Horsesandcattlewereeverywhere。Everyclumpofcottonwoodssurroundedasmalladobehouse。DuanesawMexicansworkinginthefieldsandhorsemengoingtoandfro。Presentlyhepassedahousebiggerthantheotherswithaporchattached。Awoman，youngandprettyhethought，watchedhimfromadoor。Nooneelseappearedtonoticehim。
Presentlythetrailwidenedintoaroad，andthatintoakindofsquarelinedbyanumberofadobeandlogbuildingsofrudeststructure。Withinsightwerehorses，dogs，acoupleofsteers，Mexicanwomenwithchildren，andwhitemen，allofwhomappearedtobedoingnothing。Hisadventcreatednointerestuntilherodeuptothewhitemen，whowerelollingintheshadeofahouse。Thisplaceevidentlywasastoreandsaloon，andfromtheinsidecamealazyhumofvoices。
AsDuanereinedtoahaltoneoftheloungersintheshaderosewithaloudexclamation:
\"Bustmeifthetain’tLuke’shoss！\"
Theothersaccordedtheirinterest，ifnotassent，byrisingtoadvancetowardDuane。
\"Howaboutit，Euchre？Ain’tthetLuke’sbay？\"queriedthefirstman。
\"Plainasyournose，\"repliedthefellowcalledEuchre。
\"Thereain’tnodoubtaboutthet，then，\"laughedanother，\"ferBosomer’snoseisshoreplainonthelandscape。\"
ThesemenlinedupbeforeDuane，andashecoollyregardedthemhethoughttheycouldhavebeenrecognizedanywhereasdesperadoes。ThemancalledBosomer，whohadsteppedforward，hadaforbiddingfacewhichshowedyelloweyes，anenormousnose，andaskinthecolorofdust，withathatchofsandyhair。
\"Stranger，whoareyouan’whereinthehelldidyougitthetbayhoss？\"hedemanded。HisyelloweyestookinStevens’shorse，thentheweaponshungonthesaddle，andfinallyturnedtheirglinting，hardlightupwardtoDuane。
Duanedidnotlikethetoneinwhichhehadbeenaddressed，andheremainedsilent。Atleasthalfhismindseemedbusywithcuriousinterestinregardtosomethingthatleapedinsidehimandmadehisbreastfeeltight。Herecognizeditasthatstrangeemotionwhichhadshotthroughhimoftenoflate，andwhichhaddecidedhimtogoouttothemeetingwithBain。Onlynowitwasdifferent，morepowerful。
\"Stranger，whoareyou？\"askedanotherman，somewhatmorecivilly。
\"Myname’sDuane，\"repliedDuane，curtly。
\"An’how’dyoucomebythehoss？\"
Duaneansweredbriefly，andhiswordswerefollowedbyashortsilence，duringwhichthemenlookedathim。Bosomerbegantotwisttheendsofhisbeard。
\"Reckonhe’sdead，allright，ornobody’dhevhishossan’
guns，\"presentlysaidEuchre。
\"MisterDuane，\"beganBosomer，inlow，stingingtones，\"I
happentobeLukeStevens’sside—pardner。\"
Duanelookedhimover，fromdusty，worn—outbootstohisslouchysombrero。ThatlookseemedtoinflameBosomer。
\"An’Iwantthehossan’themguns，\"heshouted。
\"Youoranybodyelsecanhavethem，forallIcare。Ijustfetchedthemin。Butthepackismine，\"repliedDuane。\"Andsay，Ibefriendedyourpard。Ifyoucan’tuseaciviltongueyou’dbettercinchit。\"
\"Civil？Haw，haw！\"rejoinedtheoutlaw。\"Idon’tknowyou。Howdoweknowyoudidn’tplugStevens，an’stolehishoss，an’
jesthappenedtostumbledownhere？\"
\"You’llhavetotakemyword，that’sall，\"repliedDuane，sharply。
\"Iain’ttakin’yourword！Savvythet？An’IwasLuke’spard！\"
WiththatBosomerwheeledand，pushinghiscompanionsaside，hestampedintothesaloon，wherehisvoicebrokeoutinaroar。
Duanedismountedandthrewhisbridle。
\"Stranger，Bosomerisshorehot—headed，\"saidthemanEuchre。
Hedidnotappearunfriendly，norweretheothershostile。
Atthisjunctureseveralmoreoutlawscrowdedoutofthedoor，andtheoneintheleadwasatallmanofstalwartphysique。
Hismannerproclaimedhimaleader。Hehadalongface，aflamingredbeard，andclear，coldblueeyesthatfixedinclosescrutinyuponDuane。HewasnotaTexan;intruth，Duanedidnotrecognizeoneoftheseoutlawsasnativetohisstate。
\"I’mBland，\"saidthetallman，authoritatively。\"Who’reyouandwhat’reyoudoinghere？\"
DuanelookedatBlandashehadattheothers。Thisoutlawchiefappearedtobereasonable，ifhewasnotcourteous。Duanetoldhisstoryagain，thistimealittlemoreindetail。
\"Ibelieveyou，\"repliedBland，atonce。\"ThinkIknowwhenafellowislying。\"
\"Ireckonyou’reontherighttrail，\"putinEuchre。\"ThetaboutLukewantin’hisbootstookoff——thetsatisfiesme。Lukehedamortaldreadofdyin’withhisbootson。\"
Atthissallythechiefandhismenlaughed。
\"YousaidDuane——BuckDuane？\"queriedBland。\"AreyouasonofthatDuanewhowasagunfightersomeyearsback？\"
\"Yes，\"repliedDuane。
\"Nevermethim，andgladIdidn’t，\"saidBland，withagrimhumor。\"Soyougotintroubleandhadtogoonthedodge？Whatkindoftrouble？\"
\"Hadafight。\"
\"Fight？Doyoumeangun—play？\"questionedBland。Heseemedeager，curious，speculative。
\"Yes。Itendedingun—play，I’msorrytosay，\"answeredDuane，\"GuessIneedn’taskthesonofDuaneifhekilledhisman，\"
wentonBland，ironically。\"Well，I’msorryyoubuckedagainsttroubleinmycamp。Butasitis，Iguessyou’dbewisetomakeyourselfscarce。\"
\"DoyoumeanI’mpolitelytoldtomoveon？\"askedDuane，quietly。
\"Notexactlythat，\"saidBland，asifirritated。\"Ifthisisn’tafreeplacethereisn’toneonearth。Everymanisequalhere。
Doyouwanttojoinmyband？\"
\"No，Idon’t。\"
\"Well，evenifyoudidIimaginethatwouldn’tstopBosomer。
He’sanuglyfellow。He’soneofthefewgunmenI’vemetwhowantstokillsomebodyallthetime。Mostmenlikethatarefourflushes。ButBosomerisallonecolor，andthat’sred。
MerelyforyourownsakeIadviseyoutohitthetrail。\"
\"Thanks。Butifthat’sallI’llstay，\"returnedDuane。Evenashespokehefeltthathedidnotknowhimself。
Bosomerappearedatthedoor，pushingmenwhotriedtodetainhim，andashejumpedclearofalastreachinghandheutteredasnarllikeanangrydog。Manifestlytheshortwhilehehadspentinsidethesaloonhadbeendevotedtodrinkingandtalkinghimselfintoafrenzy。Blandandtheotheroutlawsquicklymovedaside，lettingDuanestandalone。WhenBosomersawDuanestandingmotionlessandwatchfulastrangechangepassedquicklyinhim。Hehaltedinhistracks，andashedidthatthemenwhohadfollowedhimoutpiledoveroneanotherintheirhurrytogettooneside。
Duanesawalltheswiftaction，feltintuitivelythemeaningofit，andinBosomer’ssuddenchangeoffront。Theoutlawwaskeen，andhehadexpectedashrinking，oratleastafrightenedantagonist。Duaneknewhewasneither。Hefeltlikeiron，andyetthrillafterthrillranthroughhim。Itwasalmostasifthissituationhadbeenonelongfamiliartohim。Somehowheunderstoodthisyellow—eyedBosomer。Theoutlawhadcomeouttokillhim。Andnow，thoughsomewhatcheckedbythestandofastranger，hestillmeanttokill。Likesomanydesperadoesofhisilk，hewasvictimofapassiontokillforthesakeofkilling。DuanedivinedthatnosuddenanimositywasdrivingBosomer。Itwasjusthischance。Inthatmomentmurderwouldhavebeenjoytohim。Verylikelyhehadforgottenhispretextforaquarrel。VeryprobablyhisfacultieswereabsorbedinconjectureastoDuane’spossibilities。
Buthedidnotspeakaword。Heremainedmotionlessforalongmoment，hiseyespaleandsteady，hisrighthandlikeaclaw。
ThatinstantgaveDuaneapowertoreadinhisenemy’seyesthethoughtthatprecededaction。ButDuanedidnotwanttokillanotherman。Stillhewouldhavetofight，andhedecidedtocrippleBosomer。WhenBosomer’shandmovedDuane’sgunwasspoutingfire。Twoshotsonly——bothfromDuane’sgun——andtheoutlawfellwithhisrightarmshattered。Bosomercursedharshlyandflounderedinthedust，tryingtoreachthegunwithhislefthand。Hiscomrades，however，seeingthatDuanewouldnotkillunlessforced，closedinuponBosomerandpreventedanyfurthermadnessonhispart。
CHAPTERV
OftheoutlawspresentEuchreappearedtobetheonemostinclinedtolendfriendlinesstocuriosity;andheledDuaneandthehorsesawaytoasmalladobeshack。Hetiedthehorsesinanopenshedandremovedtheirsaddles。Then，gatheringupStevens’sweapons，heinvitedhisvisitortoenterthehouse。
Ithadtworooms——windowswithoutcoverings——barefloors。Oneroomcontainedblankets，weapons，saddles，andbridles;theotherastonefireplace，rudetableandbench，twobunks，aboxcupboard，andvariousblackenedutensils。
\"Makeyourselftohomeaslongasyouwanttostay，\"saidEuchre。\"Iain’trichinthisworld’sgoods，butIownwhat’shere，an’you’rewelcome。\"
\"Thanks。I’llstayawhileandrest。I’mprettywellplayedout，\"repliedDuane。
Euchregavehimakeenglance。
\"Goaheadan’rest。I’lltakeyourhorsestograss。\"
EuchreleftDuanealoneinthehouse。Duanerelaxedthen，andmechanicallyhewipedthesweatfromhisface。Hewaslaboringundersomekindofaspellorshockwhichdidnotpassoffquickly。Whenithadwornawayhetookoffhiscoatandbeltandmadehimselfcomfortableontheblankets。Andhehadathoughtthatifherestedorsleptwhatdifferencewoulditmakeonthemorrow？Norest，nosleepcouldchangethegrayoutlookofthefuture。HefeltgladwhenEuchrecamebustlingin，andforthefirsttimehetooknoticeoftheoutlaw。
Euchrewasoldinyears。Whatlittlehairhehadwasgray，hisfaceclean—shavenandfullofwrinkles;hiseyeswerehalfshutfromlonggazingthroughthesunanddust。Hestooped。Buthisthinframedenotedstrengthandendurancestillunimpaired。
\"Heyadrinkorasmoke？\"heasked。
Duaneshookhishead。Hehadnotbeenunfamiliarwithwhisky，andhehadusedtobaccomoderatelysincehewassixteen。Butnow，strangely，hefeltadisgustattheideaofstimulants。Hedidnotunderstandclearlywhathefelt。Therewasthatvagueideaofsomethingwildinhisblood，somethingthatmadehimfearhimself。
Euchrewaggedhisoldheadsympathetically。\"Reckonyoufeelalittlesick。Whenitcomestoshootin’Irun。What’syourage？\"
\"I’mtwenty—three，\"repliedDuane。
Euchreshowedsurprise。\"You’reonlyaboy！Ithoughtyouthirtyanyways。Buck，IheardwhatyoutoldBland，an’puttin’
thetwithmyownfiggerin’，Ireckonyou’renocriminalyet。
Throwin’aguninself—defense——thetain’tnocrime！\"
Duane，findingreliefintalking，toldmoreabouthimself。
\"Huh，\"repliedtheoldman。\"I’vebeenonthisriverferyears，an’I’veseenhundredsofboyscomeinonthedodge。Mostofthem，though，wasnogood。An’thetkinddon’tlastlong。Thisrivercountryhasbeenan’istherefugefercriminalsfromalloverthestates。I’vebunkedwithbankcashiers，forgers，plainthieves，an’out—an’—outmurderers，allofwhichhadnobiznessontheTexasborder。FellerslikeBlandareexceptions。He’snoTexan——youseenthet。Thegangherulesherecomefromallover，an’they’retoughcusses，youcanbetonthet。Theylivefatan’easy。Ifitwasn’tferthefightin’amongthemselvesthey’dshoregrowpopulous。TheRimRockisnoplaceforapeaceable，decentfeller。IheardyoutellBlandyouwouldn’tjoinhisgang。Thet’llnotmakehimtakealikin’toyou。Haveyouanymoney？\"
\"Notmuch，\"repliedDuane。
\"Couldyoulivebygamblin’？Areyouanygoodatcards？\"
\"No。\"
\"Youwouldn’tstealhossesorrustlecattle？\"
\"No。\"
\"Whenyourmoney’sgonehow’nhellwillyoulive？Thereain’tanyworkadecentfellercoulddo。Youcan’therdwithgreasers。Why，Bland’smenwouldshootatyouinthefields。
What’llyoudo，son？\"
\"Godknows，\"repliedDuane，hopelessly。\"I’llmakemymoneylastaslongaspossible——thenstarve。\"
\"Wal，I’mprettypore，butyou’llneverstarvewhileIgotanythin’。\"
HereitstruckDuaneagain——thatsomethinghumanandkindandeagerwhichhehadseeninStevens。Duane’sestimateofoutlawshadlackedthisquality。Hehadnotaccordedthemanyvirtues。
Tohim，astotheoutsideworld，theyhadbeenmerelyviciousmenwithoutoneredeemingfeature。
\"I’mmuchobligedtoyou，Euchre，\"repliedDuane。\"ButofcourseIwon’tlivewithanyoneunlessIcanpaymyshare。\"
\"Haveitanywayyoulike，myson，\"saidEuchre，good—humoredly。\"Youmakeafire，an’I’llsetaboutgettin’
grub。I’masourdough，Buck。Thetmandoesn’tlivewhocanbeatmybread。\"
\"Howdoyoueverpacksuppliesinhere？\"askedDuane，thinkingofthealmostinaccessiblenatureofthevalley。
\"SomecomesacrossfromMexico，an’therestdowntheriver。
Thetrivertripisabird。It’smore’nfivehundredmilestoanysupplypoint。Blandhasmozos，greaserboatmen。Sometimes，too，hegetssuppliesinfromdown—river。Yousee，BlandsellsthousandsofcattleinCuba。An’allthisstockhastogodownbyboattomeettheships。\"
\"Whereoneartharethecattledrivendowntotheriver？\"askedDuane。
\"Thet’snotmysecret，\"repliedEuchre，shortly。\"Factis，I
don’tknow。I’verustledcattleforBland，butheneversentmethroughtheRimRockwiththem。\"
Duaneexperiencedasortofpleasureintherealizationthatinteresthadbeenstirredinhim。HewascuriousaboutBlandandhisgang，andgladtohavesomethingtothinkabout。Foreveryonceinawhilehehadasensationthatwasalmostlikeapang。Hewantedtoforget。Inthenexthourhedidforget，andenjoyedhelpinginthepreparationandeatingofthemeal。
Euchre，afterwashingandhanginguptheseveralutensils，putonhishatandturnedtogoout。
\"Comealongorstayhere，asyouwant，\"hesaidtoDuane。
\"I’llstay，\"rejoinedDuane，slowly。
Theoldoutlawlefttheroomandtrudgedaway，whistlingcheerfully。
Duanelookedaroundhimforabookorpaper，anythingtoread;
butalltheprintedmatterhecouldfindconsistedofafewwordsoncartridge—boxesandanadvertisementonthebackofatobacco—pouch。Thereseemedtobenothingforhimtodo。Hehadrested;hedidnotwanttoliedownanymore。Hebegantowalktoandfro，fromoneendoftheroomtotheother。Andashewalkedhefellintothelatelyacquiredhabitofbroodingoverhismisfortune。
Suddenlyhestraightenedupwithajerk。Unconsciouslyhehaddrawnhisgun。Standingtherewiththebrightcoldweaponinhishand，helookedatitinconsternation。Howhadhecometodrawit？Withdifficultyhetracedhisthoughtsbackward，butcouldnotfindanythatwasaccountableforhisact。Hediscovered，however，thathehadaremarkabletendencytodrophishandtohisgun。Thatmighthavecomefromthehabitlongpracticeindrawinghadgivenhim。Likewise，itmighthavecomefromasubtlesense，scarcelythoughtofatall，ofthelate，close，andinevitablerelationbetweenthatweaponandhimself。
Hewasamazedtofindthat，bitterashehadgrownatfate，thedesiretoliveburnedstronginhim。Ifhehadbeenasunfortunatelysituated，butwiththedifferencethatnomanwantedtoputhiminjailortakehislife，hefeltthatthisburningpassiontobefree，tosavehimself，mightnothavebeensopowerful。Lifecertainlyheldnobrightprospectsforhim。Alreadyhehadbeguntodespairofevergettingbacktohishome。Buttogiveuplikeawhite—heartedcoward，tolethimselfbehandcuffedandjailed，torunfromadrunken，braggingcowboy，orbeshotincoldbloodbysomeborderbrutewhomerelywantedtoaddanothernotchtohisgun——thesethingswereimpossibleforDuanebecausetherewasinhimthetempertofight。Inthathourheyieldedonlytofateandthespiritinborninhim。Hereafterthisgunmustbealivingpartofhim。
Rightthenandtherehereturnedtoapracticehehadlongdiscontinued——thedraw。Itwasnowastern，bitter，deadlybusinesswithhim。Hedidnotneedtofirethegun，foraccuracywasagiftandhadbecomeassured。Swiftnessonthedraw，however，couldbeimproved，andhesethimselftoacquirethelimitofspeedpossibletoanyman。Hestoodstillinhistracks;hepacedtheroom;hesatdown，laydown，puthimselfinawkwardpositions;andfromeverypositionhepracticedthrowinghisgun——practicedittillhewashotandtiredandhisarmachedandhishandburned。Thatpracticehedeterminedtokeepupeveryday。Itwasonething，atleast，thatwouldhelppassthewearyhours。
Laterhewentoutdoorstothecoolershadeofthecottonwoods。
Fromthispointhecouldseeagooddealofthevalley。UnderdifferentcircumstancesDuanefeltthathewouldhaveenjoyedsuchabeautifulspot。Euchre’sshacksatagainstthefirstriseoftheslopeofthewall，andDuane，byclimbingafewrods，gotaviewofthewholevalley。Assuredlyitwasanoutlawsettlemeet。HesawagoodmanyMexicans，who，ofcourse，werehandandglovewithBland。Alsohesawenormousflat—boats，crudeofstructure，mooredalongthebanksoftheriver。TheRioGranderolledawaybetweenhighbluffs。Acable，saggingdeepinthemiddle，wasstretchedoverthewideyellowstream，andanoldscow，evidentlyusedasaferry，layanchoredonthefarshore。
Thevalleywasanidealretreatforanoutlawbandoperatingonabigscale。PursuitscarcelyneedbefearedoverthebrokentrailsoftheRimRock。Andtheopenendofthevalleycouldbedefendedagainstalmostanynumberofmencomingdowntheriver。AccesstoMexicowaseasyandquick。WhatpuzzledDuanewashowBlandgotcattledowntotheriver，andhewonderediftherustlerreallydidgetridofhisstolenstockbyuseofboats。
Duanemusthaveidledconsiderabletimeuponthehill，forwhenhereturnedtotheshackEuchrewasbusilyengagedaroundthecamp—fire。
\"Wal，gladtoseeyouain’tsopaleaboutthegillsasyouwas，\"hesaid，bywayofgreeting。\"Pitchinan’we’llsoonhavegrubready。There’sshoreoneconsolin’factroundthisherecamp。\"
\"What’sthat？\"askedDuane。
\"Plentyofgoodjuicybeeftoeat。An’itdoesn’tcostashortbit。\"
\"Butitcostshardridesandtrouble，badconscience，andlife，too，doesn’tit？\"
\"Iain’tshoreaboutthebadconscience。Mineneverbotheredmenone。An’asforlife，why，thet’scheapinTexas。\"
\"WhoisBland？\"askedDuane，quicklychangingthesubject。
\"Whatdoyouknowabouthim？\"
\"Wedon’tknowwhoheisorwherehehailsfrom，\"repliedEuchre。\"Thet’salwaysbeensomethin’tointerestthegang。HemusthavebeenayoungmanwhenhestruckTexas。Nowhe’smiddle—aged。Irememberhowyearsagohewassoft—spokenan’
notroughintalkoractlikeheisnow。Blandain’tlikelyhisrightname。Heknowsalot。Hecandoctoryou，an’he’sshoreaknowin’fellerwithtools。He’sthekindthetrulesmen。
Outlawsarealwaysridin’inheretojoinhisgang，an’ifithadn’tbeenferthegamblin’an’gun—playhe’dhaveathousandmenaroundhim。\"
\"Howmanyinhisgangnow？\"
\"Ireckonthere’sshortofahundrednow。Thenumbervaries。
ThenBlandhasseveralsmallcampsupan’downtheriver。Alsohehasmenbackonthecattle—ranges。\"
\"Howdoeshecontrolsuchabigforce？\"askedDuane。
\"Especiallywhenhisband’scomposedofbadmen。LukeStevenssaidhehadnouseforBland。AndIheardoncesomewherethatBlandwasadevil。\"
\"Thet’sit。Heisadevil。He’sashardasflint，violentintemper，nevermadeanyfriendsexcepthisright—handmen，DaveRuggan’ChessAlloway。Bland’llshootatawink。He’skilledalotoffellers，an’somefernothin’。Thereasonthetoutlawsgatherroundhiman’stickisbecausehe’sasaferefuge，an’
thenhe’swellheeled。Blandisrich。Theysayhehasahundredthousandpesoshidsomewhere，an’lotsofgold。Buthe’sfreewithmoney。Hegambleswhenhe’snotoffwithashipmentofcattle。Hethrowsmoneyaround。An’thefactisthere’salwaysplentyofmoneywhereheis。Thet’swhatholdsthegang。Dirty，bloodymoney！\"
\"It’sawonderhehasn’tbeenkilled。Alltheseyearsontheborder！\"exclaimedDuane。
\"Wal，\"repliedEuchre，dryly，\"he’sbeenquickeronthedrawthantheotherfellerswhohankeredtokillhim，thet’sall。\"
Euchre’sreplyratherchilledDuane’sinterestforthemoment。
Suchremarksalwaysmadehismindrevolveroundfactspertainingtohimself。
\"Speakin’ofthishereswiftwristgame，\"wentonEuchre，\"there’sbeenconsiderabletalkincampaboutyourthrowin’ofagun。Youknow，Buck，thetamongusfellers——ushuntedmen——thereain’tanythin’calculatedtorouserespectlikeaslickhandwithagun。IheardBlandsaythisafternoon——an’hesaiditserious—likean’speculative——thethe’dneverseenyourequal。Hewaswatchin’ofyouclose，hesaid，an’justcouldn’tfollowyourhandwhenyoudrawed。AllthefellerswhoseenyoumeetBosomerhadsomethin’tosay。Bowasaboutashandywithagunasanymaninthiscamp，barrin’ChessAllowayan’mebbeBlandhimself。ChessisthecaptainwithaColt——orhewas。An’
heshoredidn’tlikethereferencesmadeaboutyourspeed。
Blandwashonestinacknowledgin’it，buthedidn’tlikeit，neither。Someofthefellersallowedyourdrawmighthavebeenjustaccident。Butmostofthemfiggereddifferent。An’theyallshutupwhenBlandtoldwhoan’whatyourDadwas。’PearstomeIonceseenyourDadinagunscrapeoveratSantone，yearsago。Wal，Iputmyoarinto—dayamongthefellers，an’I
says:’Whatailsyoulocoedgents？DidyoungDuanebudgeaninchwhenBocameroarin’out，bloodinhiseye？Wasn’thecoolan’quiet，steadyoflips，an’weren’thiseyesreadin’Bo’smind？An’thetlightnin’draw——can’tyou—allseethet’safamilygift？’\"
Euchre’snarroweyestwinkled，andhegavethedoughhewasrollingaslapwithhisflour—whitenedhand。ManifestlyhehadproclaimedhimselfachampionandpartnerofDuane’s，withalltheprideanoldmancouldfeelinayoungonewhomheadmired。
\"Wal，\"heresumed，presently，\"thet’syourintroductiontotheborder，Buck。An’yourcardwasahightrump。You’llbeletseverelyalonebyrealgun—fightersan’menlikeBland，Alloway，Rugg，an’thebossesoftheothergangs。Afterall，theserealmenaremen，youknow，an’onlessyoucrossthemthey’renomorelikelytointerferewithyouthanyouarewiththem。Butthere’sasightoffellerslikeBosomerintherivercountry。They’llallwantyourgame。An’everytownyourideintowillscareupsomecowpuncherfullofboozeoralong—hairedfour—flushgunmanorasheriff——an’thesemenwillbeplayin’tothecrowdan’yellin’foryourblood。Thet’stheTexasofit。You’llhavetohidefereverinthebrakesoryou’llhavetoKILLsuchmen。Buck，Ireckonthisain’tcheerfulnewstoadecentchaplikeyou。I’monlytellin’youbecauseI’vetakenalikin’toyou，an’Iseenrightoffthetyouain’tborder—wise。Let’seatnow，an’afterwardwe’llgooutsothegangcanseeyou’renothidin’。\"
WhenDuanewentoutwithEuchrethesunwassettingbehindabluerangeofmountainsacrosstheriverinMexico。Thevalleyappearedtoopentothesouthwest。Itwasatranquil，beautifulscene。Somewhereinahousenearathandawomanwassinging。
AndintheroadDuanesawalittleMexicanboydrivinghomesomecows，oneofwhichworeabell。Thesweet，happyvoiceofawomanandawhistlingbarefootboy——theseseemedutterlyoutofplacehere。
EuchrepresentlyledtothesquareandtherowofroughhousesDuaneremembered。HealmoststeppedonawideimprintinthedustwhereBosomerhadconfrontedhim。Andasuddenfurybesethimthatheshouldbeaffectedstrangelybythesightofit。
\"Let’shavealookinhere，\"saidEuchre。
Duanehadtobendhisheadtoenterthedoor。Hefoundhimselfinaverylargeroominclosedbyadobewallsandroofedwithbrush。Itwasfullofrudebenches，tables，seats。Atonecorneranumberofkegsandbarrelslaysidebysideinarack。
AMexicanboywaslightinglampshungonpoststhatsustainedthelograftersoftheroof。
\"Theonlyfellerwho’sgoin’toputacloseeyeonyouisBenson，\"saidEuchre。\"Herunstheplacean’sellsdrinks。ThegangcallshimJackrabbitBenson，becausehe’salwaysgothiseyepeeledan’hisearcocked。Don’tnoticehimifhelooksyouover，Buck。Bensonisscaredtodeathofeverynew—comerwhorustlesintoBland’scamp。An’thereason，Itakeit，isbecausehe’sdonesomebodydirt。He’shidin’。Notfromasherifforranger！Menwhohidefromthemdon’tactlikeJackrabbitBenson。He’shidin’fromsomeguywho’shuntin’himtokillhim。Wal，I’malwaysexpectin’toseesomefellerrideinherean’throwagunonBenson。Can’tsayI’dbegrieved。\"
Duanecasuallyglancedinthedirectionindicated，andhesawaspare，gauntmanwithafacestrikinglywhitebesidetheredandbronzeanddarkskinsofthemenaroundhim。Itwasacadaverousface。Theblackmustachehungdown;aheavylockofblackhairdroppeddownoverthebrow;deep—set，hollow，staringeyeslookedoutpiercingly。Themanhadarestless，alert，nervousmanner。HeputhishandsontheboardthatservedasabarandstaredatDuane。ButwhenhemetDuane’sglanceheturnedhurriedlytogoonservingoutliquor。