\"An’sohelpme——Jorthletthemburytheirdaid！\"
ThefactseemedtohavebeenmonstrouslystrangetoGastonIsbel。
Whenthewomenenteredtheoldmansaid，brokenly:\"I’mshoreglad……An’IreckonIwaswrongtoopposeyou……an’wrongtosaywhatIdidabootJorth。\"
NoonehadanychancetoreplytoIsbel，fortheJorthgang，asiftomakeupforlosttimeandsurchargedfeelingsofshame，renewedtheattackwithsuchapersistentandfuriousvolleyingthatthedefendersdidnotriskareturnshot。Theyallhadtolieflatnexttothelowestloginordertokeepfrombeinghit。Bulletsrainedinthroughthewindow。Andalltheclaybetweenthelogslowdownwasshotaway。Thisfusilladelastedformorethananhour，thengraduallythefirediminishedononesideandthenontheotheruntilitbecamedesultoryandfinallyceased。
\"Ahuh！Shorethey’veshottheirbolt，\"declaredGastonIsbel。
\"Wal，Idoon’tknowabootthat，\"returnedBlaisdell，\"butthey’veshotahellofalotofshells。\"
\"Listen，\"suddenlycalledJean。\"Somebody’syellin’。\"
\"Hey，Isbel！\"cameinloud，hoarsevoice。\"Letyourwomenfightforyou。\"
GastonIsbelsatupwithastartandhisfaceturnedlivid。JeanneedednomoretoprovethatthederisivevoicefromoutsidehadbelongedtoJorth。Theoldrancherlungeduptohisfullheightandwithrecklessdisregardoflifeherushedtothewindow。
\"Jorth，\"heroared，\"Idareyoutomeetme——mantoman！\"
Thiselicitednoanswer。Jeandraggedhisfatherawayfromthewindow。
Afterthatawaitingsilenceensued，graduallylessfraughtwithsuspense。Blaisdellstartedconversationbysayinghebelievedthefightwasoverforthatparticulartime。Noonedisputedhim。
EvidentlyGastonIsbelwasloathtobelieveit。Jean，however，watchingatthebackofthekitchen，eventuallydiscoveredthattheJorthganghadliftedthesiege。Jeansawthemcongregateattheedgeofthebrush，somewhatlowerdownthantheyhadbeenthedaybefore。
Ateamofmules，drawingawagon，appearedontheroad，andturnedtowardtheslope。Saddledhorseswereleddownoutofthejunipers。
Jeansawbodies，evidentlyofdeadmen，liftedintothewagon，tobehauledawaytowardthevillage。Sevenmountedmen，leadingfourriderlesshorses，rodeoutintothevalleyandfollowedthewagon。
\"Dad，they’vegone，\"declaredJean。\"Wehadthebestofthisfight……IfonlyGuyan’Jacobshadlistened！\"
Theoldmannoddedmoodily。Hehadagedconsiderablyduringthesetwotryingdays。Hishairwasgrayer。Nowthattheblazeandglowofthefighthadpassedheshowedasubtlechange，afixedandmorbidsadness，aresignationtoafatehehadaccepted。
TheordinaryroutineofranchlifedidnotreturnfortheIsbels。
Blaisdellreturnedhometosettlemattersthere，sothathecoulddevoteallhistimetothisfeud。GastonIsbelsatdowntowaitforthemembersofhisclan。
Themalemembersofthefamilykeptguardinturnovertheranchthatnight。Andanotherdaydawned。ItbroughtwordfromBlaisdellthatBlue，Fredericks，Gordon，andColmorwereallathishouse，onthewaytojointheIsbels。ThisnewsappearedgreatlytorejuvenateGastonIsbel。Buthisenthusiasmdidnotlastlong。Impatientandmoodybyturns，hepacedormopedaroundthecabin，alwayslookingout，sometimestowardBlaisdell’sranch，butmostlytowardGrassValley。
ItstruckJeanassingularthatneitherEstherIsbelnorMrs。Jacobssuggestedareburialoftheirhusbands。Thetwobereavedwomendidnotaskforassistance，butrepairedtothepasture，andtherespentseveralhoursworkingoverthegraves。Theyraisedmounds，whichtheysodded，andthenplacedstonesattheheadsandfeet。Lastly，theyfencedinthegraves。
\"IreckonI’llhitchupan’drivebackhome，\"saidMrs。Jacobs，whenshereturnedtothecabin。\"I’vemuchtodoan’plan。ProbablyI’llgotomymother’shome。She’soldan’willbegladtohaveme。\"
\"IfIhadanyplacetogotoI’dsurego，\"declaredEstherIsbel，bitterly。
GastonIsbelheardthisremark。Heraisedhisfacefromhishands，evidentlybothnettledandhurt。
\"Esther，shorethat’snotkind，\"hesaid。
Thered—hairedwoman——forshedidnotappeartobeagirlanymore——
haltedbeforehischairandgazeddownathim，withaterribleflareofscorninhergrayeyes。
\"GastonIsbel，allI’vegottosaytoyouisthis，\"sheretorted，withthevoiceofaman。\"Seein’thatyouan’LeeJorthhateeachother，whycouldn’tyouactlikemen？……YoudamnedTexans，withyourbloodyfeuds，draggin’ineveryrelation，everyfriendtomurdereachother！
That’snotthewayofArizonamen……We’veallgottosuffer——an’
wewomenberuinedforlife——becauseYOUhaddifferenceswithJorth。
Ifyouwerehalfamanyou’dgooutan’killhimyourself，an’notleavealotofwidowsan’orphanedchildren！\"
Jeanhimselfwrithedunderthelashofherscorn。GastonIsbelturnedadeadwhite。Hecouldnot。answerher。Heseemedstrickenwithmercilesstruth。Slowlydroppinghishead，heremainedmotionless，apatheticandtragicfigure;andhedidnotstiruntiltherapidbeatofhoofsdenotedtheapproachofhorsemen。Blaisdellappearedonhiswhitecharger，leadingapackanimal。Andbehindrodeagroupofmen，allheavilyarmed，andlikewisewithpacks。
\"Getdownan’comein，\"wasIsbel’sgreeting。\"Bill——youlookaftertheirpacks。Betterleavethehossessaddled。\"
Thebootedandspurredriderstroopedin，andtheirdemeanorfittedtheirerrand。Jeanwasacquaintedwithallofthem。FrederickswasalankyTexan，thecolorofdust，andhehadyellow，cleareyes，likethoseofahawk。HismotherhadbeenanIsbel。Gordon，too，wasrelatedtoJean’sfamily，thoughdistantly。Heresembledanindustriousminermorethanaprosperouscattleman。Bluewasthemoststrikingofthevisitors，ashewasthemostnoted。Alittle，shrunkengray—eyedman，withyearsofcowboywrittenalloverhim，helookedthequiet，easy，cool，anddeadlyTexanhewasreputedtobe。Blue’sTexasrecordwasshady，andwasseldomalludedto，asunfavorablecommenthadturnedouttobehazardous。Hewastheonlyoneofthegroupwhodidnotcarryarifle。Buthepackedtwoguns，ahabitnotoftennotedinTexans，andalmostneverinArizonians。
Colmor，AnnIsbel’sfiance，wastheyoungestmemberoftheclan，andtheoneclosesttoJean。HismeetingwithAnnaffectedJeanpowerfully，andbroughttoaclimaxanideathathadbeendevelopinginJean’smind。
Hissisterdevotedlylovedthislean—faced，keen—eyedArizonian;andittooknogreatinsighttodiscoverthatColmorreciprocatedheraffection。
Theywereyoung。Theyhadlonglifebeforethem。ItseemedtoJeanapitythatColmorshouldbedrawnintothiswar。Jeanwatchedthem，astheyconversedapart;andhesawAnn’shandscreepuptoColmor’sbreast，andhesawherdarkeyes，eloquent，hungry，fearful，liftedwithqueriesherlipsdidnotspeak。Jeansteppedbesidethem，andlaidanarmoverboththeirshoulders。
\"Colmor，forAnn’ssakeyou’dbetterbackoutofthisJorth—Isbelfight，\"
hewhispered。
Colmorlookedinsulted。\"But，Jean，it’sAnn’sfather，\"hesaid。
\"I’malmostoneofthefamily。\"
\"You’reAnn’ssweetheart，an’，byHeaven，Isayyououghtn’ttogowithus！\"whisperedJean。
\"Go——with——you，\"falteredAnn。
\"Yes。Dadisgoin’straightafterJorth。Can’tyoutellthat？An’
there’llbeonehellofafight。\"
AnnlookedupintoColmor’sfacewithallhersoulinhereyes，butshedidnotspeak。Herlookwasnoble。Sheyearnedtoguidehimright，yetherlipsweresealed。AndColmorbetrayedthetroubleofhissoul。
Thecodeofmenheldhimbound，andhecouldnotbreakfromit，thoughhedivinedinthatmomenthowtrulyitwaswrong。
\"Jean，yourdadstartedmeinthecattlebusiness，\"saidColmor，earnestly。\"An’I’mdoin’wellnow。An’whenIaskedhimforAnnhesaidhe’dbegladtohavemeinthefamily……Well，whenthistalkoffightcomeup，Iaskedyourdadtoletmegoinonhisside。
Hewouldn’thearofit。Butafterawhile，asthetimepassedan’hemademoreenemies，hefinallyconsented。Ireckonheneedsmenow。
An’Ican’tbackout，notevenforAnn。\"
\"IwouldifIwereyou，\"repliedjean，andknewthathelied。
\"Jean，I’mgamblin’tocomeoutofthefight，\"saidColmor，withasmile。
Hehadnomorbidfearsnorpresentiments，suchastroubledjean。
\"Why，sure——youstandasgoodachanceasanyone，\"rejoinedJean。
\"Itwasn’tthatIwasworryin’aboutsomuch。\"
\"Whatwasit，then？\"askedAnn，steadily。
\"IfAndrewDOEScomethroughalivehe’llhavebloodonhishands，\"
returnedJean，withpassion。\"Hecan’tcomethroughwithoutit……
I’vebeguntofeelwhatitmeanstohavekilledmyfellowmen……
An’I’dratheryourhusbandan’thefatherofyourchildrenneverfeltthat。\"
ColmordidnottakeJeanassubtlyasAnndid。Sheshrunkalittle。
Herdarkeyesdilated。ButColmorshowednothingofherspiritualreaction。Hewasyoung。Hehadwildblood。HewasloyaltotheIsbels。
\"Jean，neverworryaboutmyconscience，\"hesaid，withakeenlook。
\"Nothin’wouldticklemeanymorethantogetashotateverydamnoneoftheJorths。\"
ThatestablishedColmor’sstatusinregardtotheJorth—Isbelfeud。
Jeanhadnomoretosay。HerespectedAnn’sfriendandfeltpoignantsorrowforAnn。
GastonIsbelcalledformeatanddrinktobesetonthetableforhisguests。Whenhiswisheshadbeencompliedwiththewomentookthechildrenintotheadjoiningcabinandshutthedoor。
\"Hah！Wal，wecaneatan’talknow。\"
Firstthenewcomerswantedtohearparticularsofwhathadhappened。
Blaisdellhadtoldallheknewandhadseen，butthatwasnotsufficient。TheypliedGastonIsbelwithquestions。Laboriouslyandponderouslyherehearsedtheexperiencesofthefightattheranch，accordingtohisimpressions。BillIsbelwasexhortedtotalk，buthehadoflatemanifestedasullenandtaciturndisposition。
InspiteofJean’svigilanceBillhadcontinuedtoimbiberedliquor。
ThenJeanwascalledupontorelateallhehadseenanddone。IthadbeenJean’sintentiontokeephismouthshut，firstforhisownsakeand，secondly，becausehedidnotliketotalkofhisdeeds。Butwhenthusappealedtobythesesomber—faced，intent—eyedmenhedivinedthatthemorecarefullyhedescribedthecrueltyandbasenessoftheirenemies，andthemorevividlyhepresentedhisparticipationinthefirstfightofthefeudthemorestronglyhewouldbindthesefriendstotheIsbelcause。Sohetalkedforanhour，beginningwithhismeetingwithColterupontheRimandendingwithanaccountofhiskillingGreaves。Hislistenerssatthroughthislongnarrativewithunabatedinterestandattheclosetheywereleaningforward，breathlessandtense。
\"Ah！SoGreavesgothisdessertsatlast，\"exclaimedGordon。
Allthemenaroundthetablemadecomments，andthelast，fromBlue，wastheonethatstruckJeanforcibly。
\"Shorethetwasastrangean’ahellofawaytokillGreaves。
Why’dyoudothet，Jean？\"
\"Itoldyou。Iwantedtoavoidnoisean’Ihopedtogetmoreofthem。\"
Bluenoddedhislean，eagle—likeheadandsatthoughtfully，asifnotconvincedofanythingsaveJean’sprowess。AfteramomentBluespokeagain。
\"Then，goin’backtoJean’stellin’aboottrackin’rustledCattle，I’vegotthistosay。I’velongsuspectedthetsomebodylivin’rightheahinthevalleyhasbeendrivin’offcattlean’dealin’withrustlers。An’nowI’mshoreofit。\"
ThisspeechdidnotelicittheamazefromGastonIsbelthatJeanexpecteditwould。
\"YoumeanGreavesorsomeofhisfriends？\"
\"No。Theywasn’tnoneoftheminthecattlebusiness，likeweare。
ShoreweallknowedGreaveswascrooked。ButwhatI’mfiggerin’isthetsomeso—calledhonestmaninoursettlementhasbeenmakin’
crookeddeals。
Bluewasamanofdeedsratherthanwords，andsomuchstrongspeechfromhim，whomeverybodyknewtoberemarkablyreliableandkeen，madeaprofoundimpressionuponmostoftheIsbelfaction。But，toJean’ssurprise，hisfatherdidnotrave。ItwasBlaisdellwhosuppliedtherageandinvective。BillIsbel，also，wasstrangelyindifferenttothisnewelementintheconditionofcattledealing。
SuddenlyJeancaughtavagueflashofthought，asifhehadinterceptedthethoughtofanother’smind，andhewondered——couldhisbrotherBillknowanythingaboutthiscrookedworkalludedtobyBlue？Dismissingtheconjecture，Jeanlistenedearnestly。
\"An’ifit’strueitshoremakesthisdifference——wecain’tblamealltherustlin’ontoJorth，\"concludedBlue。
\"Wal，it’snottrue，\"declaredGastonIsbel，roughly。\"Jorthan’hisHashKnifeGangareatthebottomofalltherustlin’inthevalleyforyearsback。An’they’vegottobewipedout！\"
\"Isbel，Ireckonwe’dallfeelbetterifwetalkstraight，repliedBlue，coolly。\"I’mheahtostandbytheIsbels。An’y’uknowwhatthetmeans。
ButI’mnotheahtofightJorthbecausehemaybearustler。Theothersmayhavetheirownreasons，butmineisthis——youoncestoodbymeinTexaswhenIwasneedin’friends。Wal，I’mstandin’byy’unow。
Jorthisyourenemy，an’soheismine。\"
GastonIsbelbowedtothisultimatum，scarcelylessagitatedthanwhenEstherIsbelhaddenouncedhim。HisrabidandmorbidhateofJorthhadeatenintohishearttotakepossessionthere，liketheparasitethatbatteneduponthelifeofitsvictim。Blue’ssteelyvoice，hiscold，grayeyes，showedtheunbiasedtruthoftheman，aswellashisfidelitytohiscreed。Hereagain，butinadifferentmanner，GastonIsbelhadthefactflungathimthatothermenmustsuffer，perhapsdie，forhishate。AndtheverysouloftheoldrancherapparentlyroseinPassionaterevoltagainsttheblind，headlong，elementalstrengthofhisnature。SoitseemedtoJean，who，inloveandpitythathourlygrew，sawthroughhisfather。Wasittoolate？Alas！GastonIsbelcouldneverbeturnedback！Yetsomethingwasalteringhisbrooding，fixedmind。
\"Wal，\"saidBlaisdell，gruffly，\"let’sgetdowntobusiness……
I’mforhavin’Bluebeforemanofthisheahoutfit，an’allofustodoashesays。\"
GastonIsbelopposedthisselectionandindeedresentedit。
HeintendedtoleadtheIsbelfaction。
\"Allright，then。Giveusahunchwhatwe’regoin’todo，\"
repliedBlaisdell。
\"We’regoin’torideoffonJorth’strail——an’onewayoranother——
killhim——KILLHIM！……Ireckonthat’llendthefight。\"
WhatdidoldIsbelhaveinhismind？Hislistenersshooktheirheads。
\"No，\"assertedBlaisdell。\"Killin’Jorthmightbetheendofyourdesires，Isbel，butit’dneverendourfight。We’llhavegonetoofar……IfwetakeJorth’strailfromheahitmeanswe’vegottowipeoutthatrustiergang，orstaytothelastman。\"
\"Yes，byGod！\"exclaimedFredericks。
\"Let’sdrinktothet！\"saidBlue。StrangelytheyturnedtothisTexasgunman，instinctivelyrecognizinginhimthebrainandheart，andthepastdeeds，thatfittedhimfortheleadershipofsuchaclan。Bluehadallinlifetolose，andnothingtogain。Yethisspiritwassuchthathecouldnotleantoallthepossiblegainofthefuture，andleaveadebtunpaid。Thenhisvoice，hislook，hisinfluencewerethoseofafighter。Theyalldrankwithhim，evenJean，whohatedliquor。Andthisactofdrinkingseemedtheclimaxofthecouncil。
PreparationswereatoncebegunfortheirdepartureonJorth’strail。
Jeantookbutlittletimeforhisownneeds。Ahorse，ablanket，aknapsackofmeatandbread，acanteen，andhisweapons，withalltheammunitionhecouldpack，madeuphisoutfit。Heworehisbuckskinsuit，leggings，andmoccasins。Verysoonthecavalcadewasreadytodepart。JeantriednottowatchBillIsbelsaygood—bytohischildren，butitwasimpossiblenotto。WhateverBillwas，asaman，hewasfatherofthosechildren，andhelovedthem。Howstrangethatthelittleonesseemedtorealizethemeaningofthisgood—by？Theyweregrave，somber—eyed，paleuptothelastmoment，thentheybrokedownandwept。Didtheysensethattheirfatherwouldnevercomeback？
Jeancaughtthatdark，fatalisticpresentiment。BillIsbel’sconvulsedfaceshowedthathealsocaughtit。JeandidnotseeBillsaygood—bytohiswife。Butheheardher。OldGastonIsbelforgottospeaktothechildren，orelsecouldnot。Heneverlookedatthem。Andhisgood—bytoAnnwasasifhewereonlyridingtothevillageforaday。
Jeansawwoman’slove，woman’sintuition，woman’sgriefinhereyes。
Hecouldnotescapeher。\"Oh，Jean！oh，brother！\"shewhisperedassheenfoldedhim。\"It’sawful！It’swrong！Wrong！Wrong！……
Good—by！……IfkillingMUSTbe——seethaty’ukilltheJorths！……Good—by！\"
EveninAnn，gentleandmild，theIsbelbloodspokeatthelast。
JeangaveAnnovertothepale—facedColmor，whotookherinhisarms。
ThenJeanfledouttohishorse。Thiscold—bloodeddevastationofahomewasalmostmorethanhecouldbear。Therewaslovehere。
Whatwouldbeleft？
Colmorwasthelastonetocomeouttothehorses。Hedidnotwalkerect，norasonewhosesightwasclear。Then，asthesilent，tense，grimmenmountedtheirhorses，BillIsbel’seldestchild，theboy，appearedinthedoor。Hislittleformseemedinstinctwithaforcevastlydifferentfromgrief。HisfacewasthefaceofanIsbel。
\"Daddy——kill’emall！\"heshouted，withapassionallthefiercerforitsincongruitytothetreblevoice。
Sothepoisonhadspreadfromfathertoson。
CHAPTERIX
HalfamilefromtheIsbelranchthecavalcadepassedthelogcabinofEvarts，fatheroftheboywhohadtendedsheepwithBernardino。
ItsuitedGastonIsbeltohalthere。Noneedtocall！Evartsandhissonappearedsoquicklyastoconvinceobserversthattheyhadbeenwatching。
\"Howdy，Jake！\"saidIsbel。\"I’mwantin’awordwithy’ualone。\"
\"Shore，boss，gitdownan’comein，\"repliedEvarts。
Isbelledhimaside，andsaidsomethingforciblethatJeandivinedfromtheverygesturewhichaccompaniedit。HisfatherwastellingEvartsthathewasnottojoinintheIsbel—Jorthwar。EvartshadworkedfortheIsbelsalongtime，andhisfaithfulness，alongwithsomethingstrongeranddarker，showedinhisruggedfaceashestubbornlyopposedIsbel。Theoldmanraisedhisvoice:\"No，Itellyou。An’thatsettlesit。\"
Theyreturnedtothehorses，and，beforemounting，Isbel，asifherememberedsomething，directedhissombergazeonyoungEvarts。
\"Son，didyouburyBernardino？\"
\"Dadan’mewentoveryestiddy，\"repliedthelad。\"Ishorewasgladthecoyoteshadn’tbeenround。\"
\"Howabootthesheep？\"
\"Ileftthemthere。Iwasgoin’tostay，butbein’allalone——Igotskeered……Thesheepwasdoin’fine。Goodwateran’somegrass。
An’thisain’ttimefervarmintstohanground。\"
\"Jake，keepyoureyeonthatflock，\"returnedIsbel。\"An’ifI
shouldn’thappentocomebacky’ucancallthemsheepyours……
I’dlikeyourboytorideuptothevillage。Notwithus，soanybodywouldseehim。Butafterward。We’llbeatAbelMeeker’s。\"
AgainJeanwasconfrontedwithanuneasypremonitionastosomeideaorplanhisfatherhadnotsharedwithhisfollowers。WhenthecavalcadestartedonagainJeanrodetohisfather’ssideandaskedhimwhyhehadwantedtheEvartsboytocometoGrassValley。Andtheoldmanrepliedthat，astheboycouldruntoandfrointhevillagewithoutdanger，hemightbeusefulinreportingwhatwasgoingonatGreaves’sstore，whereundoubtedlytheJorthgangwouldholdforth。
Thisappearedreasonableenough，thereforeJeansmotheredtheobjectionhehadmeanttomake。
Thevalleyroadwasdeserted。When，amilefartheron，theriderspassedagroupofcabins，justontheoutskirtsofthevillage，Jean’squickeyecaughtsightofcuriousandevidentlyfrightenedpeopletryingtoseewhiletheyavoidedbeingseen。Nodoubtthewholesettlementwasinastateofsuspenseandterror。Notunlikelythisdark，closelygroupedbandofhorsemenappearedtothemasJorth’sganghadlookedtoJean。Itwasanorderly，trottingmarchthatmanifestedneitherhurrynorexcitement。ButanyWesterneyecouldhavecaughtthesingularaspectofsuchagroup，asiftheintentoftheriderswasavisiblething。
Soontheyreachedtheoutskirtsofthevillage。Heretheirapproachbadbeenwatchedfororhadbeenalreadyreported。Jeansawmen，women，childrenpeepingfrombehindcabinsandfromhalf—openeddoors。FartheronJeanespiedthedarkfiguresofmen，slippingoutthebackwaythroughorchardsandgardensandrunningnorth，towardthecenterofthevillage。CouldthesebefriendsoftheJorthcrowd，onthewaywithwarningsoftheapproachoftheIsbels？Jeanfeltconvincedofit。
HewaslearningthathisfatherhadnotbeenabsolutelycorrectinhisestimationofthewayJorthandhisfollowerswereregardedbytheirneighbors。Notimprobablytherewerereallymanyvillagerswho，beingmoreinterestedinsheepraisingthanincattle，hadanhonestleaningtowardtheJorths。Some，too，nodoubt，hadleaningsthatweredishonestindeedifnotinsincerity。
GastonIsbelledhisclanstraightdownthemiddleofthewideroadofGrassValleyuntilhereachedapointoppositeAbelMeeker’scabin。
JeanespiedthesamecuriosityfrombehindMeeker’sdoorandwindowsashadbeenshownallalongtheroad。Butpresently，atIsbel’scall，thedooropenedandashort，swarthymanappeared。Hecarriedarifle。
\"Howdy，Gass！\"hesaid。\"What’sthegoodword？\"
\"Wal，Abel，it’snotgood，butbad。An’it’sshorestarted，\"repliedIsbel。\"I’maskin’y’utoletmehaveyourcabin。\"
\"You’rewelcome。I’llsendthefolks’roundtoJim’s，\"returnedMeeker。
\"An’ify’uwantme，I’mwithy’u，Isbel。\"
\"Thanks，Abel，butI’mnotleadin’anymorekinan’friendsintothisheahdeal。\"
\"Wal，jestasy’usay。ButI’dlikedamnbadtojinewithy’u……
MybrotherTedwasshotlastnight。\"
\"Ted！Ishedaid？\"ejaculatedIsbel，blankly。
\"Wecan’tfindout，\"repliedMeeker。\"JimsaysthetJeffCampbellsaidthetTedwentintoGreaves’splacelastnight。GreavesalluswasfriendlytoTed，butGreaveswasn’tthar——\"
\"No，heshorewasn’t，\"interruptedIsbel，withadarksmile，\"an’heneverwillbethereagain。\"
Meekernoddedwithslowcomprehensionandashadecrossedhisface。
\"Wal，Campbellclaimedhe’dheerdfromsomeonewhowasthar。Anyway，theJorthsweredrinkin’hard，an’theyraisedarowwithTed——sameoldsheeptalkan’somebodyshothim。CampbellsaidTedwasthrownoutback，an’hewasshorehewasn’tkilled。\"
\"Ahuh！Wal，I’msorry，Abel，yourfamilyhadtoloseinthis。MaybeTed’snotbadhurt。Ishorehopeso……An’y’uan’Jimkeepoutofthefight，anyway。\"
\"Allright，Isbel。ButIreckonI’llgivey’uahunch。IfthisheahfightlastslongthewholedamnBasinwillbeinit，ononesideort’other。\"
\"Abe，you’retalkin’sense，\"brokeinBlaisdell。\"An’that’swhywe’reupheahforquickaction。\"
\"Iheerdy’ugotDaggs，\"whisperedMeeker，ashepeeredallaround。
\"Wal，y’uheerdcorrect，\"drawledBlaisdell。
Meekermutteredstrongwordsintohisbeard。\"Say，wasDaggsinthetJorthoutfit？\"
\"HeWAS。ButhewalkedrightintoJean’sforty—four……
An’Ireckonhiscarcasswouldshowsomemore。\"
\"An’whar’sGuyIsbel？\"demandedMeeker。
\"Daidan’buried，Abel，\"repledGastonIsbel。\"An’nowI’dbeobligedify’u’llhurryyourfolksaway，an’letushaveyourcabinan’corral。
Haveyugotanyhayforthehosses？\"
\"Shore。Thebarn’shalffull，\"repliedMeeker，asheturnedaway。
\"Comeonin。\"
\"No。We’llwaittillyou’vegone。\"
WhenMeekerhadgone，Isbelandhismensattheirhorsesandlookedaboutthemandspokelow。Theiradventhadbeenexpected，andthelittletownawoketotheimminenceoftheimpendingbattle。InsideMeeker’shousetherewasthesoundofindistinctvoicesofwomenandthebustleincidenttoahurriedvacating。
Acrossthewideroadpeoplewerepeeringoutonallsides，somehiding，otherswalkingtoandfro，fromfencetofence，whisperinginlittlegroups。Downthewideroad，atthepointwhereitturned，stoodGreaves’sfort—likestonehouse。Low，flat，isolated，withitsdark，eye—likewindows，itpresentedaforbiddingandsinisteraspect。
Jeandistinctlysawtheformsofmen，somedark，othersinshirtsleeves，cometothewidedoorandlookdowntheroad。
