The doctor's reply rapped out tartly.

"Well, that being the way of things, guess I'd best tell you first as
last. You see, I got back to the village yesterday afternoon. As maybe
you know, I've been out nearly two days on the trail. Well, late last
night, Elia Marsham came to me with a yarn about a hollow in the
hills, where he said he'd seen the rustlers at work. He told me how to
find it, an'--well, I hit the trail. I hoped to head you, and get 'em
myself, but," with a shrug, "I guess I was a fool some. My plug
petered out two hours back, and I had to quit. You see he was stale at
the start."

"An' this trail?" snapped the doctor.

"I was way back there down the river a goodish piece, getting a sleep
by the bush, and easing my plug, when I woke up quick. Seemed to me I
heard a gunshot. Maybe I was dreaming. Anyway I sat up and took
notice, but didn't see a thing. So, after a while, I got dozing again.
Then my plug started to neigh, and kept whinnying. I got around then,
guessing something was doing. So I started to chase up the river.
Then I found this trail. It's new, fresh done this morning, sure.
Guess it must have been some feller passing that worried my horse. You
say you're on this trail? Whose? It isn't--eh?" as the doctor nodded.
"Then come right on down to the river. We're losing time."

Jim turned to lead his horse away, but Smallbones laughed. There was
no mistaking the derision, the challenge of that laugh. Jim turned
again, and the look he favored the hardware dealer with was one that
did not escape the doctor, who promptly interposed.

"If you're right an' he's wrong, you've got time in plenty to correct
him later, Jim," he said, in his stern fashion. "Meanwhiles you'll
keep your face closed, Smallbones, or--light right out." Then he
turned back to Jim. "Ther' ain't a heap o' hurry now, boy, fer that
feller. His horse was nigh done," he went on, glancing at the dejected
creature Jim was leading. "Done jest about as bad as yours. An' his
plug was the same color, and he was rigged out much as you are." Then
his tone became doubly harsh. "Say, the feller we're chasin' was your
build. He was so like you in cut, and his plug so like yours, that if
I put it right here to the vote I'm guessin' you'd hang so quick you'd
wonder how it was done. But then, you see, I've got two eyes, an' some
elegant savvee, which some folks ain't blessed with," with an eye in
Smallbones' direction. "An' I tell you right here