placed at par with rattlesnakes, and he considered that he had been
saved from a horrible death. "Thought yu said they wasn't no bugs over
here," he added in an aggrieved tone.

"They wasn't none. Yu brought `em. I only had th' main show-Gilas,
rattlers an' toads," he replied, and then added, "Ain't it cussed hot
up here?"

"She is. Yu won't have no cinch ridin' home with that leg. Yu better
take my cayuse-he's busted more'n yourn," responded Skinny.

"Yore cayuse is at th' Cross Bar O, yu wall-eyed pirute."

"Shore `nuff. Funny how a feller forgets sometimes. Lemme alone now,
they's goin' to git By-an'-by. Pete an' Lanky has just went in after
him."

That was what had occurred. The two impatient punchers, had
grown tired of waiting, and risked what might easily have been death
in order to hasten matters. The others kept up a rapid fire, directed
at the far end of the chaparral on the knoll, in order to mask the
movements of their venturesome friends, intending also to drive By-
and-by toward them so that he would be the one to get picked off as he
advanced.

Several shots rang out in quick succession on the knoll and the
chaparral became agitated. Several more shots sounded from the depth
of the thicket and a mounted Indian dashed out of the northern edge
and headed in Buck's direction. His course would take him close to
Buck, whom he had seen fall, and would let him escape at a point