“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 end of the room an’ stand with your face to the wall.  I’ll stay at this end.  Keep your arms folded.  Haines, you stand over there an’ count up to three.  Then holler:  ‘Fire!’ an’ we’ll turn an’ start shootin’.  The rest of you c’n be judge if that’s fair.”

“Too damned fair,” said Kilduff.  “I say:  String him up an’ drill the skunk full of holes.”

Without a word Buck turned on his heel.

“One moment,” said Haines.

“He ain’t your meat, Lee,” said Silent.  “Jest keep your hand out of this.”

“I only wish to ask him a question,” said Haines.  He turned to Buck:  “Do you mean to say that after Barry’s wolf cut up your arm, you’ve been giving Whistling Dan a shelter from the law—­and from us?”

“I give him a place to stay because he was damned near death,” said Buck.  “An’ there’s one thing you’ll answer for in hell, Haines, an’ that’s ridin’ off an’ leavin’ the man that got you out of Elkhead.  He was bleedin’ to death.”

“Shot?” said Haines, changing colour.

Silent broke in:  “Buck, go take your place and say your prayers.”

“Stay where you are!” commanded Haines.  “And the girl?”

“He was lyin’ sick in bed, ravin’ about ‘Delilah’ an’ ‘Kate.’  So I come an’ got the girl.”

Haines dropped his head.

“An’ when he was lyin’ there,” said Silent fiercely, “you could of made an’ end of him without half liftin’ your hand, an’ you didn’t.”

“Silent,” said Haines, “if you want to talk, speak to me.”

“What in hell do you mean, Lee?”

“You can’t get at Buck except through me.”

“Because that devil Barry got a bullet for your sake are you goin’ to—­”

“I’ve lived a rotten life,” said Haines.