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individuals； had no intention of committing any great violence
that evening。 Pink wanted to see just where this new band of
sheep was spending the night； and to find out； if possible； what
were the herders' intentions。 Since the boys were all restless
under their worry； and； since there is a contagious element in
seeking a trouble…zone； none save Happy Jack； who was 〃sore〃 at
them； and Weary stayed behind in the coulee with old Patsy while
the others rode away up the grade and out toward Antelope coulee
beyond。
They meant only to reconnoiter； and to warn the herders against
attempting to cross Flying U coulee； though they were not exactly
sure that they would be perfectly polite； or that they would
confine themselves rigidly to the language they were wont to
employ at dances。 Andy Green； in particular； seemed rather to
look forward with pleasure to the meeting。 Andy； by the way； had
remained heartbrokenly passive during that whole week； because
Weary had extracted from him a promise which Andy； mendacious
though he had the name of being； felt constrained to keep intact。
Though of a truth it irked him much to think of two sheepherders
walking abroad unpunished for their outrage upon his person。
Weary； as he had made plain to them all； wanted to avoid trouble
if it were possible to do so。 And； though they grinned together
in secret over his own affair with Dunkwhich was not； in their
opinion； exactly pacificthey meant to respect his wishes as far
as human nature was able to do so。 So that the Happy Family；
galloping toward the red sunset and the great； gray blot on the
prairie； just where the glory of the west tinged the grass blades
with red； were not one…half as blood…thirsty as they had
proclaimed themselves to be。
While they were yet afar off they could see two men walking
slowly in the immediate vicinity of the huddled band。 A hundred
yards away was a small tent； with a couple of horses picketed
near by and feeding placidly。 The men turned； gazed long at their
approach； and walked to the tent； which they entered somewhat
hastily。
〃Look at 'em dodge outa sight； will you！〃 cried Cal Emmett； and
lifted up his voice in the yell which sometimes announced the
Happy Family's arrival in Dry Lake after a long； thirsty absence
on roundup。 Other voices joined in after that first； shrill
〃Ow…ow…ow…eee！〃 of Cal's； so that presently the whole lot of them
were emitting nerve…crimping yells and spurring their horses into
a thunder of hoofbeats； as they bore down upon the tent。 Between
howls they laughed； picturing to themselves four terrified
sheepherders cowering within those frail； canvas walls。
〃I'm a rambler； and a gambler； and far from my ho…o…me； And if
yuh don't like me； jest leave me alo…o…ne！〃 chanted Big Medicine
most horribly； and finished with a yell that almost scared
himself and set his horse to plunging wildly。
〃Come out of there； you lop…eared mutton…chewers； and let us pick
the wool outa your teeth！〃 shouted Andy Green； telling himself
hastily that this was not breaking his promise to Weary； and
yielding to the temptation of coming as close to the guilty
persons as he might； for； while these were not the men who had
tied him and left him alone on the prairie； they belonged to the
same outfit； and there was some comfort in giving them a few
disagreeable minutes。
Pink； in the lead； was turning to ride around the tent； still
yelling； when someone within the tent fired a rifleand did not
aim as high as he should。 The bullet zipped close over the head
of Big Medicine； who happened to be opposite the crack between
the tent…flaps。 The hand of Big Medicine jerked back to his hip；
but； quick as he was； the Native Son plunged between him and the
tent before he could take aim。
〃Steady； amigo；〃 smiled Miguel。 〃You aren't a crazy sheepherder。〃
〃No； but I'm goin' to kill off one。 Git outa my way！〃 Big
Medicine was transformed into a cold…eyed； iron…jawed fighting
machine。 He dug the spurs in； meaning to ride ahead of Miguel。
But Miguel's spurs also pressed home； so that the two horses
plunged as one。 Big Medicine； bellowing one solitary oath； drew
his right leg from the stirrup to dismount。 Miguel reached out；
caught him by the arm； and held him to the saddle。 And； though
Big Medicine was a strong man； the grip held firm and unyielding。
〃You must think of the outfit； you know；〃 said Miguel； smiling
still。 〃There must be no shooting。 Once that begins〃 He
shrugged his shoulders with that slight； eloquent movement； which
the Happy Family had come to know so well。 He was speaking to
them all； as they crowded up to the scuffle。 〃The man who feels
the trigger…itch had better throw his gun away；〃 he advised
coolly。 〃I know； boys。 I've seen these things start before。 All
hell can't stop you； once you begin to shoot。 Put it up； Bud； or
give it to me。〃
〃The man don't live that can shoot at me； by cripes； and git away
with it。 Not if he misses killin' me！〃 Big Medicine was shaking
with rage； but the Native Son saw that he hesitated；
nevertheless； and laughed outright。
〃Call him out and give him a thumping。 That's good enough for a
sheepherder；〃 he suggested as a substitute。
Perhaps because the Native Son so seldom offered advice； and；
because of his cool courage in interfering with Big Medicine at
such a time； Bud's jaw relaxed and his pale eyes became more
human in their expression。 He even permitted Miguel to remove the
big； wicked Colt from his hand； and slide it into his own pocket；
whereat the Happy Family gasped with astonishment。 Not even Pink
would have dreamed of attempting such a thing。
〃Well he's got to come out and take a lickin'； anyway；〃 shouted
Big Medicine vengefully； and rode close enough to slap the canvas
smartly with his quirt。 By all the gods he knew by name he called
upon the offender to come forth； while the others drew up in a
rude half…circle to await developments。 Heavy silence was the
reply he got。 It was as though the men within were sitting tense
and watchful； like cougars crouched for a spring； with claws
unsheathed and muscles quivering。
〃You better come out；〃 called Andy sharply； after they had waited
a decent interval。 〃We didn't come here hunting trouble； we want
to know where you're headed for with these sheep。 The fellow that
cut loose with the gun〃
〃Aw； don't talk so purty！ I'm gitting almighty tired； just
setting here lettin' m' legs hang down。 Git your ropes； boys！〃
With one sweeping gesture of his arm Big Medicine made plain his
meaning as he rode a few paces away； his fingers fumbling with
the string that held his rope。 〃I'm goin' to have a look at 'em；
anyway；〃 he grinned。 〃I sure do hate to see men act so bashful。〃
With his rope free and ready for action； Big Medicine shook the
loop out； glanced around； and saw that Andy； Pink and Cal Emmett
were also ready； and； with a dexterous flip； settled the noose