ars, yet it undoubtedly came from below, and all
three were upon their feet, when a second shot decided the matter.

Westcott was first at the rim, staring eagerly downward. It was
growing dusk down there in the depths, yet was still light enough to
enable him to perceive movement, and the outlines of the cabins. For a
moment all he noticed was a man lying on the ground in front of the
small hut, but almost immediately men began to swarm out through the
door of the bunk-house, and a horseman came spurring from the field
beyond.

The men were armed, several with guns in their hands; all with
revolvers buckled at the waist, and they bunched there, just outside
the door, evidently startled, but not knowing which way to turn. The
figure on the ground lifted itself partly, and the fellow must have
called to the others, although no sound of a voice attained the summit
of the cliff, for the whole gang rushed in that direction, and
clustered about, gesticulating excitedly.

An occasional Spanish oath exploded from the mass with sufficient
vehemence to reach the strained ears above, and the watchers were able
to perceive the fellows lift the fallen man to his feet, and untie his
hands, which were apparently secured behind his back. He must have
been wounded also, for one sleeve was hastily rolled up, and water
brought from the stream, in which it was bathed. Not until this had
been attended to did the crowd fall away, sufficiently to permit the
fellow himself to be distinctly seen. Moore's hand closed convulsively
on the marshal's arm.

"It's ol' Mendez, as I'm a livin' sinner,", he announced hoarsely.
"An' somebody's plunked him. What'd yer make o' that?"

Brennan never removed his gaze from the scene below, but his face was
tense with interest.

"Blamed if I know; might be a mere row--hold on, there! Whoever did it
is in that cabin; watch what they're up to, now."

The three hung there scanning every movement of those below, too
intently interested to talk, yet unable for some time to determine
clearly what was impending. Occasionally the sound of a voice reached
them, shouting orders in Spanish, and men came and went in obedience to
the commands. More guns were brought forth from the bunk-house, and
distributed; the single horseman rode swiftly up the valley, and a
half-dozen of the fellows lugged a heavy timber up from the corral, and
dropped it on the ground in front of the smaller cabin. Mendez, his
arm