k this arrest
will shut my mouth! You imagine this will render me harmless! But, by
God, it will not! I 'll fight you until the last breath leaves my
body. I 'll tear you out from the protection of law; I 'll show you
the kind of a man you have stacked up against. I don't know whether
this murder charge is all a trick or not; I don't more than half
believe Jack Burke is dead. But be that as it may, I 'll pull you
down, Biff Farnham, not in any revenge for wrong done me, but to save a
woman whom you know. I 'll do it, damn you, though it cost me my life!"

The sheriff's iron hand fell in restraint upon his shoulder, the burly
body interposed between them.

"You're all right," Hayes said quietly, his eyes pleasantly interested.
"You 've been squar' with me, young fellow, an' I 'm goin' ter be
squar' with you. You kin bet on that. They 'll give you a chance down
below to fight out your quarrel with Farnham."

Winston, his quick rage as instantly fading, drew one hand across his
face, the real danger of his present situation flowing back suddenly to
mind.

"Where do you mean to take us?" he questioned.

"San Juan."

"Right away?"

"Wal, 'bout as soon as we kin git you back ter whar the hosses are,
yonder."

"You promise us protection from that 'Independence' outfit?"

The sheriff nodded decisively.

"Never lost no prisoner yet to a mob," he replied confidently. "I
reckon thar'll be one hell of a fight before I do now. However, you
don't need to worry, young man. On second thought, I 'll have the
hosses brought over here, an' we 'll go down this trail."

Winston glanced about into the faces of Hicks and the Swede. There was
no help forthcoming from either, but he had already reached a definite
decision for himself.

"Very well," he said calmly, "I 'll go with you quietly, sheriff, only
I don't need any hand-cuffing."

"Never use 'em," and Hayes affectionately patted his gun. "I reckon
this yere instrument will do the business all right if any
misunderstandin' should arise atween us goin' down. However, I 'll
trouble yer to discard them weapons for the sake o' peace."

Without a word the engineer unbuckled his belt, tossed it over to
Hicks, and then slowly turned his body about to prove himself entirely
disarmed. Then he smiled, and extended his hand. The sheriff grasped
it cordially.

"There need be no hard feeling between us, Hayes," he said pleasantly.
"You 're only doing your sworn du