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。