And that--" Big Medicine again laid violent hands upon Dunk,
"and that way won't feel good, now I'm tellin' yuh. Apologize, er--"

"Say, all this don't do any good, Bud," Weary expostulated. "Let Dunk
froth at the mouth if he wants to; what we want is to get these sheep
off the range. And," he added recklessly, "so long as the sheriff is
headed for us anyway, we may as well get busy and make it worth his
while. So--" He stopped, silenced by a most amazing interruption.

On the brow of the hill, when first they had sighted Dunk in the hollow,
something had gone wrong with Miguel's saddle so that he had stopped
behind; and, to keep him company, Andy had stopped also and waited for
him. Later, when Dunk was spluttering threats, they had galloped up to
the edge of the group and pulled their horses to a stand. Now, Miguel
rode abruptly close to Dunk as rides one with a purpose.

He leaned and peered intently into Dunk's distorted countenance until
every man there, struck by his manner, was watching him curiously. Then
he sat back in the saddle, straightened his legs in the stirrups and
laughed. And like his smile when he would have it so, or the little
twitch of shoulders by which he could so incense a man, that laugh
brought a deeper flush to Dunk's face, reddened though it was by Big
Medicine's vigorous slapping.

"Say, you've got nerve," drawled the Native Son, "to let a sheriff
travel toward you. I can remember when you were more timid, amigo." He
turned his head until his eyes fell upon Andy. "Say, Andy!" he called.
"Come and take a look at this hombre. You'll have to think back a few
years," he assisted laconically.

In response, Andy rode up eagerly. Like the Native Son, he leaned and
peered into eyes that stared back defiantly, wavered, and turned away.
Andy also sat back in the saddle then, and snorted.

"So this is the Dunk Whittaker that's been raising merry hell around
here! And talks about sending for the sheriff, huh? I've always heard
that a lot uh gall is the best disguise a man can hide under, but, by
gracious, this beats the deuce!" He turned to the astounded Happy Family
with growing excitement in his manner.

"Boys, we don't have to worry much about this gazabo! We'll just
freeze onto him till the sheriff heaves in sight. Gee! There'll sure be
something stirring when we tell him who this Dunk person really is!
And you say he was in with the Old Man, once? Oh, Lord!" He looked
with withering contem