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knows。 But I've given my word； and I must keep it。 Do y'u want me to be a
quitter； and y'u so game yourself？ Do y'u want it to go all over this cattle
country that I gave my word and took it back because I lost my nerve？〃
〃The boy that takes a dare isn't a hero； is he！ There's a higher courage
that refuses to be drawn into such foolishness； that doesn't give way to the
jeers of the empty headed。〃
〃I don't think that is a parallel case。 I'm sorry； we can't see this alike；
but I've got to go ahead the way that seems to me right。〃
〃You're going to leave me； then； to go with that man？〃
〃Yes； if that's the way y'u have to put it。〃 He looked at her sorrowfully；
and added gently： 〃I thought you would see it。 I thought sure you would。〃
But she could not bear that he should leave her so； and she cried out
after him。 〃Oh； I see it。 I know you must go； but I can't bear it。〃 Her head
buried itself in his coat。 〃It isn't rightit isn't aa square deal that you
should go away now； the very minute you belong to me。〃
A happy smile shone in his eyes。 〃I belong to you； do I？ That's good
hearing； girl o' mine。〃 His arm went round her and he stroked the black
head softly。 〃I'll not be gone long； dear。 Don't y'u worry about me。 I'll be
back with y'u soon； just as soon as I have finished this piece of work I
have to do。〃
〃But if you should getif anything should happen to you？〃
〃Nothing is going to happen to me。 There is a special providence looks
after lovers； y'u know。〃
〃Be careful； Ned； of yourself。 For my sake； dear。〃
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〃I'll dry my socks every time I get my feet wet for fear of taking cold；〃
he laughed。
〃But you will； won't you？〃
〃I'll be very careful； Helen；〃 he promised more gravely。
Even then she could hardly let him go； clinging to him with a
reluctance to separate that was a new experience to her independent；
vigorous youth。 In the end he unloosened her arm； kissed her once； and
hurried out of the room。 In the hallway he met McWilliams； also hurryin
out from a tearful farewell on the part of Nora。
Bannister； the outlaw； already mounted； was waiting for them。 〃Y'u did
get through at last； he drawled insolently。 〃Well； if y'u'll kindly give orders
to your seven…foot dwarf to point the Winchester another way I'll collect
my men an we'll be moving。〃
For； though the outlaw had left his men in command of the ranch when
he went into the house； he found the situation reversed on his return。 With
the arrival of reinforcements； in the persons of McWilliams and his friend；
it had been the turn of the raiders to turn over their weapons。
〃All right； Denver；〃 nodded the foreman。
The outlaw chief whistled for his men； and with their guests they rode
into the silent； desert night。
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CHAPTER 22。 EXIT THE
〃KING〃
They bedded that night under the great vault…roof where twinkle a
million stars。
There were three of the outlaw's men with him； and both Mcwilliams
and his friend noticed that they slept a little apart from their chief。 There
were other indications among the rustlers of a camp divided against itself。
Bannister's orders to them he contrived to make an insult； and their
obedience was as surly as possible compatible with safety。 For all of the
men knew that he would not hesitate to shoot them down in one of his
violent rages should they anger him sufficiently。
Throughout the night there was no time that at least two men were not
awake in the camp。 The foreman and the sheepman took turns keeping
vigil； and on the other side of the fire sat one of the rustlers in silent
watchfulness。 To the man opposite him each of the sentinels were outposts
of the enemy； but they fraternized after the manner of army sentries；
exchanging tobacco and occasional casual conversation。
The foreman took the first turn； and opposite him sat a one…eyed old
scoundrel who had rustle calves from big outfits ever since Wyoming was
a territory and long before。 Chalkeye Dave； he was called； and sometimes
merely Chalkeye。 What his real name was no man knew。 Nor was his past
a subject for conversation in his presence。 It was known that he had been
in the Nevada penitentiary； and that he had killed a man in Arizona； but
these details of an active life were rarely resurrected。 For Chalkeye was
deadly on the shoot； and was ready for it at the drop of the hat； though he
had his good points too。 One of these was a remarkable fondness for
another member of the party； a mere lad； called by his companions Hughie。
Generally surly and morose； to such a degree that even his chief was
careful to humor him as a rule； when with Hughie all the softer elements
of his character came to the surface。 In his rough way he was ever
humorous and genial。
Jim McWilliams found him neither； however。 He declined to engage in
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conversation； accepted a proffer of tobacco with a silent； hostile grunt and
relapsed into a long silence that lasted till his shift was ended。
〃Hate to have y'u leave； old man。 Y'u're so darned good company I'll
ce'tainly pine for you；〃 the foreman suggested； with sarcasm； when the old
man rolled up in his blankets preparatory to falling asleep immediately。
Chalkeye's successor was a blatant youth much impressed with his
own importance。 He was both foul…mouthed and foul…minded； so that Jim
was constrained to interrupt his evil boastings by pretending to fall asleep。
It was nearly two o'clock when the foreman aroused his friend to take
his turn。 Shortly after this the lad Hughie relieved the bragging； would…be
bad man。
Hughie was a flaxen…haired； rather good…looking boy of nineteen。 In
his small； wistful face was not a line of wickedness； though it was plain
that he was weak。 He seemed so unfit for the life he was leading that the
sheepman's interest was aroused。 For on the frontier it takes a strong；
competent miscreant to be a bad man and survive。 Ineffectives and
weaklings are quickly weeded out to their graves or the penitentiaries。
The boy was manifestly under great fear of his chief； but the curly
haired young Hermes who kept watch with him had a very winning smile
and a charming manner when he cared to exert it。 Almost in spite of
himself the youngster was led to talk。 It seemed that he had but lately
joined the Teton…Shoshones outfit of desperadoes； and between the lines
Bannister easily read that his cousin's masterful compulsion had coerced
the young fellow。 All he wanted was an opportunity to withdraw in safety；
but he knew he could never do this so long as the 〃King〃 was alive and at
liberty。
Under the star…roof in the chill； breaking day Ned Bannister talked to
him long and gently。 It was easy to bring the boy to tears； but it was harder
thing to stiffen a will that was of putty and to hearten a soul in mortal fear。
But he set himself with all the power in him to combat the influence of his
cousin over this boy； and before the camp stirred to life again he knew that
he had measurably succeeded。
They ate breakfast in the gray dawn under the stars； and after they had
finished their coffee and bacon horses were saddled and the trail taken up
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again。 It led in and out among the foot…hills slopping upward gradually
toward the first long blue line of the Shoshones that stretched before them
in the distance。 Their nooning was at running stream called Smith's Creek；
and by nightfall the party was well up in the higher foot hills。
In the course of the day and the second night both the sheepman and
his friend made attempt to establish a more cordial relationship with
Chalkeye； but so far as any apparent results went their efforts were vain。
He refused grimly to meet their ov