the womenfolk in their corner. The fierce attack then abated somewhat,
and the firing became more intermittent, and therefore more carefully
aimed. A glancing bullet cut a furrow in Blaisdell's hoary head,
making a painful, though not serious wound. It was Esther Isbel who
stopped the flow of blood and bound Blaisdell's head, a task which she
performed skillfully and without a tremor. The old Texan could not sit
still during this operation. Sight of the blood on his hands, which he
tried to rub off, appeared to inflame him to a great degree.

"Isbel, we got to go out thar," he kept repeating, "an' kill them all."

"No, we're goin' to stay heah," replied Gaston Isbel. "Shore I'm
lookin' for Blue an' Fredericks an' Gordon to open up out there. They
ought to be heah, an' if they are y'u shore can bet they've got the
fight sized up."

Isbel's hopes did not materialize. The shooting continued without any
lull until about midday. Then the Jorth faction stopped.

"Wal, now what's up?" queried Isbel. "Boys, hold your fire an' let's
wait."

Gradually the smoke wafted out of the windows and doors, until the room
was once more clear. And at this juncture Esther Isbel came over to
take another gaze out upon the meadows. Jean saw her suddenly start
violently, then stiffen, with a trembling hand outstretched.

"Look!" she cried.

"Esther, get back," ordered the old rancher. "Keep away from that
window."

"What the hell!" muttered Blaisdell. "She sees somethin', or she's
gone dotty."

Esther seemed turned to stone. "Look! The hogs have broken into the
pasture! ... They'll eat Guy's body!"

Everyone was frozen with horror at Esther's statement. Jean took a
swift survey of the pasture. A bunch of big black hogs had indeed
appeared on the scene and were rooting around in the grass not far from
where lay the bodies of Guy Isbel and Jacobs. This herd of hogs
belonged to the rancher and was allowed to run wild.

"Jane, those hogs--" stammered Esther Isbel, to the wife of Jacobs.
"Come! Look! ... Do y'u know anythin' about hogs?"

The woman ran to the window and looked out. She stiffened as had
Esther.

"Dad, will those hogs--eat human flesh?" queried Jean, breathlessly.

The old man stared out of the window. Surprise seemed to hold him. A
completely unexpected situation had staggered him.

"Jean--can you--can you shoot that far?" he asked, huskily.

"To those hogs? No, it's out of range."

"Then,