ss--and because
Romance ran lightly beside him, heartening him on his way; Romance,
whose ears are deaf to all moral considerations and whose eyes see only
the true adventurer, be he priest or pirate; Romance whose eyes are
blind to those who fear to dare.

CHAPTER XVII

A FALSE TRAIL

"Sure he's dead!" reiterated Cotton. "Didn't I see them two holes
plumb through him and the blood soakin' his shirt when I turned him
over? If I'd 'a' had my gun on me that Young Pete would be right side
of Steve, right now! But I couldn't do nothin' without a gun. Pete
Annersley was plumb scared. That's why he killed Steve. Jest you
gimme a gun and watch me ride him down! I aim to settle with that Jay."

Cotton was talking to Houck of the T-Bar-T, blending fact and fiction
in a blustering attempt to make himself believe he had played the man.
During his long, foot-weary journey to the ranch he had roughly
invented this speech and tried to memorize it. Through repetition he
came to believe that he was telling the truth. Incidentally he had not
paused to catch up his horse, which was a slight oversight, considering
the trail from the Blue to his home ranch.

"What's the matter with the gun you're packin'?" asked Houck.

Cotton had forgotten his own gun.

"I--it was like this, Bill. After Young Pete killed Gary, I went back
to the shack and got my gun. At first, Andy White wasn't goin' to
leave me have it--but I tells him to fan it. I reckon he's pretty nigh
home by now."

"Thought you said you didn't see White after the shooting--that he
forked his horse and rode for the Concho? Cotton, you're lyin' so fast
you're like to choke."

"Honest, Bill! If I'd 'a' had my gun . . ."

"Oh, hell! Don't try to swing that bluff. Where's your horse?"

"I couldn't ketch him, honest."

"Thought you said you caught him in the brush and tied him to a tree
and Young Annersley threatened to kill you if you went for your saddle."

"That's right--honest, Bill, that's what he said."

"Then how is it that Bobby Lent caught your horse strayin' in more 'n a
hour ago? Dam' if I believe a word you say. You're plumb crazy."

"Honest, Bill. I hope to die if Steve Gary ain't layin' over there
with two holes in him. He's sure dead. Do you think I footed it all
the way jest because I like walkin'?"

Houck frowned and shook his head. "You say him and Young Pete had come
to words?"

"Yep; about ole man Annersley. Steve was