The Max Brand Megapack. Max Brand

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СКАЧАТЬ said Dan.

      The wolf slunk closer to the kneeling man. His hot breath fanned the face of the sheriff and his lips grinned still farther back from the keen, white teeth.

      “Help!” yelled Morris. “He’s at the shanty up on Bald-eagle Creek.”

      A rumble, half cursing and half an inarticulate snarl of brute rage, rose from the cowpunchers.

      “Bart,” called Dan again, and leaped back from the door, raced out to Satan, and drove into the night at a dead gallop.

      Half the posse rushed after him. A dozen shots were pumped after the disappearing shadowy figure. Two or three jumped into their saddles. The others called them back.

      “Don’t be an ass, Monte,” said one. “You got a good hoss, but you ain’t fool enough to think he c’n catch Satan?”

      They trooped back to the dining-room, and gathered in a silent circle around the sheriff, whose little fear-bright eyes went from face to face.

      “Ah, this is the swine,” said one, “that was guardin’ our lives!”

      “Fellers,” pleaded the sheriff desperately, “I swear to you that I jest heard of where Silent was today. I was keepin’ it dark until after we got Whistling Dan. Then I was goin’ to lead you—”

      The flat of a heavy hand struck with a resounding thwack across his lips. He reeled back against the wall, sputtering the blood from his split mouth.

      “Pat,” said Monte, “your hoss is done for. Will you stay here an’ see that he don’t get away? We’ll do somethin’ with him when we get back.”

      Pat caught the sheriff by his shirt collar and jerked him to a chair. The body of the fat man was trembling like shaken jelly. The posse turned away.

      They could not overtake Whistling Dan on his black stallion, but they might arrive before Silent and his gang got under way. Their numbers were over small to attack the formidable long riders, but they wanted blood. Before Whistling Dan reached the valley of Bald-eagle Creek they were in the saddle and riding hotly in pursuit.

      CHAPTER XXXV

      CLOSE IN!

      In that time ruined shack towards which the posse and Dan Barry rode, the outlaws sat about on the floor eating their supper when Hal Purvis entered. He had missed the trail from the Salton place to the Bald-eagle half a dozen times that day, and that had not improved his bitter mood.

      “You been gone long enough,” growled Silent. “Sit down an’ chow an’ tell us what you know.”

      “I don’t eat with no damned traitors,” said Purvis savagely. “Stan’ up an’ tell us that you’re a double crossin’ houn’, Buck Daniels!”

      “You better turn in an’ sleep,” said Buck calmly. “I’ve knowed men before that loses their reason for want of sleep!”

      “Jim,” said Purvis, turning sharply on the chief, “Barry is at Buck’s house!”

      “You lie!” said Buck.

      “Do I lie?” said Purvis, grinding his teeth. “I seen Black Bart hangin’ around your house.”

      Jim Silent reached out a heavy paw and dropped it on the shoulder of Buck. Their eyes met through a long moment, and then the glance of Buck wavered and fell.

      “Buck,” said Silent, “I like you. I don’t want to believe what Purvis says. Give me your word of honour that Whistlin’ Dan—”

      “He’s right, Jim,” said Buck.

      “An’ he dies like a yaller cur!” broke in Purvis, snarling.

      “No,” said Silent, “when one of the boys goes back on the gang, they pay me, not the rest of you! Daniels, take your gun and git down to the other end of the room an’ stand with your face to the wall. I’ll stay at this end. Keep your arms folded. Haines, you stand over there an’ count up to three. Then holler: ‘Fire!’ an’ we’ll turn an’ start shootin’. The rest of you c’n be judge if that’s fair.”

      “Too damned fair,” said Kilduff. “I say: String him up an’ drill the skunk full of holes.”

      Without a word Buck turned on his heel.

      “One moment,” said Haines.

      “He ain’t your meat, Lee,” said Silent. “Jest keep your hand out of this.”

      “I only wish to ask him a question,” said Haines. He turned to Buck: “Do you mean to say that after Barry’s wolf cut up your arm, you’ve been giving Whistling Dan a shelter from the law—and from us?”

      “I give him a place to stay because he was damned near death,” said Buck. “An’ there’s one thing you’ll answer for in hell, Haines, an’ that’s ridin’ off an’ leavin’ the man that got you out of Elkhead. He was bleedin’ to death.”

      “Shot?” said Haines, changing colour.

      Silent broke in: “Buck, go take your place and say your prayers.”

      “Stay where you are!” commanded Haines. “And the girl?”

      “He was lyin’ sick in bed, ravin’ about ‘Delilah’ an’ ‘Kate.’ So I come an’ got the girl.”

      Haines dropped his head.

      “An’ when he was lyin’ there,” said Silent fiercely, “you could of made an’ end of him without half liftin’ your hand, an’ you didn’t.”

      “Silent,” said Haines, “if you want to talk, speak to me.”

      “What in hell do you mean, Lee?”

      “You can’t get at Buck except through me.”

      “Because that devil Barry got a bullet for your sake are you goin’ to—”

      “I’ve lived a rotten life,” said Haines.

      “An’ I suppose you think this is a pretty good way of dyin’?” sneered Silent.

      “I have more cause to fight for Barry than Buck has,” said Haines.

      “Lee, we’ve been pals too long.”

      “Silent, I’ve hated you like a snake ever since I met you. But outlaws can’t choose their company.”

      His tawny head rose. He stared haughtily around the circle of lowering faces.

      “By God,” said Silent, white with passion, “I’m beginnin’ to think you do hate me! Git down there an’ take your place. You’re first an’ Daniels comes next. Kilduff, you c’n count!”

      He stalked to the end of the room. Haines lingered one moment.

      “Buck,” he said, “there’s СКАЧАТЬ