BOOKIITHERANGER
CHAPTERXV
WestofthePecosRiverTexasextendedavastwildregion，barreninthenorthwheretheLlanoEstacadospreaditsshiftingsands，fertileinthesouthalongtheRioGrande。A
railroadmarkedanundeviatingcourseacrossfivehundredmilesofthiscountry，andtheonlyvillagesandtownslayonornearthislineofsteel。UnsettledaswasthiswesternTexas，anddespitetheacknowledgeddominanceoftheoutlawbands，thepioneerspushedsteadilyintoit。Firsthadcomethelonerancher;thenhisneighborsinnearandfarvalleys;thenthehamlets;atlasttherailroadandthetowns。Andstillthepioneerscame，spreadingdeeperintothevalleys，fartherandwiderovertheplains。Itwasmesquite—dotted，cactus—covereddesert，butrichsoiluponwhichwateractedlikemagic。Therewaslittlegrasstoanacre，butthereweremillionsofacres。
Theclimatewaswonderful。Cattleflourishedandranchersprospered。
TheRioGrandeflowedalmostduesouthalongthewesternboundaryforathousandmiles，andthen，wearyofitscourse，turnedabruptlynorth，tomakewhatwascalledtheBigBend。
Therailroad，runningwest，cutacrossthisbend，andallthatcountryboundedonthenorthbytherailroadandonthesouthbytheriverwasaswildastheStakedPlains。Itcontainednotonesettlement。AcrossthefaceofthisBigBend，asiftoisolateit，stretchedtheOrdmountainrange，ofwhichMountOrd，CathedralMount，andElephantMountraisedbleakpeaksabovetheirfellows。Inthevalleysofthefoothillsandoutacrosstheplainswereranches，andfarthernorthvillages，andthetownsofAlpineandMarfa。
LikeotherpartsofthegreatLoneStarState，thissectionofTexaswasaworldinitself——aworldwheretherichesoftherancherwereeverenrichingtheoutlaw。Thevillageclosesttothegatewayofthisoutlaw—infestedregionwasalittleplacecalledOrd，namedafterthedarkpeakthatloomedsomemilestothesouth。IthadbeensettledoriginallybyMexicans——therewerestilltheruinsofadobemissions——butwiththeadventoftherustlerandoutlawmanyinhabitantswereshotordrivenaway，sothatattheheightofOrd’sprosperityandevilswaytherewerebutfewMexicanslivingthere，andthesehadtheirchoicebetweenholdinghand—and—glovewiththeoutlawsorfurnishingtargetpracticeforthatwildelement。
TowardthecloseofadayinSeptemberastrangerrodeintoOrd，andinacommunitywhereallmenwereremarkableforonereasonoranotherheexcitedinterest。Hishorse，perhaps，receivedthefirstandmostengagingattention——horsesinthatregionbeingapparentlymoreimportantthanmen。Thisparticularhorsedidnotattractwithbeauty。Atfirstglanceheseemedugly。Buthewasagiant，blackascoal，roughdespitethecaremanifestlybestoweduponhim，longofbody，ponderousoflimb，hugeineveryway。Abystanderremarkedthathehadagrandhead。True，ifonlyhisheadhadbeenseenhewouldhavebeenabeautifulhorse。Likemen，horsesshowwhattheyareintheshape，thesize，theline，thecharacterofthehead。Thisonedenotedfire，speed，blood，loyalty，andhiseyeswereassoftanddarkasawoman’s。Hisfacewassolidblack，exceptinthemiddleofhisforehead，wheretherewasaroundspotofwhite。
\"Saymister，mindtellin’mehisname？\"askedaraggedurchin，withbornloveofahorseinhiseyes。
\"Bullet，\"repliedtherider。
\"Thetthere’sferthewhitemark，ain’tit？\"whisperedtheyoungstertoanother。\"Say，ain’theawhopper？BiggesthossI
everseen。\"
Bulletcarriedahugeblacksilver—ornamentedsaddleofMexicanmake，alariatandcanteen，andasmallpackrolledintoatarpaulin。
Thisriderapparentlyputallcareofappearancesuponhishorse。Hisapparelwastheordinaryjeansofthecowboywithoutvanity，anditwastornandtravel—stained。Hisbootsshowedevidenceofanintimateacquaintancewithcactus。Likehishorse，thismanwasagiantinstature，butrangier，notsoheavilybuilt。Otherwisetheonlystrikingthingabouthimwashissomberfacewithitspiercingeyes，andhairwhiteoverthetemples。Hepackedtwoguns，bothlowdown——butthatwastoocommonathingtoattractnoticeintheBigBend。Acloseobserver，however，wouldhavenotedasingularfact——thisrider’srighthandwasmorebronzed，moreweather—beatenthanhisleft。Heneverworeagloveonthatrighthand！
Hehaddismountedbeforearamshacklestructurethatboreuponitswide，high—boardedfrontthesign，\"Hotel。\"Therewerehorsemencomingandgoingdownthewidestreetbetweenitsrowsofoldstores，saloons，andhouses。Ordcertainlydidnotlookenterprising。AmericanshadmanifestlyassimilatedmuchoftheleisureoftheMexicans。Thehotelhadawideplatforminfront，andthisdiddutyasporchandsidewalk。Uponit，andleaningagainstahitching—rail，weremenofvaryingages，mostofthemslovenlyinoldjeansandslouchedsombreros。Somewerebooted，belted，andspurred。Nomanthereworeacoat，butallworevests。Thegunsinthatgroupwouldhaveoutnumberedthemen。
Itwasacrowdseeminglytoolazytobecurious。Goodnaturedidnotappeartobewanting，butitwasnotthefrankandboisterouskindnaturaltothecowboyorrancherintownforaday。Thesemenwereidlers;whatelse，perhaps，waseasytoconjecture。Certainlytothisarrivingstranger，whoflashedakeeneyeoverthem，theyworeanatmosphereneverassociatedwithwork。
Presentlyatallman，withadrooping，sandymustache，leisurelydetachedhimselffromthecrowd。
\"Howdy，stranger，\"hesaid。
Thestrangerhadbentovertoloosenthecinches;hestraightenedupandnodded。Then:\"I’mthirsty！\"
Thatbroughtabroadsmiletofaces。Itwascharacteristicgreeting。Oneandalltroopedafterthestrangerintothehotel。Itwasadark，ill—smellingbarnofaplace，withabarashighasashortman’shead。Abartenderwithascarredfacewasservingdrinks。
\"Lineup，gents，\"saidthestranger。
Theypiledoveroneanothertogettothebar，withcoarsejestsandoathsandlaughter。Noneofthemnotedthatthestrangerdidnotappearsothirstyashehadclaimedtobe。Infact，thoughhewentthroughthemotions，hedidnotdrinkatall。
\"Myname’sJimFletcher，\"saidthetallmanwiththedrooping，sandymustache。Hespokelaconically，neverthelesstherewasatonethatshowedheexpectedtobeknown。Somethingwentwiththatname。Thestrangerdidnotappeartobeimpressed。
\"MynamemightbeBlazes，butitain’t，\"hereplied。\"Whatdoyoucallthisburg？\"
\"Stranger，thisheahme—tropolesbearsthehandleOrd。Isthetnewtoyou？\"
Heleanedbackagainstthebar，andnowhislittleyelloweyes，clearascrystal，flawlessasahawk’s，fixedonthestranger。
Othermencrowdedclose，formingacircle，curious，readytobefriendlyorotherwise，accordingtohowthetallinterrogatormarkedthenew—comer。
\"Sure，Ord’salittlestrangetome。Offtherailroadsome，ain’tit？Funnytrailshereabouts。\"
\"Howfurwasyougoin’？\"
\"IreckonIwasgoin’asfarasIcould，\"repliedthestranger，withahardlaugh。
Hisreplyhadsubtlereactiononthatlisteningcircle。Someofthemenexchangedglances。Fletcherstrokedhisdroopingmustache，seemedthoughtful，butlostsomethingofthatpiercingscrutiny。
\"Wal，Ord’sthejumpin’—offplace，\"hesaid，presently。\"Sureyou’veheerdoftheBigBendcountry？\"
\"Isurehave，an’wasmakin’tracksferit，\"repliedthestranger。
Fletcherturnedtowardamanintheouteredgeofthegroup。
\"Knell，comeinheah。\"
Thisindividualelbowedhiswayinandwasseentobescarcelymorethanaboy，almostpalebesidethosebronzedmen，withalong，expressionlessface，thinandsharp。
\"Knell，thisheah’s——\"Fletcherwheeledtothestranger。
\"What’dyoucallyourself？\"
\"I’dhatetomentionwhatI’vebeencallin’myselflately。\"
Thissallyfetchedanotherlaugh。Thestrangerappearedcool，careless，indifferent。Perhapsheknew，astheotherspresentknew，thatthisshowofFletcher’s，thispretenseofintroduction，wasmerelytalkwhilehewaslookedover。
Knellsteppedup，anditwaseasytosee，fromthewayFletcherrelinquishedhispartinthesituation，thatamangreaterthanhehadappeareduponthescene。
\"Anybusinesshere？\"hequeried，curtly。Whenhespokehisexpressionlessfacewasinstrangecontrastwiththering，thequality，thecrueltyofhisvoice。Thisvoicebetrayedanabsenceofhumor，offriendliness，ofheart。
\"Nope，\"repliedthestranger。
\"Knowanybodyhereabouts？\"
\"Naryone。\"
\"Jestridin’through？\"
\"Yep。\"
\"Slopin’ferbackcountry，eh？\"
Therecameapause。Thestrangerappearedtogrowalittleresentfulanddrewhimselfupdisdainfully。
\"Wal，considerin’you—allseemsodamnfriendlyan’oncuriousdownhereinthisBigBendcountry，Idon’tmindsayin’yes——I
aminonthedodge，\"hereplied，withdeliberatesarcasm。
\"FromwestofOrd——outElPasoway，mebbe？\"
\"Sure。\"
\"A—huh！Thetso？\"Knell’swordscuttheair，stilledtheroom。
\"You’refromwaydowntheriver。Thet’swhattheysaydownthere——’onthedodge。’……Stranger，you’realiar！\"
Withswiftclinkofspurandthumpofbootthecrowdsplit，leavingKnellandthestrangerinthecenter。
Wildbreedofthatilknevermadeamistakeinjudgingaman’snerve。Knellhadcutoutwiththetrenchantcall，andstoodready。Thestrangersuddenlylosthiseverysemblancetotheroughandeasycharacterbeforemanifestinhim。Hebecamebronze。Thatsituationseemedfamiliartohim。Hiseyesheldasingularpiercinglightthatdancedlikeacompass—needle。
\"SureIlied，\"hesaid;\"soIain’ttakin’offenseatthewayyoucalledme。I’mlookin’tomakefriends，notenemies。Youdon’tstrikemeasoneofthemfour—flushes，achin’tokillsomebody。Butifyouare——goaheadan’opentheball……Yousee，Ineverthrowagunonthemfellerstilltheygofertheirs。\"
Knellcoollyeyedhisantagonist，hisstrangefacenotchangingintheleast。Yetsomehowitwasevidentinhislookthatherewasmetalwhichrangdifferentlyfromwhathehadexpected。
Invitedtostartafightorwithdraw，ashechose，Knellprovedhimselfbiginthemannercharacteristicofonlythegenuinegunman。
\"Stranger，Ipass，\"hesaid，and，turningtothebar，heorderedliquor。
Thetensionrelaxed，thesilencebroke，themenfilledupthegap;theincidentseemedclosed。JimFletcherattachedhimselftothestranger，andnowbothrespectandfriendlinesstemperedhisasperity。
\"Wal，ferwantofabetterhandleI’llcallyouDodge，\"hesaid。
\"Dodge’sasgoodasany……Gents，lineupagain——an’ifyoucan’tbefriendly，becareful！\"
SuchwasBuckDuane’sdebutinthelittleoutlawhamletofOrd。
DuanehadbeenthreemonthsoutoftheNuecescountry。AtElPasoheboughtthefinesthorsehecouldfind，and，armedandotherwiseoutfittedtosuithim，hehadtakentounknowntrails。Leisurelyherodefromtowntotown，villagetovillage，ranchtoranch，fittinghistalkandhisoccupationtotheimpressionhewantedtomakeupondifferentpeoplewhomhemet。Hewasinturnacowboy，arancher，acattleman，astock—
buyer，aboomer，aland—hunter;andlongbeforehereachedthewildandinhospitableOrdhehadactedthepartofanoutlaw，driftingintonewterritory。Hepassedonleisurelybecausehewantedtolearnthelayofthecountry，thelocationofvillagesandranches，thework，habit，gossip，pleasures，andfearsofthepeoplewithwhomhecameincontact。Theonesubjectmostimpellingtohim——outlaws——henevermentioned;butbytalkingallaroundit，siftingtheoldranchandcattlestory，heacquiredaknowledgecalculatedtoaidhisplot。Inthisgametimewasofnomoment;ifnecessaryhewouldtakeyearstoaccomplishhistask。Thestupendousandperilousnatureofitshowedintheslow，warypreparation。WhenheheardFletcher’snameandfacedKnellheknewhehadreachedtheplacehesought。Ordwasahamletonthefringeofthegrazingcountry，ofdoubtfulhonesty，fromwhich，surely，windingtrailsleddownintothatfreeandnever—disturbedparadiseofoutlaws——theBigBend。
Duanemadehimselfagreeable，yetnottoomuchso，toFletcherandseveralothermendisposedtotalkanddrinkandeat;andthen，afterhavingacareforhishorse，herodeoutoftownacoupleofmilestoagrovehehadmarked，andthere，wellhidden，hepreparedtospendthenight。Thisproceedingservedadoublepurpose——hewassafer，andthehabitwouldlookwellintheeyesofoutlaws，whowouldbemoreinclinedtoseeinhimthelone—wolffugitive。
LongsinceDuanehadfoughtoutabattlewithhimself，wonahard—earnedvictory。Hisouterlife，theaction，wasmuchthesameasithadbeen;buttheinnerlifehadtremendouslychanged。Hecouldneverbecomeahappyman，hecouldnevershakeutterlythosehauntingphantomsthathadoncebeenhisdespairandmadness;buthehadassumedataskimpossibleforanymansaveonelikehim，hehadfeltthemeaningofitgrowstrangelyandwonderfully，andthroughthatflourishedupconsciousnessofhowpassionatelyhenowclungtothisthingwhichwouldblotouthisformerinfamy。Theironfettersnomorethreatenedhishands;theirondoornomorehauntedhisdreams。Heneverforgotthathewasfree。Strangely，too，alongwiththisfeelingofnewmanhoodtheregatheredtheforceofimperiousdesiretorunthesechiefoutlawstotheirdooms。Henevercalledthemoutlaws——butrustlers，thieves，robbers，murderers，criminals。Hesensedthegrowthofarelentlessdrivingpassion，andsometimeshefearedthat，morethanthenewlyacquiredzealandprideinthisrangerservice，itwastheold，terribleinheritedkillinginstinctliftingitshydra—headinnewguise。Butofthathecouldnotbesure。Hedreadedthethought。Hecouldonlywait。
AnotheraspectofthechangeinDuane，neitherpassionatenordriving，yetnotimprobablyevenmorepotentofnewsignificancetolife，wastheimperceptiblereturnofanoldloveofnaturedeadduringhisoutlawdays。
Foryearsahorsehadbeenonlyamachineoflocomotion，tocarryhimfromplacetoplace，tobeatandspurandgoadmercilesslyinflight;nowthisgiantblack，withhissplendidhead，wasacompanion，afriend，abrother，alovedthing，guardedjealously，fedandtrainedandriddenwithanintenseappreciationofhisgreatspeedandendurance。Foryearsthedaytime，withitsbirthofsunriseonthroughlonghourstotheruddyclose，hadbeenusedforsleeporrestinsomerockyholeorwillowbrakeordesertedhut，hadbeenhatedbecauseitaugmenteddangerofpursuit，becauseitdrovethefugitivetolonely，wretchedhiding;nowthedawnwasagreeting，apromiseofanotherdaytoride，toplan，toremember，andsun，wind，cloud，rain，sky——allwerejoystohim，somehowspeakinghisfreedom。Foryearsthenighthadbeenablackspace，duringwhichhehadtorideunseenalongtheendlesstrails，topeerwithcat—eyesthroughgloomforthemovingshapethateverpursuedhim;nowthetwilightandtheduskandtheshadowsofgroveandcanondarkenedintonightwithitstrainofstars，andbroughthimcalmreflectionoftheday’shappenings，ofthemorrow’spossibilities，perhapsasad，briefprocessionoftheoldphantoms，thensleep。Foryearscanonsandvalleysandmountainshadbeenlookedatasretreatsthatmightbedarkandwildenoughtohideevenanoutlaw;nowhesawthesefeaturesofthegreatdesertwithsomethingoftheeyesoftheboywhohadonceburnedforadventureandlifeamongthem。
Thisnightawonderfulafterglowlingeredlonginthewest，andagainstthegolden—redofclearskythebold，blackheadofMountOrdreareditselfaloft，beautifulbutaloof，sinisteryetcalling。SmallwonderthatDuanegazedinfascinationuponthepeak！SomewheredeepinitscorrugatedsidesorlostinaruggedcanonwashiddenthesecretstrongholdofthemasteroutlawCheseldine。AlldownalongtheridefromElPasoDuanehadheardofCheseldine，ofhisband，hisfearfuldeeds，hiscunning，hiswidelyseparatedraids，ofhisflittinghereandtherelikeaJack—o’—lantern;butneverawordofhisden，neverawordofhisappearance。
NextmorningDuanedidnotreturntoOrd。Hestruckofftothenorth，ridingdownarough，slow—descendingroadthatappearedtohavebeenusedoccasionallyforcattle—driving。Ashehadriddeninfromthewest，thisnortherndirectionledhimintototallyunfamiliarcountry。Whilehepassedon，however，heexercisedsuchkeenobservationthatinthefuturehewouldknowwhatevermightbeofservicetohimifhechancedthatwayagain。
Therough，wild，brush—coveredslopedownfromthefoothillsgraduallyleveledoutintoplain，amagnificentgrazingcountry，uponwhichtillnoonofthatdayDuanedidnotseeaherdofcattleoraranch。Aboutthattimehemadeoutsmokefromtherailroad，andafteracoupleofhours’ridingheenteredatownwhichinquirydiscoveredtobeBradford。ItwasthelargesttownhehadvisitedsinceMarfa，andhecalculatedmusthaveathousandorfifteenhundredinhabitants，notincludingMexicans。Hedecidedthiswouldbeagoodplaceforhimtoholdupforawhile，beingthenearesttowntoOrd，onlyfortymilesaway。SohehitchedhishorseinfrontofastoreandleisurelysetaboutstudyingBradford。
Itwasafterdark，however，thatDuaneverifiedhissuspicionsconcerningBradford。Thetownwasawakeafterdark，andtherewasonelongrowofsaloons，dance—halls，gambling—resortsinfullblast。Duanevisitedthemall，andwassurprisedtoseewildnessandlicenseequaltothatoftheoldrivercampofBland’sinitspalmiestdays。Hereitwasforceduponhimthatthefartherwestonetraveledalongtheriverthesparsertherespectablesettlements，themorenumerousthehardcharacters，andinconsequencethegreatertheelementoflawlessness。
Duanereturnedtohislodging—housewiththeconvictionthatMacNelly’staskofcleaninguptheBigBendcountrywasastupendousone。Yet，hereflected，acompanyofintrepidandquick—shootingrangerscouldhavesooncleanedupthisBradford。
Theinnkeeperhadoneotherguestthatnight，alongblack—coatedandwide—sombreroedTexanwhoremindedDuaneofhisgrandfather。Thismanhadpenetratingeyes，acourtlymanner，andanunmistakableleaningtowardcompanionshipandmint—juleps。ThegentlemanintroducedhimselfasColonelWebb，ofMarfa，andtookitasamatterofcoursethatDuanemadenocommentabouthimself。
\"Sir，it’sallonetome，\"hesaid，blandly，wavinghishand。
\"Ihavetraveled。Texasisfree，andthisfrontierisonewhereit’shealthierandjustasfriendlyforamantohavenocuriosityabouthiscompanion。YoumightbeCheseldine，oftheBigBend，oryoumightbeJudgeLittle，ofElPaso—it’sallonetome。Ienjoydrinkingwithyouanyway。\"
Duanethankedhim，consciousofareserveanddignitythathecouldnothavefeltorpretendedthreemonthsbefore。Andthen，asalways，hewasagoodlistener。ColonelWebbtold，amongotherthings，thathehadcomeouttotheBigBendtolookovertheaffairsofadeceasedbrotherwhohadbeenarancherandasheriffofoneofthetowns，Fairdalebyname。
\"Foundnoaffairs，noranch，notevenhisgrave，\"saidColonelWebb。\"AndItellyou，sir，ifhell’sanytougherthanthisFairdaleIdon’twanttoexpiatemysinsthere。\"
\"Fairdale……Iimaginesheriffshaveahardrowtohoeouthere，\"repliedDuane，tryingnottoappearcurious。
TheColonelsworelustily。
\"MybrotherwastheonlyhonestsheriffFairdaleeverhad。Itwaswonderfulhowlonghelasted。Buthehadnerve，hecouldthrowagun，andhewasonthesquare。Thenhewaswiseenoughtoconfinehisworktooffendersofhisowntownandneighborhood。Helettheridingoutlawsalone，elsehewouldn’thavelastedatall……Whatthisfrontierneeds，sir，isaboutsixcompaniesofTexasRangers。\"
DuanewasawareoftheColonel’sclosescrutiny。
\"Doyouknowanythingabouttheservice？\"heasked。
\"Iusedto。TenyearsagowhenIlivedinSanAntonio。Afinebodyofmen，sir，andthesalvationofTexas。\"
\"GovernorStonedoesn’tentertainthatopinion，\"saidDuane。
HereColonelWebbexploded。Manifestlythegovernorwasnothischoiceforachiefexecutiveofthegreatstate。Hetalkedpoliticsforawhile，andofthevastterritorywestofthePecosthatseemednevertogetabenefitfromAustin。HetalkedenoughforDuanetorealizethatherewasjustthekindofintelligent，well—informed，honestcitizenthathehadbeentryingtomeet。Heexertedhimselfthereaftertobeagreeableandinteresting;andhesawpresentlythatherewasanopportunitytomakeavaluableacquaintance，ifnotafriend。
\"I’mastrangerintheseparts，\"saidDuane，finally。\"Whatisthisoutlawsituationyouspeakof？\"
\"It’sdamnable，sir，andunbelievable。Notrustlinganymore，butjustwholesaleherd—stealing，inwhichsomebigcattlemen，supposedtobehonest，areequallyguiltywiththeoutlaws。Onthisborder，youknow，therustlerhasalwaysbeenabletostealcattleinanynumbers。Buttogetridofbigbunches——that’sthehardjob。ThegangoperatingbetweenhereandValentineevidentlyhavenotthistrouble。Nobodyknowswherethestolenstockgoes。ButI’mnotaloneinmyopinionthatmostofitgoestoseveralbigstockmen。TheyshiptoSanAntonio，Austin，NewOrleans，alsotoElPaso。Ifyoutravelthestock—roadbetweenhereandMarfaandValentineyou’llseedeadcattleallalongthelineandstraycattleoutinthescrub。Theherdshavebeendrivenfastandfar，andstragglersarenotroundedup。\"
\"Wholesalebusiness，eh？\"remarkedDuane。\"Whoarethese——er——bigstock—buyers？\"
ColonelWebbseemedalittlestartledattheabruptquery。HebenthispenetratinggazeuponDuaneandthoughtfullystrokedhispointedbeard。
\"Names，ofcourse，I’llnotmention。Opinionsareonething，directaccusationanother。Thisisnotahealthycountryfortheinformer。\"
WhenitcametotheoutlawsthemselvesColonelWebbwasdisposedtotalkfreely。DuanecouldnotjudgewhethertheColonelhadahobbyofthatsubjectortheoutlawsweresostrikinginpersonalityanddeedthatanymanwouldknowallaboutthem。ThegreatnamealongtheriverwasCheseldine，butitseemedtobeanamedetachedfromanindividual。NopersonofveracityknowntoColonelWebbhadeverseenCheseldine，andthosewhoclaimedthatdoubtfulhonorvariedsodiverselyindescriptionsofthechiefthattheyconfusedtherealityandlenttotheoutlawonlyfurthermystery。Strangetosayofanoutlawleader，astherewasnoonew;hocouldidentifyhim，sotherewasnoonewhocouldprovehehadactuallykilledaman。
BloodflowedlikewaterovertheBigBendcountry，anditwasCheseldinewhospilledit。Yetthefactremainedtherewerenoeye—witnessestoconnectanyindividualcalledCheseldinewiththesedeedsofviolence。Butinstrikingcontrasttothismysterywastheperson，character，andcold—bloodedactionofPogginandKnell，thechief’slieutenants。TheywerefamiliarfiguresinallthetownswithintwohundredmilesofBradford。Knellhadarecord，butasgunmanwithanincrediblelistofvictimsPogginwassupreme。IfPogginhadafriendnooneeverheardofhim。Therewereahundredstoriesofhisnerve，hiswonderfulspeedwithagun，hispassionforgambling，hisloveofahorse——hiscold，implacable，inhumanwipingoutofhispathanymanthatcrossedit。
\"Cheseldineisaname，aterriblename，\"saidColonelWebb。
\"SometimesIwonderifhe’snotonlyaname。Inthatcasewheredoesthebrainsofthisgangcomefrom？No;theremustbeamastercraftsmanbehindthisborderpillage;amastercapableofhandlingthoseterrorsPogginandKnell。OfallthethousandsofoutlawsdevelopedbywesternTexasinthelasttwentyyearsthesethreearethegreatest。InsouthernTexas，downbetweenthePecosandtheNueces，therehavebeenandarestillmanybadmen。ButIdoubtifanyoutlawthere，possiblyexceptingBuckDuane，everequaledPoggin。You’veheardofthisDuane？\"
\"Yes，alittle，\"repliedDuane，quietly。\"I’mfromsouthernTexas。BuckDuanethenisknownouthere？\"
\"Why，man，whereisn’thisnameknown？\"returnedColonelWebb。
\"I’vekepttrackofhisrecordasIhavealltheothers。Ofcourse，Duane，beingaloneoutlaw，issomewhatofamysteryalso，butnotlikeCheseldine。OutheretherehavedriftedmanystoriesofDuane，horriblesomeofthem。ButdespitethemasortofromanceclingstothatNuecesoutlaw。He’skilledthreegreatoutlawleaders，Ibelieve——Bland，Hardin，andtheotherI
forgot。HardinwasknownintheBigBend，hadfriendsthere。
BlandhadahardnameatDelRio。\"
\"ThenthismanDuaneenjoysratheranunusualreputewestofthePecos？\"inquiredDuane。
\"He’sconsideredmoreofanenemytohiskindthantohonestmen。IunderstandDuanehadmanyfriends，thatwholecountiesswearbyhim——secretly，ofcourse，forhe’sahuntedoutlawwithrewardsonhishead。Hisfameinthiscountryappearstohangonhismatchlessgun—playandhisenmitytowardoutlawchiefs。I’veheardmanyaranchersay:’IwishtoGodthatBuckDuanewoulddriftouthere！I’dgiveahundredpesostoseehimandPogginmeet。’It’sasingularthing，stranger，howjealousthesegreatoutlawsareofeachother。\"
\"Yes，indeed，allaboutthemissingular，\"repliedDuane。\"HasCheseldine’sgangbeenbusylately？\"
\"No。Thissectionhasbeenfreeofrustlingformonths，thoughthere’sunexplainedmovementsofstock。Probablyallthestockthat’sbeingshippednowwasrustledlongago。Cheseldineworksoverawidesection，toowidefornewstotravelinsideofweeks。Thensometimeshe’snotheardofatallforaspell。
Theselullsareprettysurelyindicativeofabigstormsoonerorlater。AndCheseldine’sdeals，astheygrowfewerandfartherbetween，certainlygetbigger，moredaring。TherearesomepeoplewhothinkCheseldinehadnothingtodowiththebank—robberiesandtrain—holdupsduringthelastfewyearsinthiscountry。Butthat’spoorreasoning。Thejobshavebeentoowelldone，toosurelycovered，tobetheworkofgreasersorordinaryoutlaws。\"
\"What’syourviewoftheoutlook？How’sallthisgoingtowindup？Willtheoutlaweverbedrivenout？\"askedDuane。
\"Never。TherewillalwaysbeoutlawsalongtheRioGrande。Allthearmiesintheworldcouldn’tcombthewildbrakesofthatfifteenhundredmilesofriver。Buttheswayoftheoutlaw，suchasisenjoyedbythesegreatleaders，willsoonerorlaterbepast。ThecriminalelementflocktotheSouthwest。Butnotsothickandfastasthepioneers。Besides，theoutlawskillthemselves，andtheranchersareslowlyrisinginwrath，ifnotinaction。Thatwillcomesoon。Iftheyonlyhadaleadertostartthefight！Butthatwillcome。There’stalkofVigilantes，thesamehatwereorganizedinCaliforniaandarenowinforceinIdaho。Sofarit’sonlytalk。Butthetimewillcome。AndthedaysofCheseldineandPogginarenumbered。\"
Duanewenttobedthatnightexceedinglythoughtful。Thelongtrailwasgrowinghot。Thisvolublecolonelhadgivenhimnewideas。ItcametoDuaneinsurprisethathewasfamousalongtheupperRioGrande。Assuredlyhewouldnotlongbeabletoconcealhisidentity。Hehadnodoubtthathewouldsoonmeetthechiefsofthiscleverandboldrustlinggang。Hecouldnotdecidewhetherhewouldbesaferunknownorknown。Inthelattercasehisonechancelayinthefatalityconnectedwithhisname，inhispowertolookitandactit。Duanehadneverdreamedofanysleuth—houndtendencyinhisnature，butnowhefeltsomethinglikeone。AboveallothershismindfixedonPoggin——Pogginthebrute，theexecutorofCheseldine’swill，butmostlyuponPogginthegunman。ThisinitselfwasawarningtoDuane。Hefeltterribleforcesatworkwithinhim。TherewasthesternandindomitableresolvetomakeMacNelly’sboastgoodtothegovernorofthestate——tobreakupCheseldine’sgang。
YetthiswasnotinDuane’smindbeforeastrangegrimanddeadlyinstinct——whichhehadtodriveawayforfearhewouldfindinitapassiontokillPoggin，notforthestate，norforhiswordtoMacNelly，butforhimself。Hadhisfather’sbloodandthehardyearsmadeDuanethekindofmanwhoinstinctivelywantedtomeetPoggin？HewassworntoMacNelly’sservice，andhefoughthimselftokeepthat，andthatonly，inhismind。
DuaneascertainedthatFairdalewassituatedtwodays’ridefromBradfordtowardthenorth。Therewasastagewhichmadethejourneytwiceaweek。
NextmorningDuanemountedhishorseandheadedforFairdale。
Herodeleisurely，ashewantedtolearnallhecouldaboutthecountry。Therewerefewranches。Thefartherhetraveledthebettergrazingheencountered，and，strangetonote，thefewerherdsofcattle。
Itwasjustsunsetwhenhemadeoutaclusterofadobehousesthatmarkedthehalf—waypointbetweenBradfordandFairdale。
Here，Duanehadlearned，wasstationedacomfortableinnforwayfarers。
Whenhedrewupbeforetheinnthelandlordandhisfamilyandanumberofloungersgreetedhimlaconically。
\"Beatthestagein，hey？\"remarkedone。
\"Thereshecomesnow，\"saidanother。\"Joelshoreisdrivin’
to—night。\"
FardowntheroadDuanesawacloudofdustandhorsesandalumberingcoach。Whenhehadlookedaftertheneedsofhishorsehereturnedtothegroupbeforetheinn。Theyawaitedthestagewiththatinterestcommontoisolatedpeople。Presentlyitrolledup，alargemud—bespatteredanddustyvehicle，litteredwithbaggageontopandtiedonbehind。Anumberofpassengersalighted，threeofwhomexcitedDuane’sinterest。
Onewasatall，dark，striking—lookingman，andtheothertwowereladies，wearinglonggrayulstersandveils。DuaneheardtheproprietoroftheinnaddressthemanasColonelLongstreth，andasthepartyenteredtheinnDuane’squickearscaughtafewwordswhichacquaintedhimwiththefactthatLongstrethwastheMayorofFairdale。
Duanepassedinsidehimselftolearnthatsupperwouldsoonbeready。Attablehefoundhimselfoppositethethreewhohadattractedhisattention。
\"Ruth，Ienvytheluckycowboys，\"Longstrethwassaying。
Ruthwasacurly—headedgirlwithgrayorhazeleyes。
\"I’mcrazytoridebronchos，\"shesaid。