together. It
fell and rose and grew, coming rapidly nearer, until at length there
could be distinguished the cracking and popping of the hoofs of running
horses. The sound broke into a rattling rumble. There came across the
still, keen night a wild, thin, high, shrilling yell, product of many
voices.

"It's the Bar O outfit, from the Brazos, coming in," said some one.
The crowd pressed out into the air. It opened and melted slightly.
The crowd at Curly's shanty increased slightly, silently. Inside,
Curly and his friend still played cards. The giant prisoner lay asleep
upon the floor, stretched out on his thin native wool mattress, his
huge bulk filling half the floor.

The rattle of many hoofs swept up to the door of the Cottage, where the
restive, nervous horses were left standing while the men went in, their
leader, a stocky, red-mustached man, bearing with him the rope which he
had loosened from his saddle. Having drunk, the leader smote upon the
bar with a heavy hand.

"Come along, men," he called out, "The quicker we hang that d----d
Greaser the better it will be. We done heard there was some sort o'
trial goin' on here in town over this. We cowmen ain't goin' to stand
no such foolishness. This Greaser killed Cal Greathouse, an' he's got
to hang."

He moved toward the door, followed by many silently, by others with
steps that lagged. "Well, you see--" began one man.

"To h----l with all that!" said the newcomer, turning upon him fiercely.
"We don't need no cowards!"

"No, that ain't it," resumed the first man, "but we got to respeck the
Co'te--fust Co'te ever did set here, you see. The fellers, some of
'em, thinks--some o' the _jury_ thinks--that the feller's too crazy fer
to hang."

"Crazy be d----d! We're goin' to hang him, an' that settles it. Law
an' order kin take care of it afterward."

All the time they were shifting toward the door. Outside the band of
cattlemen who had just ridden in, fresh from the trail, and with but a
partial knowledge of the arguments that had been advanced in this
court, for which they had but small respect at best, settled the
immediate question in an instant. As though by concert they swung into
saddle and swept off up the street in a body, above the noise of their
riding now breaking a careless laugh, now a shrill yell of sheer joyous
excitement. They carried with them many waverers. More than a hundred
men drew up in front of the frail shelter over w