llas knows more than I could learn in four thousand eight hundred and
seventy-six years, but that don't help 'em get along none. It's what
you know inside what counts."

He lapsed into silence and slouched in the saddle. Presently he
nodded, recovered, and nodded again. He would not wittingly have gone
to sleep in the saddle, being as yet too unaccustomed to riding to
relax to that extent. But sleep had something to say anent the matter.
He dozed, clasping the saddle-horn instinctively. Pill plodded along
patiently. The east grew gray, then rose-pink, then golden. The horse
lifted its head and quickened pace. Sundown swayed and nodded.

His uneasy slumber was broken by an explosive bark from Chance.
Sundown straightened and rubbed his eyes. Before him lay the
ranch-house, glittering in the sun. Out on the mesa grazed a herd of
sheep and past them another and another. Again he rubbed his eyes.

Then he distinguished several saddle-horses tied to the fence
surrounding the water-hole and there were figures of men walking to and
from his house, many of them. He set spur to Pill and loped up to the
fence. A Mexican with a hard, lined face stepped up to him. "You
vamose!" he said, pointing down the road.

Sundown stared at the men about the yard. Among them he recognized
several of Loring's herders, armed and evidently equipped with horses,
for they were booted and spurred. He pushed back his hat. "Vamose,
eh? I'll be damned if I do."

CHAPTER XXVI

THE INVADERS

The Mexican whipped his gun out and covered Sundown, who wisely put up
his hands. Two of the men crawled through the fence, secured Sundown's
horse, and ordered him to dismount. Before both feet had touched the
ground one of the Mexicans had snatched Sundown's gun from its holster.
Chance leaped at the Mexican, but Sundown's "Here, Chance!" brought the
dog growling to his master.

At that moment Loring stepped from the house, and shouldering aside the
men strode up to Sundown. The sheep-man was about to speak when the
tall one raised his arm and shook his fist in Loring's face.

"Fer two pins I'd jump you and stomp the gizzard out of you, you
low-down, dried-up, whisker-faced, mutton-eatin' butcher, you! I goes
to you and makes you a square offer and you come pussy-footin' in and
steals me ranch when I ain't there! If Jack Corliss don't run you
plumb off the edge afore to-morrow night, I'll sure see if there's any
law--" and