ath, closed in again, implacable, unconquerable, ferocious,
like hounds upon a wolf.

At length, two of the men managed to bring Dyke's wrists close enough
together to allow the sheriff to snap the handcuffs on. Even then, Dyke,
clasping his hands, and using the handcuffs themselves as a weapon,
knocked down Delaney by the crushing impact of the steel bracelets upon
the cow-puncher's forehead. But he could no longer protect himself from
attacks from behind, and the riata was finally passed around his body,
pinioning his arms to his sides. After this it was useless to resist.

The wounded deputy sat with his back to a rock, holding his broken jaw
in both hands. The sheriff's horse, with its splintered foreleg, would
have to be shot. Delaney's head was cut from temple to cheekbone. The
right wrist of the sheriff was all but dislocated. The other deputy was
so exhausted he had to be helped to his horse. But Dyke was taken.

He himself had suddenly lapsed into semi-unconsciousness, unable to
walk. They sat him on the buckskin, S. Behrman supporting him, the
sheriff, on foot, leading the horse by the bridle. The little procession
formed, and descended from the hills, turning in the direction of
Bonneville. A special train, one car and an engine, would be made up
there, and the highwayman would sleep in the Visalia jail that night.

Delaney and S. Behrman found themselves in the rear of the cavalcade as
it moved off. The cow-puncher turned to his chief:

"Well, captain," he said, still panting, as he bound up his forehead;
"well--we GOT him."

CHAPTER VI

Osterman cut his wheat that summer before any of the other ranchers,
and as soon as his harvest was over organized a jack-rabbit drive.
Like Annixter's barn-dance, it was to be an event in which all the
country-side should take part. The drive was to begin on the most
western division of the Osterman ranch, whence it would proceed towards
the southeast, crossing into the northern part of Quien Sabe--on which
Annixter had sown no wheat--and ending in the hills at the headwaters of
Broderson Creek, where a barbecue was to be held.

Early on the morning of the day of the drive, as Harran and Presley were
saddling their horses before the stables on Los Muertos, the foreman,
Phelps, remarked:

"I was into town last night, and I hear that Christian has been after
Ruggles early and late to have him put him in possession here on Los
Muertos, and Delaney is doing th