mmittee
went out after culprits, it did not return empty-handed, as the
populace knew well. Zealous custodians of the law were they, as Bill
had said; and though they might have exchanged much of their zeal for
a little of Bill's sense of justice (to the betterment of the town),
few of the waiting crowd had the temerity to say so.

Up the street, necks (whose owners had not thought it worth while to
wade through the sand to the scene of the shooting) were being craned
towards the flat behind the town, where the Captain and a few of his
men had hurried at the first shot.

"They're comin'," Jim announced, thrusting his head into the gambling
hall and raising his voice above the sound of the boss's nail-driving.

"Well--what of it?" snapped Bill. "Why don't you yell at me that the
sun is going to set in the west to-night?" Bill drove the head of a
four-cornered, iron nail clean out of sight in a table top. And Jim
prudently withdrew his head and turned his face and his attention
towards the little procession that was just coming into sight at the
end of the rambling street, with the crowd closing in behind it as the
water comes surging together behind an ocean liner.

Jim worshiped his boss, but he knew better than to argue with him when
Bill happened to be in that particular mood, which, to tell the truth,
was not often. But in five minutes or less he had forgotten the snub.
His head popped in again.

"Bill!"

There may be much meaning in a tone, though it utters but one
unmeaning word. Bill dropped a handful of nails upon a table and came
striding down the long room to the door; pushed Jim unceremoniously
aside and stood upon the step. He was just in time to look into the
rageful, blue eyes of Jack Allen, walking with a very straight back
and a contemptuous smile on his lips, between the Captain and one of
his trusted lieutenants.

Bill's fingers clenched suggestively upon the handle of the hammer.
His jaw slackened and then pushed itself forward to a fighting angle
while he stared, and he named in his amazement that place which the
padres had taught the Indians to fear.

The Captain heard him and grinned sourly as he passed on. Jack heard
him, and his smile grew twisted at the tone in which the word was
uttered; but he still smiled, which was more than many a man would
have done in his place.

Bill stood while the rest of that grim procession passed his place.
There was another, a young fellow who looked rea