des now. An' he's made a charge
against you."

"Then let him face me with it," snapped Moore.

Jack Belllounds came forward, hands in his pockets, self-possessed, even
a little swaggering, and his pale face and bold eyes showed the gravity
of the situation and his mastery over it.

Wade watched this meeting of the rivals and enemies with an attention
powerfully stimulated by the penetrating scrutiny Burley laid upon them.
Jack did not speak quickly. He looked hard into the tense face of Moore.
Wade detected a vibration of Jack's frame and a gleam of eye that showed
him not wholly in control of exultation and revenge. Fear had not
struck him yet.

"Well, Buster Jack, what's the charge?" demanded Moore, impatiently.

The old name, sharply flung at Jack by this cowboy, seemed to sting and
reveal and inflame. But he restrained himself as with roving glance he
searched Moore's person for sight of a weapon. The cowboy was unarmed.

"I accuse you of stealing my father's cattle," declared Jack, in low,
husky accents. After he got the speech out he swallowed hard.

Moore's face turned a dead white. For a fleeting instant a red and
savage gleam flamed in his steady glance. Then it vanished.

The cowboys, who had come up, moved restlessly. Lem Billings dropped his
head, muttering. Montana Jim froze in his tracks.

Moore's dark eyes, scornful and piercing, never moved from Jack's face.
It seemed as if the cowboy would never speak again.

"You call me thief! You?" at length he exclaimed.

"Yes, I do," replied Belllounds, loudly.

"Before this sheriff and your father you accuse me of stealing cattle?"

"Yes."

"And you accuse me before this man who saved my life, who _knows_
me--before Hell-Bent Wade?" demanded Moore, as he pointed to the hunter.

Mention of Wade in that significant tone of passion and wonder was not
without effect upon Jack Belllounds.

"What in hell do I care for Wade?" he burst out, with the old
intolerance. "Yes, I accuse you. Thief, rustler!... And for all I know
your precious Hell-Bent Wade may be--"

He was interrupted by Burley's quick and authoritative interference.

"Hyar, young man, I'm allowin' for your natural feelin's," he said,
dryly, "but I advise you to bite your tongue. I ain't acquainted with
Mister Moore, but I happen to know Wade. Do you savvy?... Wal, then, if
you've any more to say to Moore get it over."

"I've had my say," replied Belllounds, sullenly.

"On what grounds