hich was spread the
doubtful aegis of the law.

Fifty men met them. The lights went out in the house in an instant,
and in front of the door there swept a dark and silent cordon. The
leader of the invaders paused, but went straight forward.

"We want that man!" he said.

There was no answer. The line in front of the door darkened and
thickened. Finally the figure of the young lawyer appeared, and he
said calmly, sternly:

"You know very well you can't have him."

"We don't know nothin' o' the sort. We want him, an' we're goin' to
have him. We don't want no one else, an' we won't make no trouble, but
we're goin' to take the Mexican. Git out the road!"

A second figure stood by the side of Franklin, and this man was
recognised by the leader. "Aw, now, Curly, what d----d foolishness is
this here? Bring him out."

"You know I won't, Jim," said Curly, simply. "We're tryin' him on the
square. You ain't the Co'te. I kain't give him to no one but the
Co'te."

"We _are_ the Co'te!" came the hot reply. "The Co'te that runs this
range fer hoss-thieves an' murderers. Now, see here, Curly, we're all
your friends, an' you know it, but that feller has got to hang, an'
hang to-night. Git out the way. What's the matter with you?"

"They ain't nothin' the matter with me," said Curly slowly, "'ceptin' I
done said I wouldn't give this man up to no man but the Co'te. A lot
o' us fellers, here in the settlement, we 'lowed that the law goes here
now."

Silence fell for an instant, then from the rear of the party there came
pushing and crowding and cries of "Burn the house--drive him out!"
There was a rush, but it was met by a silent thickening of the line at
the point assailed. Men scuffled with men, swearing and grunting,
panting hard. Here and there weapons flashed dully, though as yet no
shot was fired. Time and again Franklin raised his voice. "Men,
listen to me!" he cried. "We promise you a fair trial--we promise--"

"Shut up!" cried the leader, and cries of "No talking!" came from the
crowd. "Give him up, or we'll clean you all out!" cried another voice,
angrily. The rushers toward the house grew closer, so that assailants
and besiegers were now mingled in a fighting, swearing mass.

"You're no cowman, Curly," cried one voice, bitterly, out of the black
shifting sea in front of the house.

"You're a d----d liar!" cried Curly in reply, "whoever says that to me!
I'm only a-keepin' of my word. You