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〃Y'u can't come too quick； seh。 We're here a…shootin'； and don't y'u
forget it；〃 was McWilliams's prompt answer。
The sinister face of the man from the Shoshones darkened。 〃Y'u've
signed your own death warrants；〃 he let out through set teeth； and at the
word swung on his heel。
〃The ball's about to open。 Pardners for a waltz。 Have a dust…cutter；
Mac； before she grows warm。〃
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The puncher handed over his flask； and the other held it before his eye
and appraised the contents in approved fashion。 〃 Don't mind if I do。
Here's how！〃
〃How！〃 echoed Missou； in turn； and tipped up the bottle till the liquor
gurgled down his baked throat。
〃He's fanning out his men so as to； get us both at the front and back
door。 Lucky there ain't but four of them。〃
〃I guess we better lie back to back；〃 proposed Missou。 〃If our luck's
good I reckon they're going to have a gay time rushing this fort。〃
A few desultory shots had already been dropped among the
cottonwoods； and returned by the defendants when Missou let out a yell of
triumph。
〃Glory Hallelujah！ Here comes the boys splittin' down the road hell…
for…leather。 That lopsided； ring…tailed snorter of a hawss…thief is gathering
his wolves for a hike back to the tall timber。 Feed me a cigareet； Mac。 I
plumb want to celebrate。〃
It was as the cow…puncher had said。 Down the road a cloud of dust was
sweeping toward them； in the centre of which they made out three
hardriding cowboys from the ranch。 Farther back； in the distance； was
another dust whirl。 The outlaw chief's hard； vigilant gaze swept over the
reinforcements！ and decided instantly that the game had gone against him
for the present。 He whistled shrilly twice； and began a slow retreat toward
the hills。 The miscreants flung a few defiant shots at the advancing
cowmen； and disappeared； swallowed up in the earth swells。
The homeward march was a slow one； for Bannister had begun to
show signs of consciousness and it was necessary to carry him with
extreme care。 While they were still a mile from the ranch house the pinto
and its rider could be seen loping toward them。
〃Ride forward； Denver； and tell Miss Helen we're coming。 Better have
her get everything fixed to doctor him soon as we get there。 Give him the
best show in the world； and he'll still be sailing awful close to the divide。
I'll bet a hundred plunks he'll cash in； anyway。〃
〃DONE！〃
The voice came faintly from the improvised litter。 Mac turned with a
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start； for he had not known that Bannister was awake to his surroundings。
The man appeared the picture of helplessness； all the lusty power and
vigor stricken out of him； but his indomitable spirit still triumphed over
the physical collapse； for as the foreman looked a faint smile touched the
ashen lips。 It seemed to say： 〃Still in the ring； old man。〃
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CHAPTER 8。 IN THE LAZY D
HOSPITAL
Helen's first swift glance showed that the wounded man was Bannister。
She turned in crisp command to her foreman。
〃Have him taken to my room and put to bed there。 We have no time to
prepare another。 And send one of the boys on your best horse for a doctor。〃
They carried the limp figure in with rough tenderness and laid him in
the bed。 McWilliams unbuckled the belt and drew off the chaps； then； with
the help of Denver； undressed the wounded man and covered him with
quilts。 So Helen found him when she came in to attend his wounds；
bringing with her such things as she needed for her task。 Mrs。 Winslow；
the housekeeper； assisted her； and the foreman stayed to help； but it was on
the mistress of the ranch that the responsibility of saving him fell。 Missou
was already galloping to Bear Creek for a doctor； but the girl knew that the
battle must be fought and the issue decided before he could arrive。
He had fallen again into insensibility and she rinsed and dressed his
wounds； working with the quiet impersonal certainty of touch that did not
betray the inner turmoil of her soul。 But McWilliams； his eyes following
her every motion and alert to anticipate her needs； saw that the color had
washed from her face and that she was controlling herself only to meet the
demands of the occasion。
As she was finishing； the sheepman opened his eyes and looked at her。
〃You are not to speak or ask questions。 You have been wounded and
we are going to take care of you；〃 she ordered。
〃That's right good of y'u。 I ce'tainly feet mighty trifling。〃 His wide
eyes traveled round till they fell on the foreman。 〃Y'u see I came back to
help fill your hospital。 Am I there now？ Where am I？〃 His gaze returned to
Helen with the sudden irritation of the irresponsible sick。
〃You are at the Lazy D； in my room。 You are not to worry about
anything。 Everything's all right。〃
He took her at her word and his eyes closed； but presently he began to
mutter unconnected words and phrases。 When his lids lifted again there
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was a wilder look in his eyes； and she knew that delirium was beginning。
At intervals it lasted for long； indeed； until the doctor came next morning
in the small hours。 He talked of many things Helen Messiter did not
understand； of incidents in his past life； some of them jerky with the
excitement of a tense moment； others apparently snatches of talk with
relatives。 It was like the babbling of a child； irrelevant and yet often
insistent。 He would in one breath give orders connected with the lambing
of his sheep； in the next break into football talk； calling out signals and
imploring his men to hold them or to break through and get the ball。 Once
he broke into curses； but his very oaths seemed to come from a clean heart
and missed the vulgarity they might have had。 Again his talk rambled
inconsequently over his youth； and he would urge himself or someone else
of the same na