o
face.

"Ah, this is the swine," said one, "that was guardin' our lives!"

"Fellers," pleaded the sheriff desperately, "I swear to you that I
jest heard of where Silent was today. I was keepin' it dark until
after we got Whistling Dan. Then I was goin' to lead you--"

The flat of a heavy hand struck with a resounding thwack across his
lips. He reeled back against the wall, sputtering the blood from his
split mouth.

"Pat," said Monte, "your hoss is done for. Will you stay here an' see
that he don't get away? We'll do somethin' with him when we get back."

Pat caught the sheriff by his shirt collar and jerked him to a chair.
The body of the fat man was trembling like shaken jelly. The posse
turned away.

They could not overtake Whistling Dan on his black stallion, but they
might arrive before Silent and his gang got under way. Their numbers
were over small to attack the formidable long riders, but they wanted
blood. Before Whistling Dan reached the valley of Bald-eagle Creek
they were in the saddle and riding hotly in pursuit.

CHAPTER XXXV

CLOSE IN!

In that time ruined shack towards which the posse and Dan Barry rode,
the outlaws sat about on the floor eating their supper when Hal
Purvis entered. He had missed the trail from the Salton place to the
Bald-eagle half a dozen times that day, and that had not improved his
bitter mood.

"You been gone long enough," growled Silent. "Sit down an' chow an'
tell us what you know."

"I don't eat with no damned traitors," said Purvis savagely. "Stan' up
an' tell us that you're a double crossin' houn', Buck Daniels!"

"You better turn in an' sleep," said Buck calmly. "I've knowed men
before that loses their reason for want of sleep!"

"Jim," said Purvis, turning sharply on the chief, "Barry is at Buck's
house!"

"You lie!" said Buck.

"Do I lie?" said Purvis, grinding his teeth. "I seen Black Bart
hangin' around your house."

Jim Silent reached out a heavy paw and dropped it on the shoulder of
Buck. Their eyes met through a long moment, and then the glance of
Buck wavered and fell.

"Buck," said Silent, "I like you. I don't want to believe what Purvis
says. Give me your word of honour that Whistlin' Dan--"

"He's right, Jim," said Buck.

"An' he dies like a yaller cur!" broke in Purvis, snarling.

"No," said Silent, "when one of the boys goes back on the gang, they
pay _me_, not the rest of you! Daniels, take your gun and git down to
the other