CHAPTERIII
Themorningstar，large，intenselyblue—white，magnificentinitsdominanceoftheclearnightsky，hungoverthedim，darkvalleyramparts。Themoonhadgonedownandalltheotherstarswerewan，paleghosts。
PresentlythestrainedvacuumofJean’searsvibratedtoalowroarofmanyhoofs。Itcamefromtheopenvalley，alongtheslopetothesouth。Sheppactedasifhewantedthewordtorun。Jeanlaidahandonthedog。\"Holdon，Shepp，\"hewhispered。ThenhaulingonhisbootsandslippingintohiscoatJeantookhisrifleandstoleoutintotheopen。Sheppappearedtobewelltrained，foritwasevidentthathehadastrongnaturaltendencytorunoffandhuntforwhateverhadrousedhim。Jeanthoughtitmorethanlikelythatthedogscentedananimalofsomekind。IfthereweremenprowlingaroundtheranchShepp，mighthavebeenjustasvigilant，butitseemedtoJeanthatthedogwouldhaveshownlesseagernesstoleavehim，ornoneatall。
InthestillnessofthemorningittookJeanamomenttolocatethedirectionofthewind，whichwasverylightandcomingfromthesouth。
Infactthatlittlebreezehadbornethelowroaroftramplinghoofs。
Jeancircledtheranchhousetotherightandkeptalongtheslopeattheedgeofthecedars。Itstruckhimsuddenlyhowwellfittedhewasforworkofthissort。Alltheworkhehadeverdone，exceptforhisfewyearsinschool，hadbeenintheopen。Alltheleisurehehadeverbeenabletoobtainhadbeengiventohisrulingpassionforhuntingandfishing。LoveofthewildhadbeenborninJean。Atthismomentheexperiencedagrimassuranceofwhathisinstinctandhistrainingmightaccomplishifdirectedtoasternanddaringend。Perhapshisfatherunderstoodthis;perhapstheoldTexanhadsomelittlereasonforhisconfidence。
EveryfewpacesJeanhaltedtolisten。Allobjects，ofcourse，wereindistinguishableinthedark—grayobscurity，exceptwhenhecamecloseuponthem。Sheppshowedanincreasingeagernesstoboltoutintothevoid。WhenJeanhadtraveledhalfamilefromthehouseheheardascatteredtramplingofcattleontherun，andfartheroutalowstrangledbawlofacalf。\"Ahuh！\"mutteredJean。\"Cougarorsomevarmintpulleddownthatcalf。\"Thenhedischargedhisrifleintheairandyelledwithallhismight。ItwasnecessarythentoyellagaintoholdSheppback。
ThereuponJeansetforthdownthevalley，andtrampedoutandacrossandaround，asmuchtoscareawaywhateverhadbeenafterthestockastolookforthewoundedcalf。Morethanonceheheardcattlemovingawayaheadofhim，buthecouldnotseethem。JeanletSheppgo，hopingthedogwouldstrikeatrail。ButSheppneithergavetonguenorcameback。Dawnbegantobreak，andinthegrowinglightJeansearchedarounduntilatlasthestumbledoveradeadcalf，lyinginalittlebarewashwherewaterraninwetseasons。Bigwolftracksshowedinthesoftearth。\"Lofers，\"saidJean，ashekneltandjustcoveredonetrackwithhisspreadhand。\"WehadwolvesinOregon，butnotasbigasthese……Wonderwherethathalf—wolfdog，Shepp，went。Wonderifhecanbetrustedwherewolvesareconcerned。
I’llbetnot，ifthere’sashe—wolfrunnin’around。\"
Jeanfoundtracksoftwowolves，andhetrailedthemoutofthewash，thenlosttheminthegrass。But，guidedbytheirdirection，hewentonandclimbedaslopetothecedarline，whereinthedustypatcheshefoundthetracksagain。\"Notscaredmuch，\"hemuttered，ashenotedtheslowtrottingtracks。\"Well，youoldgraylofers，we’regoin’toclash。\"Jeanknewfrommanyafutilehuntthatwolveswerethewariestandmostintelligentofwildanimalsinthequest。Fromthetopofalowfoothillhewatchedthesunrise;andthennolongerwonderedwhyhisfatherwaxedeloquentoverthebeautyandlocationandluxurianceofthisgrassyvalley。Butitwaslargeenoughtomakerichagoodmanyranchers。Jeantriedtorestrainanycuriosityastohisfather’sdealingsinGrassValleyuntilthesituationhadbeenmadeclear。
Moreover，Jeanwantedtolovethiswonderfulcountry。Hewantedtobefreetorideandhuntandroamtohisheart’scontent;andthereforehedreadedhearinghisfather’sclaims。ButJeanthrewoffforebodings。
Nothingeverturnedoutsobadlyasitpresaged。Hewouldthinkthebestuntilcertainoftheworst。Themorningwasgloriouslybright，andalreadythefrostwasglisteningwetonthestones。GrassValleyshonelikeburnishedsilverdottedwithinnumerableblackspots。
Burroswerebrayingtheirdiscordantmessagestooneanother;thecoltswererompinginthefields;stallionswerewhistling;cowswerebawling。Acloudofbluesmokehunglowovertheranchhouse，slowlywaftingawayonthewind。Faroutinthevalleyadarkgroupofhorsemenwereridingtowardthevillage。Jeanglancedthoughtfullyatthemandreflectedthatheseemeddestinedtoharborsuspicionofallmennewandstrangetohim。Abovethedistantvillagestoodthedarklygreenfoothillsleadinguptothecraggyslopes，andtheseendingintheRim，ared，black—fringedmountainfront，beautifulinthemorningsunlight，lonely，serene，andmysteriousagainstthelevelskyline。Mountains，ranges，distancesunknowntoJean，alwayscalledtohim——tocome，toseek，toexplore，tofind，butnowildhorizoneverbeforebeckonedtohimasthisone。Andthesubtlevagueemotionthathadgonetosleepwithhimlastnightawokenowhauntingly。
Ittookefforttodispelthedesiretothink，towonder。
Uponhisreturntothehouse，hewentaroundonthevalleyside，soastoseetheplacebylightofday。Hisfatherhadbuiltforpermanence;andevidentlytherehadbeenthreeconstructiveperiodsinthehistoryofthatlong，substantial，picturesqueloghouse。
Butfewnailsandlittlesawedlumberandnoglasshadbeenused。
Strongandskillfulhands，axesandacrosscutsaw，hadbeentheprimefactorsinerectingthishabitationoftheIsbels。
\"Goodmawnin’，son，\"calledacheeryvoicefromtheporch。\"Shorewe—allheardyoushoot;an’thecrackofthatforty—fourwasaswelcomeasMayflowers。\"
BillIsbellookedupfromataskoverasaddlegirthandinquiredpleasantlyifJeaneversleptofnights。GuyIsbellaughedandtherewaswarmregardinthegazehebentonJean。
\"YouoldIndian！\"hedrawled，slowly。\"Didyougetabeadonanythin’？\"
\"No。IshottoscareawaywhatIfoundtobesomeofyourlofers，\"
repliedJean。\"Iheardthempullin’downacalf。An’Ifoundtracksoftwowhoppin’bigwolves。Ifoundthedeadcalf，too。Reckonthemeatcanbesaved。Dad，youmustlosealotofstockhere。\"
\"Wal，son，youshorehitthenailonthehaid，\"repliedtherancher。
\"Whatwithlionsan’bearsan’lofers——an’two—footedlofersofanotherbreed——I’velostfivethousanddollarsinstockthislastyear。\"
\"Dad！Youdon’tmeanit！\"exclaimedJean，inastonishment。
Tohimthatsumrepresentedasmallfortune。
\"Ishoredo，\"answeredhisfather。
Jeanshookhisheadasifhecouldnotunderstandsuchanenormouslosswheretherewerekeenable—bodiedmenabout。\"Butthat’sawful，dad。Howcouldithappen？Wherewereyourherdersan’cowboys？
An’Billan’Guy？\"
BillIsbelshookavehementfistatJeanandretortedinearnest，havingmanifestlybeenhitinasorespot。\"Wherewasmean’Guy，huh？Wal，myOregonbrother，wewasheah，allyear，sleepin’moreorlessabootthreehoursoutofeverytwenty—four——ridin’ourbootsoff——an’wecouldn’tkeepdownthatloss。\"
\"Jean，you—allhaveamightytumblecomin’toyououtheah，\"
saidGuy，complacently。
\"Listen，son，\"spokeuptherancher。\"Youwanttohavesomehunchesbeforeyoufigureonourtroubles。There’stwoorthreepacksoflofers，an’inwintertimetheyarehelltodealwith。Lionsthickasbees，an’shorebadwhenthesnow’son。Bearswillkillacownowan’then。An’wheneveran’oldsilvertipcomesmozyin’acrossfromtheMazatzalshekillsstock。I’minwithhalfadozencattlemen。
Weallworktogether，an’thewholeoutfitcain’tkeepthesevermintsdown。ThentwoyearsagotheHashKnifeGangcomeintotheTonto。\"
\"HashKnifeGang？Whataprettyname！\"repliedJean。\"Who’rethey？\"
\"Rustlers，son。An’shoretherealoldTexasbrand。TheoldLoneStarStategottoohotforthem，an’theyfollowedthetrailofalotofotherTexanswhoneededahealthierclimate。SometwohundredTexansaroundheah，Jean，an’maybeamatterofthreehundredinhabitantsintheTontoalltold，goodan’bad。Reckonit’saboothalfan’half。\"
Acheerycallfromthekitcheninterruptedtheconversationofthemen。
\"Youcometobreakfast。\"
DuringthemealtheoldranchertalkedtoBillandGuyabouttheday’sorderofwork;andfromthisJeangatheredanideaofwhatabigcattlebusinesshisfatherconducted。AfterbreakfastJean’sbrothersmanifestedkeeninterestinthenewrifles。Thesewereunwrappedandcleanedandtakenoutfortesting。Thethreerifleswereforty—fourcalibreWinchesters，thekindofgunJeanhadfoundmosteffective。
Hetriedthemoutfirst，andtheshotshemadeweresatisfactorytohimandamazingtotheothers。BillhadusedanoldHenryrifle。
Guydidnotfavoranyparticularrifle。Therancherpinnedhisfaithtothefamousoldsingle—shotbuffalogun，mostlycalledneedlegun。
\"Wal，reckonI’dbettersticktomine。Shoreyoucain’tteachanolddognewtricks。Butyouboysmaydowellwiththeforty—fours。
Pack’emonyoursaddlesan’practicewhenyouseeacoyote。\"
Jeanfounditdifficulttoconvincehimselfthatthisinterestingunsandmarksmanshiphadanysinisterpropulsionbackofit。Hisfatherandbrothershadalwaysbeenthisway。Rifleswereasimportanttopioneersasplows，andtheirskillfulusewasanachievementeveryfrontiersmantriedtoattain。FriendlyrivalryhadalwaysexistedamongthemembersoftheIsbelfamily:evenAnnIsbelwasagoodshot。
Butsuchproficiencyintheuseoffirearms——andlifeintheopenthatwascorrelativewithit——hadnotdominatedthemasithadJean。
BillandGuyIsbelwereborncattlemen——chipsoftheoldblock。
Jeanbegantohopethathisfather’sletterwasanexaggeration，andparticularlythatthefatalisticspeechoflastnight，\"theyaregoin’tokillme，\"wasjustamoodyinclinationtoseetheworstside。
Still，evenasJeantriedtopersuadehimselfofthismorehopefulview，herecalledmanyreferencestothepeculiarreputationofTexansforgun—throwing，forfeuds，fornever—endinghatreds。InOregontheIsbelshadlivedamongindustriousandpeacefulpioneersfromallovertheStates;tobesure，thelifehadbeenroughandprimitive，andtherehadbeenfightsonoccasions，thoughnoIsbelhadeverkilledaman。Butnowtheyhadbecomefixedinawilderandsparselysettledcountryamongmenoftheirownbreed。Jeanwasafraidhishopeshadonlysentimenttofosterthem。Nevertheless，beforcedbackastrange，brooding，mentalstateandresolutelyheldupthebrighterside。WhatevertheevilconditionsexistinginGrassValley，theycouldbemetwithintelligenceandcourage，withanabsolutecertaintythatitwasinevitabletheymustpassaway。Jeanrefusedtoconsidertheold，fatallawthatatcertainwildtimesandwildplacesintheWestcertainmenhadtopassawaytochangeevilconditions。
\"Wal，Jean，ridearoundtherangewiththeboys，\"saidtherancher。
\"Meetsomeofmyneighbors，JimBlaisdell，inparticular。Takealookatthecattle。An’pickoutsomehossesforyourself。\"
\"I’veseenonealready，\"declaredJean，quickly。Ablackwithwhiteface。I’lltakehim。\"
\"Shoreyouknowahoss。Tomyeyehe’smypick。Buttheboysdon’tagree。Bill’speciallyhasdegeneratedintoafancierofpitchin’
hosses。Anncanridethatblack。Youtryhimthismawnin’……
An’，son，enjoyyourself。\"
Truetohisfirstimpression，JeannamedtheblackhorseWhitefaceandfellinlovewithhimbeforeeverheswungalegoverhim。
Whitefaceappearedspirited，yetgentle。Hehadbeentrainedinsteadofbeingbroken。Ofhardhitsandquirtsandspurshehadnoexperience。Helikedtodowhathisriderwantedhimtodo。
Ahundredormorehorsesgrazedinthegrassymeadow，andasJeanrodeonamongthemitwasapleasuretoseestallionsthrowheadsandearsupandwhistleorsnort。Wholetroopsofcoltsandtwo—year—oldsracedwithflyingtailsandmanes。
Beyondthesepasturesstretchedtherange，andJeansawthegray—greenexpansespeckledbythousandsofcattle。Thescenewasinspiring。
Jean’sbrothersledhimallaround，meetingsomeoftheherdersandridersemployedontheranch，oneofwhomwasaburly，grizzledmanwitheyesreddenedandnarrowedbymuchridinginwindandsunanddust。
HisnamewasEvansandhewasfatheroftheladwhomJeanhadmetnearthevillage。Evertswasbusilyskinningthecalfthathadbeenkilledbythewolves。\"Seeheah，y’uJeanIsbel，\"saidEverts，\"itshorewasaboottimey’ucomehome。We—allheahsy’uhevaneyefertracks。
Wal，mebbey’ucankillOldGray，theloferthetdidthisjob。He’spulleddownninecalvesas’yearlin’sthislasttwomonthsthetIknowof。An’we’venothedthespringround—up。\"
GrassValleywidenedtothesoutheast。Jeanwouldhavebeenbackwardaboutestimatingthesquaremilesinit。Yetitwasnotvastacreagesomuchasrichpasturethatmadeitsuchawonderfulrange。Severalrancheslayalongthewesternslopeofthissection。Jeanwasinformedthatopenparksandswales，andlittlevalleysnestlingamongthefoothills，wherevertherewaswaterandgrass，hadbeensettledbyranchers。Everysummerafewnewfamiliesventuredin。
BlaisdellstruckJeanasbeingalionliketypeofTexan，bothinhisbroad，boldface，hishugeheadwithitsupstandingtawnyhairlikeamane，andinthespeechandforcethatbetokenedthenatureofhisheart。HewasnotasoldasJean’sfather。Hehadarollingvoice，withthesamedrawlingintonationcharacteristicofallTexans，andblueeyesthatstillheldthefireofyouth。Quiteamarkedcontrasthepresentedtothelean，rangy，hard—jawed，intent—eyedmenJeanhadbeguntoacceptasTexans。
BlaisdelltooktimeforacuriousscrutinyandstudyofJean，that，frankandkindlyasitwas，andevidentlytheadjustmentofimpressionsgottenfromhearsay，yetbespoketheattentionofoneusedtojudgingmenforhimself，andinthisparticularcasehavingreasonsofhisownforsodoing。
\"Wal，you’relikeyoursisterAnn，\"saidBlaisdell。\"Whichyoumaytakeasacompliment，youngman。Bothofyoufavoryourmother。
Butyou’reanIsbel。BackinTexastherearemenwhoneverwearagloveontheirrighthands，an’shoreIreckonifoneofthemmetupwithyousuddenhe’dthinksomegraveshadopenedan’he’dgoforhisgun。\"
Blaisdell’slaughpealedoutwithdeep，pleasantroll。ThusheplantedinJean’ssensitivemindasignificantthought—provokingideaaboutthepast—and—goneIsbels。
Hisfurtherremarks，likewise，wereexceedinglyinterestingtoJean。
ThesettlingoftheTontoBasinbyTexanswasasubjectoftenindispute。HisownfatherhadbeeninthefirstpartyofadventurouspioneerswhohadtraveledupfromthesouthtocrossovertheRenoPassoftheMazatzalsintotheBasin。\"NewcomersfromoutsidegetimpressionsoftheTontoaccordin’tothefirstsettlerstheymeet，\"
declaredBlaisdell。\"An’shoreit’smybeliefthesefirstimpressionsneverchange。justsostrongtheyare！Wal，I’veheardmyfathersaythereweremeninhiswagontrainthatgotrunoutofTexas，buthesworehewasn’toneofthem。SoIreckonthatsortoftalkheldgoodfortwentyyears，an’foralltheTexanswhoemigrated，except，ofcourse，suchnotoriousrustlersasDaggsan’menofhisilk。Shorewe’vegotsomebadmenheah。There’snolaw。Possessionusedtomeanmorethanitdoesnow。Daggsan’hisHashKnifeGanghavebeguntoholdforthwithahighhand。Nosmallranchercankeepenoughstocktopayforhislabor。\"
AtthetimeofwhichBlaisdellspoketherewerenotmanysheepmenandcattlemenintheTonto，consideringitsvastarea。Butthese，onaccountoftheextremewildnessofthebrokencountry，werelimitedtothecomparativelyopenGrassValleyanditsadjacentenvirons。
Naturally，astheinhabitantsincreasedandstockraisinggrewinproportionthegrazingandwaterrightsbecamemattersofextremeimportance。SheepmenrantheirflocksupontheRiminsummertimeanddownintotheBasininwintertime。Asheepmancouldthrowafewthousandsheeproundacattleman’sranchandruinhim。Therangewasfree。Itwasasfairforsheepmentograzetheirherdsanywhereasitwasforcattlemen。Thisofcoursedidnotapplytothefewacresofcultivatedgroundthataranchercouldcallhisown;butveryfewcattlecouldhavebeenraisedonsuchlimitedarea。Blaisdellsaidthatthesheepmenwereunfairbecausetheycouldhavedonejustaswell，thoughperhapsatmorelabor，bykeepingtotheridgesandleavingtheopenvalleyandlittleflatstotheranchers。Formerlytherehadbeenroomenoughforall;nowthegrazingrangeswerebeingencroacheduponbysheepmennewlycometotheTonto。ToBlaisdell’swayofthinkingtherustlermenacewasmoreseriousthanthesheeping—offoftherange，forthesimplereasonthatnocattlemanknewexactlywhotherustlerswereandforthemorecomplexandsignificantreasonthattherustlersdidnotstealsheep。
\"Texaswasoverstockedwithbadmenan’finesteers，\"concludedBlaisdell。\"Mostofthefirstan’someofthelasthavestrucktheTonto。Thesheepmenhavenowgotdistributin’pointsforwoolan’
sheepatMaricopaan’Phoenix。They’reshorewaxin’strongan’bold。\"
\"Ahuh！……An’what’slikelytocomeofthismess？\"queriedJean。
\"Askyourdad，\"repliedBlaisdell。
\"Iwill。ButIreckonI’dbeobligedforyouropinion。\"
\"Wal，shortan’sweetit’sthis:Texascattlemenwillneverallowtherangetheystockedtobeoverrunbysheepmen。\"
\"Who’sthismanGreaves？\"wentonJean。\"Neverrunintoanyonelikehim。\"
\"Greavesishardtofigure。He’sasnakycustomerindeals。Butheseemstobegoodtothepoorpeople’roundheah。Sayshe’sfromMissouri。Ha—ha！He’sasmuchTexanasIam。HerodeintotheTontowithoutevenapacktohisname。An’presentlyhebuildshisstonehousean’freightssuppliesinfromPhoenix。Appearstobuyan’sellagooddealofstock。Forawhileitlookedlikehewassteerin’amiddlecoursebetweencattlemenan’sheepmen。Bothsidesmadearendezvousofhisstore，whereheheardthegrievancesofeach。
Laterlyhe’sleanin’tothesheepmen。Nobodyhasaccusedhimofthatyet。Butit’stimesomecattlemancalledhisbluff。\"
\"Ofcoursetherearehonestan’squaresheepmenintheBasin？\"
queriedJean。
\"Yes，an’someofthemarenotunreasonable。Butthenewfellowsthatdroppedinonusthelastfewyear——they’retheoneswe’regoin’toclashwith。\"
\"This——sheepman，Jorth？\"wentonJean，inslowhesitation，asifcompelledtoaskwhathewouldrathernotlearn。
\"Jorthmustbetheleaderofthissheepfactionthat’sharryin’usranchers。Hedoesn’tmakethreatsorroararoundlikesomeofthem。
Buthegoesonraisin’an’buyin’morean’moresheep。An’hisherdershavebeengrazin’downallaroundusthiswinter。Jorth’sgottobereckonedwith。\"
\"Whoishe？\"
\"Wal，Idon’tknowenoughtotalkaboot。Yourdadneversaidso，butIthinkhean’JorthkneweachotherinTexasyearsago。IneversawJorthbutonce。ThatwasinGreaves’sbarroom。Yourdadan’Jorthmetthatdayforthefirsttimeinthiscountry。Wal，I’venotknownmenfornothin’。Theyjuststoodstiffan’lookedateachother。
Yourdadwasaboottodraw。ButJorthmadenosigntothrowagun。
Jeansawthegrowingandweavingandthickeningthreadsofatanglethathadalreadyinvolvedhim。Andthesuddenpangofregrethesustainedwasnotwhollybecauseofsympathieswithhisownpeople。
\"TheotherdaybackupinthewoodsontheRimIranintoasheepmanwhosaidhisnamewasColter。Whoishe？
\"Colter？Shorehe’sanewone。What’dhelooklike？\"
JeandescribedColterwithareadinessthatspokevolumesforthevividnessofhisimpressions。
\"Idon’tknowhim，\"repliedBlaisdell。\"Butthatonlygoestoprovemycontention——anyfellowrunnin’wildinthewoodscansayhe’sasheepman。\"
\"Coltersurprisedmebycallin’mebymyname，\"continuedJean。
\"Ourlittletalkwasn’texactlyfriendly。Hesaidalotaboutmybein’sentfortorunsheepherdersoutofthecountry。\"
\"Shorethat’sallover，\"repliedBlaisdell，seriously。\"You’reamarkedmanalready。\"
\"Whatstartedsuchrumor？\"
\"Shoreyoucain’tproveitbyme。Butit’snottakenasrumor。
It’sgottothesheepmenashardasbullets。\"
\"Ahuh！ThataccuntsforColter’sseemin’alittlesoreunderthecollar。Well，hesaidtheyweregoin’torunsheepoverGrassValley，an’formetotakethathunchtomydad。\"
Blaisdellhadhischairtiltedbackandhisheavybootsagainstapostoftheporch。Downhethumped。Hisneckcordedwithasuddenrushofbloodandhiseyeschangedtobluefire。
\"Thehellhedid！\"heejaculated，infuriousamaze。
Jeangaugedthebrooding，ranklinghurtofthisoldcattlemanbyhissuddenbreakfromthecool，easyTexanmanner。Blaisdellcursedunderhisbreath，swunghisarmsviolently，asiftothrowalastdoubtorhopeaside，andthenrelapsedtohisformerstate。HelaidabrownhandonJean’sknee。
\"TwoyearsagoIcalledthecards，\"hesaid，quietly。\"ItmeansaGrassValleywar。\"
NotuntillatethatafternoondidJean’sfatherbroachthesubjectuppermostinhismind。ThenatanopportunemomenthedrewJeanawayintothecedarsoutofsight。
\"Son，Ishorehatetomakeyourhome—comin’unhappy，\"hesaid，withevidenceofagitation，\"butsohelpmeGodIhavetodoit！\"
\"Dad，youcalledmeProdigal，an’Ireckonyouwereright。I’veshirkedmydutytoyou。I’mreadynowtomakeupforit，\"repliedJean，feelingly。
\"Wal，wal，shorethatsfine—spoken，myboy……Let’ssetdownheahan’havealongtalk。Firstoff，whatdidJimBlaisdelltellyou？\"
BrieflyJeanoutlinedtheneighborrancher’sconversation。ThenJeanrecountedhisexperiencewithColterandconcludedwithBlaisdell’sreceptionofthesheepman’sthreat。IfJeanexpectedtoseehisfatherriseuplikealioninhiswrathhemadeahugemistake。ThisnewsofColterandhistalkneverstruckevenasparkfromGastonIsbel。
\"Wal，\"hebegan，thoughtfully，\"reckonthereareonlytwopointsinJim’stalkIneedtouchon。There’sshoregoin’tobeaGrassValleywar。An’Jim’sideaofthecauseofitseemstobeprettymuchthesameasthatofalltheothercattlemen。It’llgodownablackblotonthehistorypageoftheTontoBasinasawarbetweenrivalsheepmenan’cattlemen。Sameoldfightoverwateran’grass！……Jean，myson，thatiswrong。It’llnotbeawarbetweensheepmenan’cattlemen。
Butawarofhonestranchersagainstrustlersmaskin’assheep—raisers！……Mindyou，Idon’tbelittlethetroublebetweensheepmenan’
cattlemeninArizona。It’srealan’it’svitalan’it’sserious。
It’lltakelawan’ordertostraightenoutthegrazin’question。
Somedaythegovernmentwillkeepsheepoffofcattleranges……
Sogetthingsrightinyourmind，myson。Youcantrustyourdadtotelltheabsolutetruth。Inthisfightthat’llwipeoutsomeoftheIsbels——maybeallofthem——you’reonthesideofjusticean’right。
Knowin’that，amancanfightahundredtimesharderthanhewhoknowsheisaliaran’athief。\"
Theoldrancherwipedhisperspiringfaceandbreathedslowlyanddeeply。Jeansensedinhimtheriseofatremendousemotionalstrain。
Wonderinglyhewatchedthekeenlinedface。Morethanmaterialworrieswereattherootofbrooding，mountingthoughtsinhisfather’seyes。
\"NownexttakewhatJimsaidabootyourcomin’tochasethesesheep—herdersoutofthevalley……Jean，Istartedthattalk。
Ihadmytrickyreasons。Iknowthesegreasersheep—herdersan’
IknowtherespectTexanshaveforagunman。SomesayIbragged。
SomesayI’manoldfoolinhisdotage，ravin’abootafavoriteson。
Buttheyarepeoplewhohatemean’areafraid。True，son，Italkedwithapurpose，butshoreIwasmightycoldan’steadywhenIdidit。
Myfeelin’wasthatyou’ddowhatI’ddoifIwerethirtyyearsyounger。
No，Ireckonedyou’ddomore。ForIfiguredonyourblood。Jean，you’reIndian，an’Texasan’French，an’you’vetrainedyourselfintheOregonwoods。Whenyouwereonlyaboy，fewmarksmenIeverknewcouldbeatyou，an’Ineversawyourequalforeyean’ear，fortrackin’
ahoss，forallthegiftsthatmakeawoodsman……Wal，rememberin’
thisan’seein’thetroubleahaidfortheIsbels，IjustbrokeoutwheneverIhadachance。IbraggedbeforemenI’dreasontobelievewouldtakemywordsdeep。Forinstance，notlongagoImissedsomestock，an’，happenin’intoGreaves’splaceoneSaturdaynight，Ishoretalkedloud。Hisbarroomwasfullofmenan’someofthemwereinmyblackbook。Greavestookmytalkalittletesty。Hesaid。’Wal，Gass，mebbeyou’rerightabootsomeofthesecattlethieveslivin’amongus，butain’ttheyjestasliabletobesomeofyourfriendsorrelativesasTedMeeker’sormineoranyonearoundheah？’ThatwaswhereGreavesan’mefellout。Iyelledathim:’No，byGod，they’renot！
Myrecordheahan’thatofmypeopleisopen。TheleastIcansayforyou，Greaves，an’yourcrowd，isthatyourrecordsfadeawayondimtrails。’Thenhesaid，nasty—like，’Wal，ifyoucouldworkoutallthedimtrailsintheTontoyou’dshorebesurprised。’An’thenIroared。ShorethatwasthechanceIwaslookin’for。Isworethetrailshehintedofwouldbetrackedtotheholesoftherustlerswhomadethem。ItoldhimIhadsentforyouan’whenyougotheahtheseslippery，mysteriousthieves，whoevertheywere，wouldshorehavehelltopay。Greavessaidhehopedso，buthewasafraidIwaspartialtomyIndianson。Thenwehadhotwords。Blaisdellgotbetweenus。
WhenIwasleavin’Itookapartin’flingathim。’Greaves，yououghttoknowtheIsbels，considerin’you’refromTexas。Maybeyou’vegotreasonsforthrowin’tauntsatmyclaimsformysonJean。Yes，he’sgotIndianinhiman’that’llbetheworseforthemenwhowillhavetomeethim。I’mtellin’you，Greaves，JeanIsbelistheblacksheepofthefamily。Ifyouridedownhisrecordyou’llfindhe’sshoreinlinetobeanotherPoggin，orReddyKingfisher，orHardin’，oranyoftheTexasgunmenyououghttoremember……Greaves，therearemenrubbin’elbowswithyourightheahthatmyIndiansonisgoin’totrackdown！’\"
JeanbenthisheadinstunnedcognizanceofthenotorietywithwhichhisfatherhadchosentoaffrontanyandallTontoBasinmenwhowereunderthebanofhissuspicion。Whataterriblereputationandtrusttohavesaddleduponhim！Thrillsandstrange，heatedsensationsseemedtorushtogetherinsideJean，formingahotballoffirethatthreatenedtoexplode。Aretreatingselfmadefeebleprotests。