasuddencessationofreports，withsilenceofrelief。Thecabinwasfullofdust，mingledwiththesmokefromtheshotsofJeanandhiscompanions。Jeanheardthestifledbreathsofthechildren。Evidentlytheywereterror—stricken，buttheydidnotcryout。Thewomenutterednosound。
　　Aloudvoicepealedfrombehindtheembankment。
　　"Comeoutan’fight！DoyouIsbelswanttobekilledlikesheep？"
　　Thissallygainednoreply。Jeanreturnedtohispostbythewindowandhiscomradesfollowedhisexample。Andtheyexercisedextremecautionwhentheypeepedout。
　　"Boys，don’tshoottillyouseeone，"saidGastonIsbel。"Maybeafterawhilethey’llgetcareless。ButJorthwillnevershowhimself。"
　　Therustlersdidnotagainresorttovolleys。Onebyone，fromdifferentangles，theybegantoshoot，andtheywerenotfiringatrandom。Afewbulletscamestraightinatthewindowstopatintothewalls;afewotherstickedandsplinteredtheedgesofthewindows;
　　andmostofthembrokethroughtheclaychinksbetweenthelogs。ItdawneduponJeanthatthesedangerousshotswerenotaccident。Theywerewellaimed，andmostofthemhitlowdown。Thecunningrustlershadsomeunerringriflemenandtheywerepickingoutthevulnerableplacesallalongthefrontofthecabin。IfJeanhadnotbeenlyingflathewouldhavebeenhittwice。Presentlyheconceivedtheideaofdrivingpegsbetweenthelogs，highup，and，kneelingonthese，hemanagedtopeepoutfromtheupperedgeofthewindow。Butthispositionwasawkwardanddifficulttoholdforlong。
　　Heheardabullethitoneofhiscomrades。Whoeverhadbeenstruckneverutteredasound。Jeanturnedtolook。BillIsbelwasholdinghisshoulder，whereredsplotchesappearedonhisshirt。HeshookhisheadatJean，evidentlytomakelightofthewound。Thewomenandchildrenwerelyingfacedownandcouldnotseewhatwashappening。
　　PlainiswasthatBilldidnotwantthemtoknow。Blaisdellboundupthebloodyshoulderwithascarf。
　　Steadyfiringfromtherustlerswenton，attherateofoneshoteveryfewminutes。TheIsbelsdidnotreturnthese。Jeandidnotfireagainthatafternoon。Towardsunset，whenthebesiegersappearedtogrowrestlessorcareless，Blaisdellfiredatsomethingmovingbehindthebrush;andGastonIsbel’shugebuffalogunboomedout。
　　"Wal，what’retheygoin’todoafterdark，an’what’reWEgoin’
　　todo？"grumbledBlaisdell。
　　"Reckonthey’llneverchargeus，"saidGaston。
　　"Theymightsetfiretothecabins，"addedBillIsbel。HeappearedtobethegloomiestoftheIsbelfaction。Therewassomethingonhismind。
　　"Wal，theJorthsarebad，butIreckonthey’dnotburnusalive，"
　　repliedBlaisdell。
　　"Hah！"ejaculatedGastonIsbel。"MuchyouknowabootLeeJorth。
　　Hewouldskinmealivean’throwred—hotcoalsonmyrawflesh。"
　　Sotheytalkedduringthehourfromsunsettodark。JeanIsbelhadlittletosay。Hewasrevolvingpossibilitiesinhismind。Darknessbroughtachangeintheattackoftherustlers。Theystationedmenatfourpointsaroundthecabins;andeveryfewminutesoneoftheseoutpostswouldfire。Thesebulletsembeddedthemselvesinthelogs，causingbutlittleanxietytotheIsbels。
　　"Jean，whatyoumakeofit？"askedtheoldrancher。
　　"Lookstomethisway，"repliedJean。"They’resetforalongfight。
　　They’reshootin’justtoletusknowthey’reonthewatch。"
　　"Ahuh！Wal，what’reyougoin’todoabootit？"
　　"I’mgoin’outtherepresently。"
　　GastonIsbelgruntedhissatisfactionatthisintentionofJean’s。
　　Allwaspitchdarkinsidethecabin。Thewomenhadwaterandfoodathand。Jeankeptasharplookoutfromhiswindowwhileheatehissupperofmeat，bread，andmilk。Atlastthechildren，wornoutbythelongday，fellasleep。Thewomenwhisperedalittleintheircorner。