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。