t. Now drop that rope--I'm surprised that you didn't
do it before. When you get Bill all untangled from those fixings come
right around here, where I can see how nice you all look in a bunch.
It'll take you one whole minute to get out of sight around that turn, so I
wouldn't try any running."

The Orphan was ignorant of the condition of Bill's face, since he had only
seen the driver's back as he had crawled to the edge of the bank, and now
the bend in the opposite wall just hid Bill from his sight. So he gave
no great attention to the driver, but turned to the sheriff and laughed.

"I knew that you would pull through, Sheriff," he said, "but I couldn't
help having a surprise party; I'm a whole lot fond of surprise parties,
you know. And it's shore been a howling success, all right."

"You have a very pleasant way of making yourself useful," Shields
replied. "From the holes you've pulled me out of within the past six
weeks you must have a poor impression of me. But seeing that you have
reason to laugh at me, I accept your apology and bid you welcome. It's
all yours." Then he glanced quickly up the trail and his face went red
with anger. "Hell!" he cried in amazement.

The Orphan looked in the direction indicated and he leaped to his feet
in sudden anger at what he saw. A man, followed by a cowboy, staggered
and stumbled drunkenly along the trail toward them, his face a mass of
cuts and bruises and blood. His hair was matted with blood and dirt, and a
red ring showed around his neck. His hands opened and shut convulsively
and he made straight as he could for Tex, who shrank back involuntarily.

"My God! It's Bill!" cried The Orphan, hardly able to believe his eyes.

"You're the cur _I_ want!" Bill muttered brokenly to Tex, straightening up
and becoming rapidly steadier under the stimulus of his rage. "You're the
---- _I_ want, d----n you!" he repeated as he slowly advanced. "It's my
turn now, you cur! Lynch me, would you? Lynch me, eh? Tried to hit me when
I was tied, eh? Sicked your dogs on me, eh? Keep still, d----n you--you
can't get away!" he cried as Tex moved backward.

"Stand to it like a man, or I'll blow your head off!" cried The Orphan
from his perch. "Go on, Bill!"

"You said you wanted me, didn't you? Do you still want me?" he asked, not
hearing The Orphan's words. "Are you still curious?" he asked, backing
Tex into a corner.

"Hash him up, Bill!" cried the man above, and then, "Hey, wait a minute--I