Later，whenDuanestartedupannouncinghisintentiontogethishorseandmakeforcampoutinthebrush，Fletcherseemedgrievouslyoffended。
\"Whydon’tyoustaywithme？I’vegotacomfortable’dobeoverhere。Didn’tIstickbyyouwhenGuthriean’hisbunchcomeup？
Supposin’Ihedn’tshoweddownacoldhandtohim？You’dbeswingin’somewheresnow。Itellyou，Dodge，itain’tsquare。\"
\"I’llsquareit。Ipaymydebts，\"repliedDuane。\"ButIcan’tputuphereallnight。IfIbelongedtothegangit’dbedifferent。\"
\"Whatgang？\"askedFletcher，bluntly。
\"Why，Cheseldine’s。\"
Fletcher’sbeardnoddedashisjawdropped。
Duanelaughed。\"Irunintohimtheotherday。Knowedhimonsight。Sure，he’stheking—pinrustler。Whenheseenmean’
askedmewhatreasonIhadforbein’onearthorsomesuchlike——why，Iupan’toldhim。\"
Fletcherappearedstaggered。
\"Whoinall—firedhellairyoutalkin’about？\"
\"Didn’tItellyouonce？Cheseldine。HecallshimselfLongstrethoverthere。\"
AllofFletcher’sfacenotcoveredbyhairturnedadirtywhite。\"Cheseldine——Longstreth！\"hewhispered，hoarsely。\"GordAlmighty！Youbracedthe——\"Thenaremarkabletransformationcameovertheoutlaw。Hegulped;hestraightenedhisface;hecontrolledhisagitation。Buthecouldnotsendthehealthybrownbacktohisface。Duane，watchingthisrudeman，marveledatthechangeinhim，thesuddencheckingmovement，theproofofawonderfulfearandloyalty。ItallmeantCheseldine，amasterofmen！
\"WHOAIRYOU？\"queriedFletcher，inaqueer，strainedvoice。
\"Yougavemeahandle，didn’tyou？Dodge。Thet’sasgoodasany。Shoreithitsmehard。Jim，I’vebeenprettylonelyforyears，an’I’mgettin’inneedofpals。Thinkitover，willyou？Seeyoumanana。\"
TheoutlawwatchedDuanegooffafterhishorse，watchedhimashereturnedtothetavern，watchedhimrideoutintothedarkness——allwithoutaword。
Duaneleftthetown，threadedaquietpassagethroughcactusandmesquitetoaspothehadmarkedbefore，andmadereadyforthenight。Hismindwassofullthathefoundsleepaloof。Luckatlastwasplayinghisgame。Hesensedthefirstslowheaveofamightycrisis。Theend，alwayshaunting，hadtobesternlyblottedfromthought。Itwastheapproachthatneededallhismind。
Hepassedthenightthere，andlateinthemorning，afterwatchingtrailandroadfromaridge，hereturnedtoOrd。IfJimFletchertriedtodisguisehissurprisetheeffortwasafailure。CertainlyhehadnotexpectedtoseeDuaneagain。
DuaneallowedhimselfalittlefreedomwithFletcher，anattitudehithertolacking。
ThatafternoonahorsemanrodeinfromBradford，anoutlawevidentlywellknownandlikedbyhisfellows，andDuanebeardhimsay，beforehecouldpossiblyhavebeentoldthetrain—robberwasinOrd，thatthelossofmoneyintheholdupwasslight。LikeaflashDuanesawtheluckofthisreport。Hepretendednottohaveheard。
IntheearlytwilightatanopportunemomenthecalledFletchertohim，and，linkinghisarmwithintheoutlaw’s，hedrewhimoffinastrolltoalogbridgespanningalittlegully。Hereaftergazingaround，hetookoutarollofbills，spreaditout，splititequally，andwithoutawordhandedonehalftoFletcher。WithclumsyfingersFletcherranthroughtheroll。
\"Fivehundred！\"heexclaimed。\"Dodge，thet’sdamnhandsomeofyou，considerin’thejobwasn’t——\"
\"Considerin’nothin’，\"interruptedDuane。\"I’mmakin’noreferencetoajobhereorthere。Youdidmeagoodturn。I
splitmypile。Ifthetdoesn’tmakeuspards，goodturnsan’
moneyain’tnouseinthiscountry。\"
Fletcherwaswon。
Thetwomenspentmuchtimetogether。Duanemadeupashortfictitioushistoryabouthimselfthatsatisfiedtheoutlaw，onlyitdrewforthalaughingjestuponDuane’smodesty。ForFletcherdidnothidehisbeliefthatthisnewpartnerwasamanofachievements。KnellandPoggin，andthenCheseldinehimself，wouldbepersuadedofthisfact，soFletcherboasted。
Hehadinfluence。Hewoulduseit。HethoughthepulledastrokewithKnell。Butnobodyonearth，noteventheboss，hadanyinfluenceonPoggin。Pogginwasconcentratedicepartofthetime;alltheresthewasburstinghell。ButPogginlovedahorse。Heneverlovedanythingelse。HecouldbewonwiththatblackhorseBullet。CheseldinewasalreadywonbyDuane’smonumentalnerve;otherwisehewouldhavekilledDuane。
LittlebylittlethenextfewdaysDuanelearnedthepointshelongedtoknow;andhowindeliblytheyetchedthemselvesinhismemory！Cheseldine’shiding—placewasonthefarslopeofMountOrd，inadeep，high—walledvalley。Healwayswenttherejustbeforeacontemplatedjob，wherehemetandplannedwithhislieutenants。Thenwhiletheyexecutedhebaskedinthesunshinebeforeoneoranotherofthepublicplacesheowned。HewasthereintheOrddennow，gettingreadytoplanthebiggestjobyet。Itwasabank—robbery;butwhere，Fletcherhadnotasyetbeenadvised。
ThenwhenDuanehadpumpedthenowamenableoutlawofalldetailspertainingtothepresenthegathereddataandfactsandplacescoveringaperiodoftenyearsFletcherhadbeenwithCheseldine。Andherewithwasunfoldedahistorysodarkinitsbloodyregime，soincredibleinitsbrazendaring，soappallinginitsproofoftheoutlaw’ssweepandgraspofthecountryfromPecostoRioGrande，thatDuanewasstunned。
ComparedtothisCheseldineoftheBigBend，tothisrancher，stock—buyer，cattle—speculator，property—holder，alltheoutlawsDuanehadeverknownsankintoinsignificance。ThepowerofthemanstunnedDuane;thestrangefidelitygivenhimstunnedDuane;theintricateinsideworkingofhisgreatsystemwasequallystunning。ButwhenDuanerecoveredfromthattheoldterriblepassiontokillconsumedhim，anditragedfiercelyanditcouldnotbechecked。Ifthatred—handedPoggin，ifthatcold—eyed，dead—facedKnellhadonlybeenatOrd！Buttheywerenot，andDuanewithhelpoftimegotwhathehopedwastheupperhandofhimself。
CHAPTERXXII
AgaininactionandsuspensedraggedatDuane’sspirit。LikealeashedhoundwithakeenscentinhisfaceDuanewantedtoleapforthwhenhewasbound。Healmostfretted。Somethingcalledtohimoverthebold，wildbrowofMountOrd。ButwhileFletcherstayedinOrdwaitingforKnellandPoggin，orfororders，Duaneknewhisgamewasagainawaitingone。
ButonedaythereweresignsofthelongquietofOrdbeingbroken。AmessengerstrangetoDuanerodeinonasecretmissionthathadtodowithFletcher。WhenhewentawayFletcherbecameaddictedtothoughtfulmoodsandlonelywalks。
Heseldomdrank，andthisinitselfwasastrikingcontrasttoformerbehavior。Themessengercameagain。Whatevercommunicationhebrought，ithadaremarkableeffectupontheoutlaw。Duanewaspresentinthetavernwhenthefellowarrived，sawthefewwordswhispered，butdidnothearthem。
Fletcherturnedwhitewithangerorfear，perhapsboth，andhecursedlikeamadman。Themessenger，alean，dark—faced，hard—ridingfellowremindingDuaneofthecowboyGuthrie，leftthetavernwithoutevenadrinkandrodeawayofftothewest。
ThiswestmystifiedandfascinatedDuaneasmuchasthesouthbeyondMountOrd。WherewereKnellandPoggin？Apparentlytheywerenotatpresentwiththeleaderonthemountain。AfterthemessengerleftFletchergrewsilentandsurly。HehadpresentedavarietyofmoodstoDuane’sobservation，andthislatestonewasprovocativeofthought。Fletcherwasdangerous。Itbecameclearnowthattheotheroutlawsofthecampfearedhim，keptoutofhisway。Duanelethimalone，yetcloselywatchedhim。
Perhapsanhourafterthemessengerhadleft，notlonger，Fletchermanifestlyarrivedatsomedecision，andhecalledforhishorse。Thenhewenttohisshackandreturned。ToDuanetheoutlawlookedinshapebothtorideandtofight。Hegaveordersforthemenincamptokeepcloseuntilhereturned。
Thenhemounted。
\"Comehere，Dodge，\"hecalled。
Duanewentupandlaidahandonthepommelofthesaddle。
Fletcherwalkedhishorse，withDuanebesidehim，tilltheyreachedthelogbridge，whenhehalted。
\"Dodge，I’minbadwithKnell，\"hesaid。\"An’it’pearsI’mthecauseoffrictionbetweenKnellan’Poggy。Knellneverhadanyuseferme，butPoggy’sbeensquare，ifnotfriendly。Thebosshasabigdealon，an’hereit’sbeenheldupbecauseofthisscrap。He’swaitin’overthereonthemountaintogiveorderstoKnellorPoggy，an’neitherone’sshowin’up。I’vegottostandinthebreach，an’Iain’tenjoyin’theprospects。\"
\"What’sthetroubleabout，Jim？\"askedDuane。
\"Reckonit’salittleaboutyou，Dodge，\"saidFletcher，dryly。
\"Knellhadn’tanyuseferyouthetday。Heain’tgotnouseferamanonlesshecanrulehim。SomeoftheboysherehevblabbedbeforeIedgedinwithmysay，an’there’shelltopay。Knellclaimstoknowsomethin’aboutyouthat’llmakeboththebossan’Poggysickwhenhespringsit。Buthe’skeepin’quiet。Hardmantofigger，thetKnell。Reckonyou’dbettergobacktoBradfordferadayorso，thencampoutnearheretillIcomeback。\"
\"Why？\"
\"Wal，becausethereain’tanyuseferyoutogitinbad，too。\"
\"Thegangwillrideoverhereanyday。Ifthey’refriendly，I’lllightafireonthehillthere，saythreenightsfromto—night。Ifyoudon’tseeitthetnightyouhitthetrail。
I’lldowhatIcan。JimFletcherstickstohispals。Solong，Dodge。\"
Thenherodeaway。
HeleftDuaneinaquandary。Thisnewswasblack。Thingshadbeenworkingoutsowell。Herewasasetback。AtthemomentDuanedidnotknowwhichwaytoturn，butcertainlyhehadnoideaofgoingbacktoBradford。FrictionbetweenthetwogreatlieutenantsofCheseldine！Openhostilitybetweenoneofthemandanotherofthechief’sright—handmen！Amongoutlawsthatsortofthingwasdeadlyserious。Generallysuchmattersweresettledwithguns。Duanegatheredencouragementevenfromdisaster。PerhapsthedisintegrationofCheseldine’sgreatbandhadalreadybegun。ButwhatdidKnellknow？Duanedidnotcirclearoundtheideawithdoubtsandhopes;ifKnellknewanythingitwasthatthisstrangerinOrd，thisnewpartnerofFletcher’s，wasnolessthanBuckDuane。Well，itwasabouttime，thoughtDuane，thathemadeuseofhisnameifitweretohelphimatall。ThatnamehadbeenMacNelly’shope。HehadanchoredallhisschemetoDuane’sfame。DuanewastemptedtorideoffafterFletcherandstaywithhim。This，however，wouldhardlybefairtoanoutlawwhohadbeenfairtohim。DuaneconcludedtoawaitdevelopmentsandwhenthegangrodeintoOrd，probablyfromtheirvarioushiding—places，hewouldbetherereadytobedenouncedbyKnell。DuanecouldnotseeanyotherculminationofthisseriesofeventsthanameetingbetweenKnellandhimself。IfthatterminatedfatallyforKnelltherewasallprobabilityofDuane’sbeinginnoworsesituationthanhewasnow。IfPoggintookupthequarrel！HereDuaneaccusedhimselfagain——triedinvaintorevoltfromajudgmentthathewasonlyreasoningoutexcusestomeettheseoutlaws。
Meanwhile，insteadofwaiting，whynothuntupCheseldineinhismountainretreat？ThethoughtnosoonerstruckDuanethanhewashurryingforhishorse。
HeleftOrd，ostensiblytowardBradford，but，onceoutofsight，heturnedofftheroad，circledthroughthebrush，andseveralmilessouthoftownhestruckanarrowgrass—growntrailthatFletcherhadtoldhimledtoCheseldine’scamp。Thehorsetracksalongthistrailwerenotlessthanaweekold，andverylikelymuchmore。Itwoundbetweenlow，brush—coveredfoothills，througharroyosandgullieslinedwithmesquite，cottonwood，andscrub—oak。
InanhourDuanestrucktheslopeofMountOrd，andasheclimbedhegotaviewoftherolling，black—spottedcountry，partlydesert，partlyfertile，withlong，brightlinesofdrystream—bedswindingawaytogrowdiminthedistance。Hegotamongbrokenrocksandcliffs，andheretheopen，downward—rollinglanddisappeared，andhewashardputtoittofindthetrail。Helostitrepeatedlyandmadeslowprogress。
Finallyheclimbedintoaregionofallrockbenches，roughhere，smooththere，withonlyanoccasionalscratchofironhorseshoetoguidehim。Manytimeshehadtogoaheadandthenworktorightorlefttillhefoundhiswayagain。Itwasslowwork;ittookallday;andnightfoundhimhalf—wayupthemountain。Hehaltedatalittleside—canonwithgrassandwater，andherehemadecamp。Thenightwasclearandcoolatthatheight，withadark—blueskyandastreakofstarsblinkingacross。Withthisdayofactionbehindhimhefeltbettersatisfiedthanhehadbeenforsometime。Here，onthisventure，hewasansweringtoacallthathadsooftendirectedhismovements，perhapshislife，anditwasonethatlogicorintelligencecouldtakelittlestockof。Andonthisnight，lonelyliketheonesheusedtospendintheNuecesgorge，andmemorableofthembecauseofalikenesstothatoldhiding—place，hefeltthepressingreturnofoldhauntingthings——thepastsolongago，wildflights，deadfaces——andtheplacesoftheseweretakenbyonequiveringlyalive，white，tragic，withitsdark，intent，speakingeyes——RayLongstreth’s。
Thatlastmemoryheyieldedtountilheslept。
Inthemorning，satisfiedthathehadleftstillfewertracksthanhehadfollowedupthistrail，heledhishorseuptotheheadofthecanon，thereanarrowcrackinlowcliffs，andwithbranchesofcedarfencedhimin。Thenhewentbackandtookupthetrailonfoot。
Withoutthehorsehemadebettertimeandclimbedthroughdeepclefts，widecanons，overridges，upshelvingslopes，alongprecipices——along，hardclimb——tillhereachedwhatheconcludedwasadivide。Goingdownwaseasier，thoughthefartherhefollowedthisdimandwindingtrailthewiderthebrokenbattlementsofrock。Abovehimhesawtheblackfringeofpinonandpine，andabovethattheboldpeak，bare，yellow，likeadesertbutte。Once，throughawidegatewaybetweengreatescarpments，hesawthelowercountrybeyondtherange，andbeyondthis，vastandclearasitlayinhissight，wasthegreatriverthatmadetheBigBend。Hewentdownanddown，wonderinghowahorsecouldfollowthatbrokentrail，believingtheremustbeanotherbetteronesomewhereintoCheseldine’shiding—place。
Heroundedajuttingcorner，whereviewhadbeenshutoff，andpresentlycameoutupontherimofahighwall。Beneath，likeagreengulfseenthroughbluehaze，layanamphitheaterwalledinonthetwosideshecouldsee。Itlayperhapsathousandfeetbelowhim;and，plainasalltheotherfeaturesofthatwildenvironment，thereshoneoutabigredstoneoradobecabin，whitewatershiningawaybetweengreatborders，andhorsesandcattledottingthelevels。Itwasapeaceful，beautifulscene。Duanecouldnothelpgrindinghisteethatthethoughtofrustlerslivingthereinquietandease。
Duaneworkedhalf—waydowntothelevel，and，wellhiddeninaniche，hesettledhimselftowatchbothtrailandvalley。Hemadenoteofthepositionofthesunandsawthatifanythingdevelopedorifhedecidedtodescendanyfarthertherewassmalllikelihoodofhisgettingbacktohiscampbeforedark。
Totrythatafternightfallheimaginedwouldbevaineffort。
Thenhebenthiskeeneyesdownward。Thecabinappearedtobeacrudestructure。Thoughlargeinsize，ithad，ofcourse，beenbuiltbyoutlaws。
Therewasnogarden，nocultivatedfield，nocorral。Exceptingfortherudepileofstonesandlogsplasteredtogetherwithmud，thevalleywasaswild，probably，asonthedayofdiscovery。Duaneseemedtohavebeenwatchingforalongtimebeforehesawanysignofman，andthisoneapparentlywenttothestreamforwaterandreturnedtothecabin。
Thesunwentdownbehindthewall，andshadowswereborninthedarkerplacesofthevalley。Duanebegantowanttogetclosertothatcabin。Whathadhetakenthisarduousclimbfor？Heheldback，however，tryingtoevolvefurtherplans。
Whilehewasponderingtheshadowsquicklygatheredanddarkened。Ifhewastogobacktocamphemustsetoutatonce。
Stillhelingered。Andsuddenlyhiswide—rovingeyecaughtsightoftwohorsemenridingupthevalley。Themusthaveenteredatapointbelow，roundthehugeabutmentofrock，beyondDuane’srangeofsight。Theirhorsesweretiredandstoppedatthestreamforalongdrink。
Duanelefthisperch，tooktothesteeptrail，anddescendedasfastashecouldwithoutmakingnoise。Itdidnottakehimlongtoreachthevalleyfloor。Itwasalmostlevel，withdeepgrass，andhereandthereclumpsofbushes。Twilightwasalreadythickdownthere。Duanemarkedthelocationofthetrail，andthenbegantosliplikeashadowthroughthegrassandfrombushtobush。Hesawabrightlightbeforehemadeoutthedarkoutlineofthecabin。Thenheheardvoices，amerrywhistle，acoarsesong，andtheclinkofironcooking—utensils。
Hesmelledfragrantwood—smoke。Hesawmovingdarkfigurescrossthelight。Evidentlytherewasawidedoor，orelsethefirewasoutintheopen。
Duaneswervedtotheleft，outofdirectlinewiththelight，andthuswasabletoseebetter。Thenheadvancednoiselesslybutswiftlytowardthebackofthehouse。Thereweretreesclosetothewall。Hewouldmakenonoise，andhecouldscarcelybeseen——ifonlytherewasnowatch—dog！Butallhisoutlawdayshehadtakenriskswithonlyhisuselesslifeatstake;now，withthatchanged，headvancedstealthyandboldasanIndian。Hereachedthecoverofthetrees，knewhewashiddenintheirshadows，foratfewpaces’distancehehadbeenabletoseeonlytheirtops。Fromthereheslippeduptothehouseandfeltalongthewallwithhishands。
Hecametoalittlewindowwherelightshonethrough。Hepeepedin。Hesawaroomshroudedinshadows，alampturnedlow，atable，chairs。Hesawanopendoor，withbrightflarebeyond，butcouldnotseethefire。Voicescameindistinctly。WithouthesitationDuanestolefartheralong——allthewaytotheendofthecabin。Peepinground，hesawonlytheflareoflightonbareground。Retracinghiscautioussteps，hepausedatthecrackagain，sawthatnomanwasintheroom，andthenhewentonroundthatendofthecabin。Fortunefavoredhim。Therewerebushes，anoldshed，awood—pile，allthecoverheneededatthatcorner。Hedidnotevenneedtocrawl。
BeforehepeeredbetweentheroughcornerofwallandthebushgrowingclosetoitDuanepausedamoment。Thisexcitementwasdifferentfromthathehadalwaysfeltwhenpursued。Ithadnobitterness，nopain，nodread。Therewasasmuchdangerhere，perhapsmore，yetitwasnotthesame。Thenhelooked。
Hesawabrightfire，ared—facedmanbendingoverit，whistling，whilehehandledasteamingpot。Overhimwasaroofedshedbuiltagainstthewall，withtwoopensidesandtwosupportingposts。Duane’ssecondglance，notsoblindedbythesuddenbrightlight，madeoutothermen，threeintheshadow，twointheflare，butwithbackstohim。
\"It’sasmoothertrailbylongodds，butain’tsoshortasthisonerightoverthemountain，\"oneoutlawwassaying。
\"What’seatin’you，Panhandle？\"ejaculatedanother。\"Blossoman’merodefromFarawaySprings，wherePogginiswithsomeofthegang。\"
\"Excuseme，Phil。ShoreIdidn’tseeyoucomein，an’Boldtneversaidnothin’。\"
\"Ittookyoualongtimetogethere，butIguessthat’sjustaswell，\"spokeupasmooth，suavevoicewitharinginit。
Longstreth’svoice——Cheseldine’svoice！
Heretheywere——Cheseldine，PhilKnell，BlossomKane，PanhandleSmith，Boldt——howwellDuanerememberedthenames！——allhere，thebigmenofCheseldine’sgang，exceptthebiggest——Poggin。
Duanehadholedthem，andhissensationsofthemomentdeadenedsightandsoundofwhatwasbeforehim。Hesankdown，controlledhimself，silencedamountingexultation，thenfromaless—strainedpositionhepeeredforthagain。
Theoutlawswerewaitingforsupper。Theirconversationmighthavebeenthatofcowboysincamp，ranchersataroundup。Duanelistenedwitheagerears，waitingforthebusinesstalkthathefeltwouldcome。Allthetimehewatchedwiththeeyesofawolfuponitsquarry。BlossomKanewasthelean—limbedmessengerwhohadsoangeredFletcher。Boldtwasagiantinstature，dark，bearded，silent。PanhandleSmithwasthered—facedcook，merry，profane，ashort，bow—leggedmanresemblingmanyrustlersDuanehadknown，particularlyLukeStevens。AndKnell，whosatthere，tall，slim，likeaboyinbuild，likeaboyinyears，withhispale，smooth，expressionlessfaceandhiscold，grayeyes。AndLongstreth，wholeanedagainstthewall，handsome，withhisdarkfaceandbeardlikeanaristocrat，resembledmanyarichLouisianaplanterDuanehadmet。Thesixthmansatsomuchintheshadowthathecouldnotbeplainlydiscerned，and，thoughaddressed，hisnamewasnotmentioned。
PanhandleSmithcarriedpotsandpansintothecabin，andcheerfullycalledout:\"Ifyougentsairhungryfergrub，don’tlookfermetofeedyouwithaspoon。\"
Theoutlawspiledinside，madeagreatbustleandclatterastheysattotheirmeal。Likehungrymen，theytalkedlittle。
Duanewaitedthereawhile，thenguardedlygotupandcreptroundtotheothersideofthecabin。Afterhebecameusedtothedarkagainheventuredtostealalongthewalltothewindowandpeepedin。Theoutlawswereinthefirstroomandcouldnotbeseen。
Duanewaited。Themomentsdraggedendlessly。Hisheartpounded。
Longstrethentered，turnedupthelight，and，takingaboxofcigarsfromthetable，hecarrieditout。
\"Here，youfellows，gooutsideandsmoke，\"hesaid。\"Knell，comeoninnow。Let’sgetitover。\"
Hereturned，satdown，andlightedacigarforhimself。Heputhisbootedfeetonthetable。
Duanesawthattheroomwascomfortably，evenluxuriouslyfurnished。Theremusthavebeenagoodtrail，hethought，elsehowcouldallthatstuffhavebeenpackedinthere。Mostassuredlyitcouldnothavecomeoverthetrailhehadtraveled。Presentlyheheardthemengooutside，andtheirvoicesbecameindistinct。ThenKnellcameinandseatedhimselfwithoutanyofhischief’sease。Heseemedpreoccupiedand，asalways，cold。
\"What’swrong，Knell？Whydidn’tyougetheresooner？\"queriedLongstreth。
\"Poggin，damnhim！We’reontheoutsagain。\"
\"Whatfor？\"
\"Aw，heneedn’thavegotsore。He’sbreakin’anewhossoveratFaraway，anyouknowhimwhereahoss’sconcerned。Thatkepthim，Ireckon，morethananythin’。\"
\"Whatelse？Getitoutofyoursystemsowecangoontothenewjob。\"
\"Well，itbeginsbackaways。Idon’tknowhowlongago——
weeks——astrangerrodeintoOrdan’gotdowneasy—likeasifheownedtheplace。Heseemedfamiliartome。ButIwasn’tsure。
Welookedhimover，an’Ileft，tryin’toplacehiminmymind。\"
\"What’dhelooklike？\"
\"Rangy，powerfulman，whitehairoverhistemples，still，hardface，eyeslikeknives。Thewayhepackedhisguns，thewayhewalkedan’stoodan’swunghisrighthandshowedmewhathewas。Youcan’tfoolmeonthegun—sharp。An’hehadagrandhorse，abigblack。\"
\"I’vemetyourman，\"saidLongstreth。
\"No！\"exclaimedKnell。Itwaswonderfultohearsurpriseexpressedbythismanthatdidnotintheleastshowitinhisstrangephysiognomy。Knelllaughedashort，grim，hollowlaugh。
\"Boss，thisherebiggentdriftsintoOrdagainan’makesuptoJimFletcher。Jim，youknow，iseasyled。Helikesmen。An’
whenapossecomealongtrailin’ablindlead，huntin’thewrongwayforthemanwhoheldupNo。6，why，Jim——heupan’
takesthisstrangertobetheflyroad—agentan’cottonstohim。Gotmoneyoutofhimsure。An’that’swhatstumpsmemore。
What’sthisman’sgame？Ihappentoknow，boss，thathecouldn’thaveheldupNo。6。\"
\"Howdoyouknow？\"demandedLongstreth。
\"BecauseIdidthejobmyself。\"
Adarkandstormypassioncloudedthechief’sface。
\"Damnyou，Knell！You’reincorrigible。You’reunreliable。
Anotherbreaklikethatqueersyouwithme。DidyoutellPoggin？\"
\"Yes。That’sonereasonwefellout。Heraved。Ithoughthewasgoin’tokillme。\"
\"Whydidyoutacklesuchariskyjobwithouthelporplan？\"
\"Itoffered，that’sall。An’itwaseasy。Butitwasamistake。
Igotthecountryan’therailroadhollerin’fornothin’。I
justcouldn’thelpit。Youknowwhatidlenessmeanstooneofus。Youknowalsothatthisverylifebreedsfatality。It’swrong——that’swhy。Iwasbornofgoodparents，an’Iknowwhat’sright。We’rewrong，an’wecan’tbeattheend，that’sall。An’formypartIdon’tcareadamnwhenthatcomes。\"
\"Finewisetalkfromyou，Knell，\"saidLongstreth，scornfully。
\"Goonwithyourstory。\"
\"AsIsaid，Jimcottonstothepretender，an’theygetchummy。
They’retogetherallthetime。YoucangambleJimtoldallheknewan’thensome。Alittleliquorloosenshistongue。SeveraloftheboysrodeoverfromOrd，an’oneofthemwenttoPogginan’saysJimFletcherhasanewmanforthegang。Poggin，youknow，isalwaysreadyforanynewman。Hesaysifonedoesn’tturnoutgoodhecanbeshutoffeasy。HeratherlikedthewaythisnewpartofJim’swasboosted。Jiman’Pogginalwayshitituptogether。SountilIgotonthedealJim’spardwasalreadyinthegang，withoutPogginoryoueverseein’him。
ThenIgottofigurin’hard。JustwherehadIeverseenthatchap？Asitturnedout，Ineverhadseenhim，whichaccountsformybein’doubtful。I’dneverforgetanymanI’dseen。Idugupalotofoldpapersfrommykitan’wentoverthem。Letters，pictures，clippin’s，an’allthat。IguessIhadaprettygoodnotionwhatIwaslookin’foran’whoIwantedtomakesureof。
AtlastIfoundit。An’Iknewmyman。ButIdidn’tspringitonPoggin。Ohno！Iwanttohavesomefunwithhimwhenthetimecomes。He’llbewilderthanatrappedwolf。IsentBlossomovertoOrdtogetwordfromJim，an’whenheverifiedallthistalkIsentBlossomagainwithamessagecalculatedtomakeJimhump。Poggingotsore，saidhe’dwaitforJim，an’Icouldcomeoverheretoseeyouaboutthenewjob。He’dmeetmeinOrd。\"
Knellhadspokenhurriedlyandlow，nowandthenwithpassion。
Hispaleeyesglintedlikefireinice，andnowhisvoicefelltoawhisper。
\"WhodoyouthinkFletcher’snewmanis？\"
\"Who？\"demandedLongstreth。
\"BUCKDUANE！\"
DowncameLongstreth’sbootswithacrash，thenhisbodygrewrigid。
\"ThatNuecesoutlaw？Thattwo—shotace—of—spadesgun—throwerwhokilledBland，Alloway——？\"
\"An’Hardin。\"Knellwhisperedthislastnamewithmorefeelingthantheapparentcircumstancedemanded。
\"Yes;andHardin，thebestoneoftheRimRockfellows——BuckDuane！\"
Longstrethwassoghastlywhitenowthathisblackmustacheseemedoutlinedagainstchalk。Heeyedhisgrimlieutenant。
Theyunderstoodeachotherwithoutmorewords。ItwasenoughthatBuckDuanewasthereintheBigBend。Longstrethrosepresentlyandreachedforaflask，fromwhichhedrank，thenofferedittoKnell。Hewaveditaside。
\"Knell，\"beganthechief，slowly，ashewipedhislips，\"I
gatheredyouhavesomegrudgeagainstthisBuckDuane。\"
\"Yes。\"
\"Well，don’tbeafoolnowanddowhatPogginoralmostanyofyoumenwould——don’tmeetthisBuckDuane。I’vereasontobelievehe’saTexasRangernow。\"
\"Thehellyousay！\"exclaimedKnell。
\"Yes。GotoOrdandgiveJimFletcherahunch。He’llgetPoggin，andthey’llfixevenBuckDuane。\"
\"Allright。I’lldomybest。ButifIrunintoDuane——\"
\"Don’trunintohim！\"Longstreth’svoicefairlyrangwiththeforceofitspassionandcommand。Hewipedhisface，drankagainfromtheflask，satdown，resumedhissmoking，and，drawingapaperfromhisvestpockethebegantostudyit。
\"Well，I’mgladthat’ssettled，\"hesaid，evidentlyreferringtotheDuanematter。\"Nowforthenewjob。ThisisOctobertheeighteenth。Onorbeforethetwenty—fifththerewillbeashipmentofgoldreachtheRancher’sBankofValVerde。AfteryoureturntoOrdgivePoggintheseorders。Keepthegangquiet。You，Poggin，Kane，Fletcher，PanhandleSmith，andBoldttobeinonthesecretandthejob。Nobodyelse。You’llleaveOrdonthetwenty—third，rideacrosscountrybythetrailtillyougetwithinsightofMercer。It’sahundredmilesfromBradfordtoValVerde——aboutthesamefromOrd。TimeyourtraveltogetyounearValVerdeonthemorningofthetwenty—sixth。Youwon’thavetomorethantrotyourhorses。Attwoo’clockintheafternoon，sharp，rideintotownanduptotheRancher’sBank。ValVerde’saprettybigtown。Neverbeenanyholdupsthere。Townfeelssafe。Makeitaclean，fast，daylightjob。That’sall。Haveyougotthedetails？\"
Knelldidnotevenaskforthedatesagain。