Lucinda came totouch his shoulder with sympathy.
Logan alone knew what havoc Mooneys killing had wrought in him.
George, you and Grant hide in the
cow-shed.
And have I had a hell of atime getting
here?
A few of them have cars, andsome of them have
trucks. Still, cattle runningup the canyon would never find that small, steep
opening. Logan had patriotism, too; Lucindaused to think it the only religion he
had.
He waved to me from the rim above Turkey
Wash.
That would be right, spoke up Abe, stoutly. Youve
been a pioneer for twenty-five years.
Abe swears they keep a lookout on one of the high
points or along therim. What brazenboldness these cattle-thieves
showed!
Thats not conceivable, interrupted
Huett.
Some of theseother ranchers are getting the jump on
us.
Never savvied what held those
airplanesup.
It resembled Sycamore somewhat, but waslarger and
revealed more gaps to fence.
Four orfive of those thieves bolted for the road.
On the moment he saw adark moving line come from behind the jutting corner of wall.
Some day, sure,shell take the one of us she loves best.
And now he sneaks up here withthose outcast
Stillmans to rob us! We dont obey thelaws any more than the Stillmans or the other
backwoods people.
It might have been just like that, Dad, retorted
Abe, cool and hard.
The open door and window let in the grey
gloom.
Thats when I got stung, from the other direction.
Barbara returned rosy and fresh, handsomer than ever,raving about airplanes and
motion-pictures. He almost stepped outsidein his eagerness.
Barbara ran out of the cabin, working the lever of
her rifle.
Some of theseother ranchers are getting the jump on
us. A dance at Holberts, failed to tempt him, though Barbara went withGrant.
Occasionally one ofthe Huetts ran into travellers to hear more news.
Lucindas heart welled painfully in her breast. Then
Logan heard another faint noise whichhe could not identify.
If they tried tomake a clean sweep, and tackled the
U.
Youll get that chance yourself, maybe, he
replied.
Tobe had to give itaway that he was Hillbrands man.
At first it had hardlytouched them, remote in their canyon.
He peered up the trail, through the gap in the
ledge. Dammit, Id lose every head of stock in Turkey Canyonrather than show yellow.
Dad, youre cussed short-sighted and bull-headed, averred Georgerepeatedly.