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but it was no go； and I never enjoyed hog…tying a critter more in my life
than I enjoyed hog…tying Texas Pete。 Then we turned to see what damage
had been done。
We were some relieved to find the family all right； but Texas Pete had
bored one of them poor old crow…bait hosses plumb through the head。
〃It's lucky for you you don't get the old man；〃 says Gentleman Tim
very quiet and polite。
Which Gentleman Tim was an Irishman； and I'd been on the range
long enough with him to know that when he got quiet and polite it was
time to dodge behind something。
〃I hope； sir〃 says he to the stranger； 〃that you will give your wife and
baby a satisfying drink。 As for your hoss； pray do not be under any
apprehension。 Our friend； Mr。 Texas Pete； here； has kindly consented to
make good any deficiencies from his own corral。〃
Tim could talk high； wide； and handsome when he set out to。
The man started to say something； but I managed to herd him to one
side。
〃Let him alone；〃 I whispers。 〃When he talks that way； he's mad； and
when he's mad； it's better to leave nature to supply the lightnin' rods。〃
He seemed to sabe all right； so we built us a little fire and started some
grub； while Gentleman Tim walked up and down very grand and fierce。
By and by he seemed to make up his mind。 He went over and untied
Texas Pete。
〃Stand up； you hound；〃 says he。 〃Now listen to me。 If you make a
break to get away； or if you refuse to do just as I tell you； I won't shoot you；
but I'll march you up country and see that Geronimo gets you。〃
He sorted out a shovel and pick； made Texas Pete carry them right
along the trail a quarter； and started him to diggin' a hole。 Texas Pete
started in hard enough； Tim sittin' over him on his hoss； his six…shooter
loose； and his rope free。 The man and I stood by； not darin' to say a word。
After a minute or so Texas Pete began to work slower and slower。 By
and by he stopped。
〃Look here；〃 says he； 〃is this here thing my grave？〃
〃I am goin' to see that you give the gentleman's hoss decent
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interment；〃 says Gentleman Tim very polite。
〃Bury a hoss！〃 growls Texas Pete。
But he didn't say any more。 Tim cocked his six…shooter。
〃Perhaps you'd better quit panting and sweat a little；〃 says he。
Texas Pete worked hard for a while； for Tim's quietness was beginning
to scare him up the worst way。 By and by he had got down maybe four
or five feet； and Tim got off his hoss。
〃I think that will do；〃 says he。
〃You may come out。 Billy； my son； cover him。 Now； Mr。 Texas
Pete；〃 he says； cold as steel； 〃there is the grave。 We will place the hoss in
it。 Then I intend to shoot you and put you in with the hoss； and write you
an epitaph that will be a comfort to such travellers of the Trail as are
honest； and a warnin' to such as are not。 I'd as soon kill you now as an
hour from now； so you may make a break for it if you feel like it。〃
He stooped over to look into the hole。 I thought he looked an extra
long time； but when he raised his head his face had changed complete。
〃March！〃 says he very brisk。
We all went back to the shack。 From the corral Tim took Texas Pete's
best team and hitched her to the old schooner。
〃There；〃 says he to the man。 〃Now you'd better hit the trail。 Take
that whisky keg there for water。 Good…bye。〃
We sat there without sayin' a word for some time after the schooner
had pulled out。 Then Tim says； very abrupt：
〃I've changed my mind。〃
He got up。
〃Come on； Billy；〃 says he to me。 〃We'll just leave our friend tied up。
I'll be back to…morrow to turn you loose。 In the meantime it won't hurt
you a bit to be a little uncomfortable； and hungryand thirsty。〃
We rode off just about sundown； leavin' Texas Pete lashed tight。
Now all this knocked me hell…west and crooked； and I said so； but I
couldn't get a word out of Gentleman Tim。 All the answer I could get
was just little laughs。
We drawed into the ranch near midnight； but next mornin' Tim had a
long talk with the boss； and the result was that the whole outfit was
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instructed to arm up with a pick or a shovel apiece； and to get set for Texas
Pete's。 We got there a little after noon； turned the old boy outwithout
firearmsand then began to dig at a place Tim told us to； near that grave of
Texas Pete's。 In three hours we had the finest water…hole developed you
ever want to see。 Then the boss stuck up a sign that said：
PUBLIC WATER…HOLE。 WATER； FREE。
〃Now you old skin；〃 says he to Texas Pete； 〃charge all you want to on
your own property。 But if I ever hear of your layin' claim to this other
hole； I'll shore make you hard to catch。〃
Then we rode off home。 You see； when Gentleman Tim inspected
that grave； he noted indications of water； and it struck him that runnin' the
old renegade out of business was a neater way of gettin' even than merely
killin' him。
Somebody threw a fresh mesquite on the fire。 The flames leaped up
again； showing a thin trickle of water running down the other side of the
cave。 The steady downpour again made itself prominent through the re…
established silence。
〃What did Texas Pete do after that？〃 asked the Cattleman。
〃Texas Pete？〃 chuckled Windy Bill。 〃Well； he put in a heap of his
spare time lettin' Tim alone。〃
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CHAPTER THREE THE
REMITTANCE MAN
After Windy Bill had finished his story we began to think it time to
turn in。 Uncle Jim and Charley slid and slipped down the chute…like
passage leading from the cave and disappeared in the direction of the
overhang beneath which they had spread their bed。 After a moment we
tor