"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。