ThefewboundshetookbeforeDuane’sironarmcheckedhimwereenoughtoreachthecurve。OneflashingglanceshowedDuanetheopenoncemore，alittlevalleybelowwithawide，shallow，rockystream，aclumpofcottonwoodsbeyond，asombergroupofmenfacinghim，andtwodark，limp，strangelygrotesquefigureshangingfrombranches。
ThesightwascommonenoughinsouthwestTexas，butDuanehadneverbeforefoundhimselfsounpleasantlyclose。
Ahoarsevoicepealedout:\"Byhell！there’sanotherone！\"
\"Stranger，ridedownan’accountferyourself！\"yelledanother。
\"Handsup！\"