t, from the trail left, that
they were not far ahead. The fact that they were carrying off with
them horses that were the private property of men in the rescue party
did not tend to fortify the sheriff in the good opinion of any of the
rescuers. It was now noticed that the herd had left the trail in the
direction of a place where there had formerly been a ranch house, the
corrals of which were in good repair, as they were frequently used for
branding purposes. On coming in sight of these corrals, Gray's
party noticed that some kind of work was being carried on, so they
approached it cautiously. The word came back that it was the horses.

Gray said to his party, "Keep a short distance behind me. I'll open
the ball, if there is any." To the others of his party, it seemed that
the supreme moment in the old man's life had come. Over his determined
features there spread a smile of the deepest satisfaction, as though
some great object in life was about to be accomplished. Yet in that
determined look it was evident that he would rather be shot down like
a dog than yield to what he felt was tyranny and the denial of his
rights. When his party came within a quarter of a mile of the corrals,
it was noticed that Ninde and his deputies ceased their work, mounted
their horses, and rode out into the open, the sheriff in the lead, and
halted to await the meeting.

Gray rode up to within a hundred feet of Ninde's posse, and
dismounting handed the reins of his bridle to his son. He advanced
with a steady, even stride, a double-barreled shotgun held as though
he expected to flush a partridge. At this critical juncture, his party
following him up, it seemed that reputations as bad men were due to
get action, or suffer a discount at the hands of heretofore peaceable
men. Every man in either party had his arms where they would be
instantly available should the occasion demand it. When Gray came
within easy hailing distance, his challenge was clear and audible to
every one. "What in hell are you doing with my horses?"

"I've got to have these horses, sir," answered Ninde.

"Do you realize what it will take to get them?" asked Gray, as he
brought his gun, both barrels at full cock, to his shoulder. "Bat an
eye, or crook your little finger if you dare, and I'll send your soul
glimmering into eternity, if my own goes to hell for it." There was
something in the old man's voice that conveyed the impression that
these were not idle words. To h