chunk o' dynamite, hes got
ter be considered afore ther courts git any chance ter look over ther
evidence. It's ginerally lead first, an' lawyers later. Thet 's what
makes the game interestin', an' gives sich chaps as Farnham a run fer
their money. Well, just now we 've got the law an' ther evidence with
us all right, but, damn ther luck, them other fellers hes got the
rifles. It 's his play first, an' it sorter looks ter me as if the man
knew how ter handle his cards. He ain't no bluffer, either. Just take
a squint through them glasses down the trail, an' tell me what yer see."

Winston did so, rising to his feet, standing at the edge of the rock
fairly overhanging the valley.

"Wal, do yer make out anythin' in partic'lar?"

"There is a small party of men clustered near the big boulder."

"Exactly; wal, them thar fellars ain't thar altergether fer ther
health. Thar 's three more o' ther same kind a'squattin' in the bushes
whar the path branches toward ther 'Independence,' an' another bunch
lower down 'side ther crick. It's easy 'nough ter talk about law, an'
ther sendin' o' a messenger down ter San Juan after the sheriff, but I
'd hate some ter be that messenger. He 'd have some considerable
excitement afore he got thar. Farnham 's a dirty villain, all right,
but he ain't no fool. He's got us bottled up yere, and ther cork druv
in."

"You mean we are helpless?"

"Wal, not precisely; not while our grub and ammunition holds out. I
merely intimate thet this yere difficulty hes naturally got ter be
thrashed out with guns--good, honest fightin'--afore any courts will
git a chance even ter sit inter ther game. We ain't got no time jist
now ter fool with lawyers. Clubs is trumps this deal in Echo Canyon,
an' we 're goin' ter play a lone hand. Ther one thing what's botherin'
me is, how soon ther damned fracas is goin' ter begin. I reckon as how
them fellers is only waitin' fer reinforcements."

Winston sat motionless, looking at the two men, his mind rapidly
grasping the salient points of the situation. He was thoroughly
puzzled at their apparent indifference to its seriousness. He was
unused to this arbitrament of the rifle, and the odds against them
seemed heavy. Old Hicks easily comprehended the expression upon his
face, and solemnly stroked his goat-beard.

"Ain't used ter that sort o' thing, hey?" he asked at last, his
obstinate old eyes contracting into mere slits. "Reckon we're in a
sort o'