marshal's party leaving Guadalajara by the Lower Road. Presley told them
of the decision of the Leaguers not to fire until fired upon.

"All right," said Gethings. "But if it comes to a gun-fight, that means
it's all up with at least one of us. Delaney never misses his man."

When they reached Hooven's again, they found that the Leaguers had
already taken their position in the ditch. The plank bridge across it
had been torn up. Magnus, two long revolvers lying on the embankment
in front of him, was in the middle, Harran at his side. On either side,
some five feet intervening between each man, stood the other Leaguers,
their revolvers ready. Dabney, the silent old man, had taken off his
coat.

"Take your places between Mr. Osterman and Mr. Broderson," said Magnus,
as the three men rode up. "Presley," he added, "I forbid you to take any
part in this affair."

"Yes, keep him out of it," cried Annixter from his position at the
extreme end of the line. "Go back to Hooven's house, Pres, and look
after the horses," he added. "This is no business of yours. And keep
the road behind us clear. Don't let ANY ONE come near, not ANY ONE,
understand?"

Presley withdrew, leading the buckskin and the horses that Gethings and
Cutter had ridden. He fastened them under the great live oak and then
came out and stood in the road in front of the house to watch what was
going on.

In the ditch, shoulder deep, the Leaguers, ready, watchful, waited in
silence, their eyes fixed on the white shimmer of the road leading to
Guadalajara.

"Where's Hooven?" enquired Cutter.

"I don't know," Osterman replied. "He was out watching the Lower Road
with Harran Derrick. Oh, Harran," he called, "isn't Hooven coming in?"

"I don't know what he is waiting for," answered Harran. "He was to have
come in just after me. He thought maybe the marshal's party might make a
feint in this direction, then go around by the Upper Road, after all. He
wanted to watch them a little longer. But he ought to be here now."

"Think he'll take a shot at them on his own account?"

"Oh, no, he wouldn't do that."

"Maybe they took him prisoner."

"Well, that's to be thought of, too."

Suddenly there was a cry. Around the bend of the road in front of them
came a cloud of dust. From it emerged a horse's head.

"Hello, hello, there's something."

"Remember, we are not to fire first."

"Perhaps that's Hooven; I can't see. Is it? There only seems to be one
horse."