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。