with Jake's fall the tension of Tresler's rage relaxed. He could
have carried the chastisement further with a certain wild delight, but
he was no savage, only a real, human man, outraged and infuriated by
the savagery of another. His one thought was for his poor old friend,
and he dropped on his knees, and bent over the still, shrunken form in
a painful anxiety. He called to him, and put one hand under the gray
old head and raised it up. And as he did so the poor fellow's eyes
opened. Joe murmured something unintelligible, and Tresler was about
to speak again, when a movement behind him changed his purpose and
brought him to his feet with a leap.

Nor was he any too soon. And his rage lit anew as he saw Jake
struggling to rise. In an instant he was standing over him
threateningly.

"Move, and I'll paralyze you!" he cried hoarsely.

And Jake made no further effort. He lay back with a growl of impotent
rage, while his hands moved uneasily, mopping his blood-stained
features.

Now it was, for the first time, Tresler became aware that the men from
the bunkhouse had come upon the scene.

The sight of all those faces gazing in wide-eyed astonishment at the
fallen Jake brought home to him something of the enormity of his
offense, and it behooved him to get Joe out of further harm's way. He
stooped, and gathering the little choreman tenderly into his powerful
arms, lifted him on to his shoulders and strode away to the bunkhouse,
followed by his silent, wondering comrades.

He deposited Joe upon his own bed, and the men crowded round. And
questions and answers came in a wild volley about him.

It was Arizona who spoke least and rendered most assistance. Together
he and Tresler undressed the patient and treated him to a rough
surgical examination. They soon found that no limbs were broken, but
of his ribs they were less certain. He was severely bruised about the
head, and this latter no doubt accounted for his unconsciousness. Cold
water, harshly applied, though with kind intent, was the necessary
restorative, and after a while the twisted face took on a hue of life
and the eyes opened. Then Tresler turned to the men about him.

"Boys," he said gravely, "I want you all to remember that this is
purely my affair. Joe's and mine--and Jake's. I shall settle it in my
own way. For the present we have our work to do."

There was a low murmur, and Arizona raised a pair of fierce eyes to
his face. He was going to speak--to voi