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left；〃 he growled regretfully。 〃I wisht we'd thought to tell the
boys to bring them rifles。 Say； Slim； you crawl onto your hoss
and go git 'em。 It won't take more'n a minute。 There'll likely be
some shells in the magazines。〃
〃Go on； Slim；〃 urged Weary grimly。 〃We've got to do something。
They can't do a thing like this〃he glanced down at Happy Jack…
〃and get away with it。〃
〃I got half a box uh shells for my thirty…thirty； I'll bring
that。〃 Slim turned to go； stopped short and stared at the coulee
rim。 〃By golly； they're comm' over here！〃 he exclaimed。
Big Medicine glanced up； took off his hat； crumpled it for a
pillow and eased Happy Jack down upon it。 He got up stiffly；
wiped his fingers mechanically upon his trouser legs； broke his
gun open just to make sure that it was indeed empty； put it back
and picked up a handful of rocks。
〃Let 'em come；〃 he said viciously。 〃I c'n kill every damn' one
with m' bare hands！〃
CHAPTER XV。 Oleson
〃Say； ain't that Andy and Mig following along behind？〃 Cal asked
after a minute of watching the approach。 〃Sure； it is。 Now
what〃
〃They're drivin' 'em； by cripes！〃 Big Medicine； under the stress
of the moment； returned to his usual bellowing tone。 〃Who's that
tall； lanky feller in the lead？ I don't call to mind ever seem
him before。 Them four herders I'd know a mile off。〃
〃That？〃 Weary shaded his eyes with his hat…brim； against the
slant rays of the westering sun。 〃That's Oleson； Dunk's partner。〃
〃His mother'd be a…weepin'；〃 Big Medicine observed bodefully； 〃if
she knowed what was due to happen to her son right away quick。
Must be him that done the shootin'。〃
They came on steadily； the four herders and Oleson walking
reluctantly ahead； with Andy Green and the Native Son riding
relentlessly in the rear； their guns held unwaveringly in a line
with the backs of their captives。 Andy was carrying a rifle；
evidently taken from one of the menOleson； they judged for the
guilty one。 Half the distance was covered when Andy was seen to
turn his head and speak briefly with the Native Son； after which
he lunged past the captives and galloped up to the waiting group。
His quick eye sought first the face of Happy Jack in anxious
questioning； then； miserably； he searched the faces of his
friends。
〃Good Lord！〃 he exclaimed mechanically； dismounted and bent over
the figure on the ground。 For a long minute he knelt there； he
laid his ear close to Happy Jack's mouth； took off his glove and
laid his hand over Happy's heart； reached up； twitched off his
neckerchief； shook out the creases and spread it reverently over
Happy Jack's face。 He stood up then and spoke slowly； his eyes
fixed upon the stumbling approach of the captives。
〃Pink told us Happy had been shot； so we rode around and come up
behind 'em。 It was a cinch。 Andsay； boys； we've got the Dots in
a pocket。 They've got to eat outa our hands； now。 So don't think
aboutour own feelings； or about〃 he stopped abruptly and let
a downward glance finish the sentence。 〃We've got to keep our own
hands clean； andnow don't let your fingers get the itch； Bud！〃
This； because of certain manifestations of a murderous intent on
the part of Big Medicine。
〃Oh； it's all right to talk； if yuh feel like talking；〃 Big
Medicine retorted savagely。 〃I don't。〃 He made a catlike spring
at the foremost man； who happened to be Oleson； and got a
merciless grip with his fingers on his throat； snarling like a
predatory animal over its kill。 From behind； Andy； with Weary to
help； pulled him off。
〃I didn't mean toto kill anybody；〃 gasped Oleson； pasty white。
〃I heard a lot of shooting； and so I ran up the hilland the
herders came running toward me； and I thought I was defending my
property and men。 I had a right to defend〃
〃Defend hell！〃 Big Medicine writhed in the restraining grasp of
those who held him。 〃Look at that there！ As good hearted a boy as
ever turned a cow！ Never harmed a soul in 'is life。 Is all your
dirty； stinkin' sheep； an' all your lousy herders； worth that
boy's life？ Yuh shot 'im down like a doglemme go； boys。〃 His
voice was husky。 〃Lemme tromp the life outa him。〃
〃I thought you were killing my men； or I neverI never meant
toto kill〃 Oleson； shaking till he could scarcely stand；
broke down and wept； wept pitiably； hysterically； as men of a
certain fiber will weep when black tragedy confronts them all
unawares。 He cowered miserably before the Happy Family； his face
hidden behind his two hands。
〃Boys； I want to say a word or two。 Come over here。〃 Andy's
voice； quiet as ever； contrasted strangely with the man's
sobbing。 He led them back a few pacesWeary； Cal； Big Medicine
and Slim； and spoke hurriedly。 The Native Son eyed them sidelong
from his horse； but he was careful to keep Oleson covered with
his gunand the herders too； although they were unarmed。 Once or
twice he glanced at that long； ungainly figure in the grass with
the handkerchief of Andy Green hiding the face except where a
corner； fluttering in the faint breeze which came creeping out of
the west； lifted now and then and gave a glimpse of sunbrowned
throat and a quiet chin and mouth。
〃Quit that blubbering； Oleson； and listen here。〃 Andys voice
broke relentlessly upon the other's woe。 〃All these boys want to
hang yuh without any red tape； far as I'm concerned； I'm dead
willing。 But we're going to give yuh a chance。 Your partner； as
we told yuh coming over； we've got the dead immortal cinch on；
right now。 Andwell you can see what you're up against。 But
we'll give yuh a chance。 Have you got any family？〃
Oleson； trying to pull himself together； shook his head。
〃Well； then； you can get rid of them sheep； can't yuh？ Sell 'em；
ship 'em outa herewe don't give a darn what yuh do； only so yuh
get 'em off the range。〃
〃Y…yes； I'll do that。〃 Oleson's consent was reluctant； but it was
fairly prompt。 〃I'll get rid of the sheep；〃 he said； as if he was
minded to clinch the promise。 〃I'll do it at once。〃
〃That's nice。〃 Andy spoke with grim irony。 〃And you'll get rid of
the ranch； too。 You'll sell it to the Flying Ucheap。〃
〃But my partnerWhittaker might object〃
〃Look here； old…timer。 You'll fix that part up； you'll find a way
of fixing it。 Look hereat what you're up against。〃 He waited；
with pointing finger； for one terrible minute。 〃Will you sell to
the Flying U？〃
〃Y…yes！〃 The word was really a gulp。 He tried to avoid looking
where Andy pointed； failed； and shuddered at what he saw。
〃I thought you would。 We'll get that in writing。 And we're going
to wait just exactly twenty…four hours before we make a move。
It'll take some fine work； but we'll do it。 Our boss； here； will
fix up the business end with you。 He'll go with yuh right now；
and stay with yuh till you make good。 And the first crooked move
you make〃 Andy； in unconscious imitation of the Native Son；
shrugged a shoulder expressiv