back for the
house. Before he got far, Stone and Van Horn met him. Bradley heard
voices up the creek but paid no special attention to them, and busied
himself with his job. Some minutes later he heard the voices again,
loud and angry. As they were close by, Bradley, shovel in hand, walked
along the ditch bank to where he could see what was up.

"They'd all got off their horses," continued Bradley, "and was standin'
not fur apart. I was close to the willows along the ditch. 'Fore you
could say Jack Robinson, Stone and Van Horn snapped out their guns and
begun to shoot. The old man was game, boys, but he didn't have no
show. He managed to get his gun out, both men a-shootin' at him."

"Both!" echoed Laramie, bitterly. Sawdy swore a withering oath.

"Is my father dead?" cried Kate in agony.

"Not yet," replied Bradley disconcertingly.

"We must get Carpy up there quick. Hunt him up, will you, John?" said
Laramie to Lefever.

"Hold on," interposed Bradley. "Carpy's there afore this. I met him
drivin' north and he put right out for the ranch."

"Couldn't you do something while they were trying to murder Father?"
sobbed Kate, wringing her hands as she appealed to Bradley.

"Why, what could _I_ do?" stared Bradley. "_I_ didn't have no gun.
Kelly and me got the wagon down and picked Barb up 'n' got him to the
house. He told me to put out for town and get you and Jim Laramie;
he's out of his head, you see."

"Did they see you, Bradley?" interrupted Laramie.

"Never seen me, Jim."

"Did Barb hit either of them?" asked Laramie.

"'Tain't likely. He only got in one shot. When they seen him
wrigglin' on the ground, all doubled up--you know, Jim--they jumped
their horses and put across the creek."

For a moment Kate's suppressed sobs broke the silence. Laramie held
her in his arm. He promised her he would get her right out to her
father as soon as he could take measures for pursuit. When the other
men questioned Bradley, Laramie listened. He urged Kate to go inside
with Belle, but she begged to stay: "I won't cry, Jim," she pleaded in
a whisper. "I must stay. Let me stay."

He placed her in a chair. Belle, schooled in silence during such
moments, stood beside her. Laramie placing himself near Kate, half sat
on the edge of the porch floor, one foot resting on the ground and the
other curled under. Lefever facing him, sat on the end of the porch
steps while Sawdy stood with the horses. McAlpin