his isn't such a deep cut; it oughtn't to put him out. Just
happened to strike a vein." He bound up the cut with the deftness of
experience.

"I hit him under the jaw," observed Pringle. "That's what did the
business for him. He'll be around directly."

Anastacio looked up at Pringle; measureless contempt was in his eyes.

"Judas Iscariot could have sublet his job to you at half price if
you'd been in the neighborhood. You are the limit, plus! I hope to see
you fry in a New English hell!"

"Oh, that's all right, too," said Pringle unabashed. "I might just
as well have that forty-five hundred as anyone. It wouldn't amount to
much split amongst all you fellows, but it's quite a bundle for
one man. That'll keep the wolf from the well-known door for quite a
while."

"You won't touch a cent of it!" declared the sheriff.

"Won't I though? We'll see about that. I captured him alone, didn't I?
Oh, I reckon I'll finger the money, alrighty!"

"Here, fellows; give him a bait of whisky," said Creagan.

Breslin, kneeling at Foy's side, took the extended flask. They
administered the stimulant cautiously, a sip at a time. Foy's eyes
flickered; his breath came freer.

"He's coming!" said Breslin. "Give him a sip of water now."

"He'll be O.K. in five minutes, far as settin' up goes," said old
Nueces, well pleased; "but he ain't goin' to be any too peart for
quite some time--not for gettin' down off o' this hill. See--he's
battin' his eyes and working his hands around. He sure heard the
birdies sing!"

"The rest of you boys had just as well go on down to the shack,"
directed the sheriff. "Creagan and Joe and me will take care of Foy
till he's able to move or be moved, and bring him into camp. You just
lead up our three horses and an extra one for Foy--up as far as you
can fetch 'em. One of you can ride home behind someone. Call down to
the bunch under the cliff that we've got 'em, and for them to hike out
to the ranch and take a nap. You'd better turn old Vorhis loose--and
that girl. They can't do any harm now."

"Bring my horse, too," said Anastacio. "I'm staying. I want to be sure
the invalid gets ... proper care."

"Me too," said Breslin.

"And I'm staying to kinder superintend," said Nueces dryly. "Sheriff,"
he added, as the main body of the posse fell off down the hill--"and
you, too, Barela--I don't just know what's going on here, but I'm
stayin' with you to a fare-you-well. You two seem to be bucking each
other