"That yu, Sandy?"
"No, it's Green."
A shadow detached itself from the side of the hummock.
" 'Lo, Jim, I was wantin' a word with one o' yu," Rogue said, and then, abruptly, "Why for did yu* shoot up my man, . Dale?"
"How in hell was Ito know yu owned the Double O brand?" Sudden retorted.
"I don't," the outlaw chuckled, "but yu mighta guessed how it was. Bad luck he had to bump into yu."
"I'd say he was plumb fortunate," Sudden retorted. "Next time he starts to pull a gun on me he won't get off with just a busted arm."
"It looks like yu mean to double-cross me, Jim," Rogue said harshly.
"Double-cross nothin'," was the reply. "I never joined yu, an' I don't owe yu anythin' but a bad name an' a prospect o' swingin' for a crime yu committed."
The savage intensity of his tone seemed to impress the other and when he spoke again the rasp had gone from his voice:
"That's so. I got yu in bad, but short o' givin' myself up, I did what I could to get yu clear. I liked yu, Jim, an' when yu consented to join the S E I reckoned it meant ..."
"That I was ready to be what yu had made me--an outlaw," Sudden finished bitterly. "Well, it mighta been--I was undecided--but when it came to shootin' old men from cover ..."
"I had nothin' to do with that, Jim."
"yu were around when it happened."
"I'd gone. I knew afterwards, but it was no part of my plan."
"Then who did it?"
"I don't know who fired the shot, but Navajo fixed it. I had trouble with him over that--an' other things. He's gettin' uppity."
The cowboy was silent, considering. Somehow he believed Rogue was telling him the truth. Ruthless ruffian he undoubtedly was, yet he possessed a streak of something--bravado, it might be--which made him scorn a lie as the resort of a coward. He had been frank over the killing of Judson, when he need not have been. The husky voice broke in on his thoughts:
"Must be gettin' tired holdin' that gun, Jim ; there ain't no manner o' need."
Shame swept over Sudden as he slipped the revolver back into its holster. "Sorry, Rogue," he said. "I warn't noticin'."
"Shucks," the outlaw said, and there was a weariness in his tone. "I don't blame yu for playin' safe, boy. I'm takin' it I can't count on yu an' Sandy?"
"That's correct," Sudden told him. "We ain't neither of us bitin' the hand that feeds us." An impulse stirred him. "Why don't yu cut away from that gang, Rogue? yo're too good a man..."
The outlaw laughed. "Sorry for me, Jim?" he gibed. "Well, yu needn't to be. I went wrong with my eyes open because the world treated me mean an'"
"It's done that to me, but I'm goin' to forget it," Sudden cut in.
He could not see the pitying smile on the older man's face. "yu never will, boy ; the faculty o' forgettin' what yu don't want to remember is one o' God's greatest gifts an' few has it," Rogue said bitterly, and then his voice grew harsh again. "I'm gettin' mushy. Bite on this, boy: I've passed my word to bust Eden's drive an' I'm goin' to do it."
"An' I'll fight yu till hell freezes," Sudden smiled, and shoved out a fist. "No hard feelin's, Rogue, but that don't go for yore followin'. Sabe?"
The bandit gripped the hand heartily. So this strange compact between men who were to war, one against the other, was sealed. The intruder melted into the shadowed plain and Sudden crept back to the camp, his mind full of the man he had just left. For the interview had surprised him. He had gone to it expecting reproaches, threats, even attempted violence, and found none of them. He had given his promise to his employer and would do his best to fulfil it. As to whom this might be, Sudden could make no guess Sam Eden's bluff, outspoken nature and quick temper would earn him enemies enough.
His thoughts veered to the dark, sinister face of Navajo, the man who--according to Rogue--had "fixed" the attempted murder of the cattleman. Was it a misguided effort to help his leader, or was the fellow playing a hand for him self? The stars, paling in the sky, warned him that the night was passing, and he turned over to snatch an hour's sleep before sunrise.
In the morning, the guest, after packing his spare frame with bacon, beans, and coffee, went on his way, rejoicing that --thanks to the generosity of his hosts--he would again be able to "feed like a Christian."
"I figure yu'll be all right till yo're over the Red River," he added. "Then make yore pass west. Adios."
Gun on shoulder and pack on back, he swung off southwards along the trail, moving swiftly but unhurriedly. Several of the men stood watching the gradually diminishing form.
"A queer little cuss," Jeff commented. "One time them devils will catch him an' then--he'll want death a hell of a while before it comes."
"Well, he's sent some to wait for him," Jed remarked. "Did yu notice the nicks on the stock o' that gun? I didn't count 'em, but I'll bet there was mighty near two score."
During the morning, Sudden made an opportunity to tell Sandy of his meeting with Rogue.
"I'm relieved he took it that way," the boy said. "An odd mixture, Rogue. At times, a fiend from the Pit itself, an' yet, he can be real folks. Navajo now, he's bad all through, an' he hates Rogue. I'm glad to be clear o' that crowd, Jim."
Sudden regarded him sardonically. "yo're tellin' me news."
"yu know what I mean," Sandy replied.
Sudden did. He had already noted that his companion's gaze was never long away from a certain graceful figure riding ahead. His eyes twinkled with mischief as he said gravely:
"Shore I do, but what's worryin' me is"--he paused, and Sandy looked up expectantly--"does she like red hair?" He was yards away before the boy realized the significance of the question and then it was too late to do anything but swear softly.
"yu damned pirut," he smiled. "But Gosh! I'm mighty pleased I met up with yu."
Chapter XI
THE days oozed by, days of long, lazy hours in the saddle under a scorching sun, for the fine weather held. Jeff was too good a cowman to hurry the herd but he took care that the animals were healthily tired and ready for sleep when they reached a good average.
They had crossed the Brazos River without much difficulty, being fortunate in finding it low, and, as Tyson had predicted, no "trouble" had materialized. Moreover, the wounded man was progressing favourably, so that the outfit generally was in high good humour. Only the foreman refused to join in any jubilation.
"Everythin' is goin' too slick--it ain't natural," he grumbled, pacing behind the wagon as it bumped its way over the cracked and rutted surface of the plain. "Just when yo're feelin' careless an' contented is the time Lady Luck chooses to give yu a kick in the pants."
The cattleman pulled a wry face. "If yu was lyin' here yu wouldn't think it was all so hunky, yu of death's-head," he replied. "How're the new men pannin' out?"
"Green an' Sands is awright but I don't like Lasker," Jeff said bluntly. "Does his work but ..." He did not finish. "Wish I knowed who put that pill in yu, Sam."
"yu ain't thinkin' it was one o' the outfit, are yu?"
"I'm in the dark," the foreman admitted. "Sands or Lasker could 'a' done it--they weren't in camp or with the cows."
"Forget it," Eden said irritably. "I'm here, ain't I? Why should any o' the boys want to crab the drive? I figure it was a war-whoop, the one that got away from Green, likely ; Injuns never let up when it's a case of evenin' a score."