y'u quite a bit. Not that y'u'll miss it where you are going," he
hastened to add.

"It was very like you to revenge yourself on dumb animals."

"Think so?" The "King's" black gaze rested on him. "Y'u'll sing a
different song soon Mr. Bannister. It's humans I'll drive next time and
don't y'u forget it."

"If you get the chance," amended his cousin gently.

"I'll get the chance. I'm not worrying about that. And about those
sheep--any man that hasn't got more sense than to run sheep in a cow
country ought to lose them for his pig-headedness.

"Those sheep were on the right side of the dead-line. You had to cross
it to reach them." Their owner's steady eyes challenged a denial.

"Is that so? Now how do y'u know that? We didn't leave the herder alive
to explain that to y'u, did we?"

"You admit murdering him?"

"To y'u, dear cousin. Y'u see, I have a hunch that maybe y'u'll go join
your herder right soon. Y'u'll not do much talking."

The sheepman fell back. "I think I'll ride alone."

Rage flared in the other's eye. "Too good for me, are y'u, my
mealy-mouthed cousin? Y'u always thought yourself better than me. When
y'u were a boy you used to go sneaking to that old hypocrite, your
grandfather--"

"You have said enough," interrupted the other sternly. "I'll not hear
another word. Keep your foul tongue off him."

Their eyes silently measured strength.

"Y'u'll not hear a word!" sneered the chief of the rustlers. "What will
y'u do, dear cousin?

"Stand up and fight like a man and settle this thing once for all."

Still their steely eyes crossed as with the thrust of rapiers. The
challenged man crouched tensely with a mighty longing for the test,
but he had planned a more elaborate revenge and a surer one than this.
Reluctantly he shook his head.

"Why should I? Y'u're mine. We're four to two, and soon we'll be a dozen
to two. I'd like a heap to oblige y'u, but I reckon I can't afford to
just now. Y'u will have to wait a little for that bumping off that's
coming to y'u."

"In that event I'll trouble you not to inflict your society on me any
more than is necessary."

"That's all right, too. If y'u think I enjoy your conversation y'u have
got another guess coming."

So by mutual consent the sheepman fell in behind the blatant youth who
had wearied McWilliams so and rode in silence.

It was again getting close to nightfall. The slant sun was throwing its
rays on less and less of the trail. They could see