Old Man gives
it to him this time, hot an' heavy, both barrels plumb center!"

"_Si_, it is true that Juanito looks for trouble." Chino Herrera rolled a
cornshuck cigarette with precise, delicate twists of his fingers. "He is
_el chivato_--the young billy goat--that one. Ready to take on _el toro_
himself and lock horns. Such a one learns from knocks, not from warning
words. But he is yet a boy. Give him time."

"He'd better give himself some time," Nye announced. "Next time it may be
in th' head, not 'longside it, that he gits his lead. See you got back in
one piece, you two fightin' wildcats," Nye said, grinning at Drew and
Anse. "Nothin' like tryin' to take on th' army--two to one--with th' army
havin' th' advantage. That eye's fadin' good, Drew, only two colors now,
ain't it?"

Drew grunted and Nye laughed. "Bet th' captain is as techy as a teased
snake every time he thinks 'bout you two. Wanted to have you all corralled
nice an' neat out to th' camp where he could use his hooks an' make at
least three ride mounts outta you. I'd walk soft near him for a while, or
you'll have about as much chance as hens amblin' into a coyote powwow."

"Don't look like they was so tough they had to sneak up on th' dipper to
take a drink, do they now?" Donally asked of the room at large.

"Don't never judge no hoss by his coat an' curryin'," Anse retorted.

"I don't, son. I never do," Nye replied. "As far as I'm concerned, you're
both so wild they have to tie a foot up when they give you a haircut.
Only, that sort of rep don't go down good with th' Old Man."

"We figured it might not," Drew agreed. Nye's warning was only another
confirmation of Drew's fears. Topham, Nye, all the rest, had made it only
too plain: no trouble on the Range and no troublemakers.

He gathered up clean underrigging, another shirt. If Rennie did order him
up to the big house for firing, Drew was not going to meet him stinking of
horse and sweat. In the stream back of the water corral there was a
bathing place, and chilly as it was, Drew intended to take advantage of
it.

"A mite cold, ain't it?" Anse demanded from the bank as Drew splashed
vigorously to offset the chill. But the Texan was shucking boots and
clothing in turn.

There were a lot of shadows this close to twilight. Lamps twinkled in the
Stronghold. A horse nickered from the corrals, was answered from the barn.
Then a bray--Croaker sounding off. From the hills came the far-off
_yip-y