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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 overtures half way； even though it was
plain from his manner that a break between him and his chief could not
long be avoided。
All day by crooked trails they pushed forward； and as the party
advanced into the mountains the gloom of the mournful pines and
frowning peaks invaded its spirits。 Suspicion and distrust went with it；
camped at night by the rushing mountain stream； lay down to sleep in the
shadows at every man's shoulder。 For each man looked with an ominous
eye on his neighbor； watchful of every sudden move； of every careless
word that might convey a sudden meaning。
Along a narrow rock…rim trail far above a steep canon； whose walls
shot precipitously down； they were riding in single file； when the outlaw
chief pushed his horse forward between the road wall and his cousin's
bronco。 The sheepman immediately fell back。
〃I reckon this trail isn't wide enough for twounless y'u take the
outside；〃 he explained quietly。
The outlaw； who had been drinking steadily ever since leaving the
Lazy D； laughed his low； sinister cackle。 〃Afraid of me； are y'u？ Afraid I'll
push y'u off？〃
〃Not when I'm inside and you don't have chance。〃
〃'Twas a place about like this I drove for thousand of your sheep over
last week。 With sheep worth what they are I'm afraid it must have cost y'u
quite a bit。 Not that y'u'll miss it where you are going；〃 he hastened to add。
〃It was very like you to revenge yourself on dumb animals。〃
〃Think so？〃 The 〃King's〃 black gaze rested on him。 〃Y'u'll sing a
different song soon Mr。 Bannister。 It's humans I'll drive next time and don't
y'u forget it。〃
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〃If you get the chance；〃 amended his cousin gently。
〃I'll get the chance。 I'm not worrying about that。 And about those
sheepany man that hasn't got more sense than to run sheep in a cow
country ought to lose them for his pig…headedness。
〃Those sheep were on the right side of the dead…line。 You had to cross
it to reach them。〃 Their owner's steady eyes challenged a denial。
〃Is that so？ Now how do y'u know that？ We didn't leave the herder
alive to explain that to y'u； did we？〃
〃You admit murdering him？〃 〃To y'u； dear cousin。 Y'u see； I have a
hunch that maybe y'u'll go join your herder right soon。 Y'u'll not do much
talking。〃
The sheepman fell back。 〃I think I'll ride alone。〃
Rage flared in the other's eye。 〃Too good for me； are y'u； my mealy…
mouthed cousin？ Y'u always thought yourself better than me。 When y'u
wer