“You call yourself a sheriff!” exclaimed Stewart, scornfully.

“Mebbe you’ll think so before long,” rejoined Hawe, sullenly.

“I’ll open them.  Here, one of you boys, knock the tops off these boxes,” ordered Stewart.  “No, not you, Monty.  You use your eyes.  Let Booly handle the ax.  Rustle, now!”

Monty Price had jumped out of the crowd into the middle of the porch.  The manner in which he gave way to Booly and faced the vaqueros was not significant of friendliness or trust.

“Stewart, you’re dead wrong to bust open them boxes.  Thet’s ag’in’ the law,” protested Hawe, trying to interfere.

Stewart pushed him back.  Then Don Carlos, who had been stunned by the appearance of the boxes, suddenly became active in speech and person.  Stewart thrust him back also.  The Mexican’s excitement increased.  He wildly gesticulated; he exclaimed shrilly in Spanish.  When, however, the lids were wrenched open and an inside packing torn away he grew rigid and silent.  Madeline raised herself behind Stillwell to see that the boxes were full of rifles and ammunition.

“There, Hawe!  What did I tell you?” demanded Stewart.  “I came over here to take charge of this ranch.  I found these boxes hidden in an unused room.  I suspected what they were.  Contraband goods!”

“Wal, supposin’ they are?  I don’t see any call fer sech all-fired fuss as you’re makin’.  Stewart, I calkilate you’re some stuck on your new job an’ want to make a big show before—­”

“Hawe, stop slinging that kind of talk,” interrupted Stewart.  “You got too free with your mouth once before!  Now here, I’m supposed to be consulting an officer of the law.  Will you take charge of these contraband goods?”

“Say, you’re holdin’ on high an’ mighty,” replied Hawe, in astonishment that was plainly pretended.  “What ‘re you drivin’ at?”

Stewart muttered an imprecation.  He took several swift strides across the porch; he held out his hands to Stillwell as if to indicate the hopelessness of intelligent and reasonable arbitration; he looked at Madeline with a glance eloquent of his regret that he could not handle the situation to please her.  Then as he wheeled he came face to face with Nels, who had slipped forward out of the crowd.

Madeline gathered serious import from the steel-blue meaning flash of eyes whereby Nels communicated something to Stewart.  Whatever that something was, it dispelled Stewart’s impatience.  A slight movement of his hand brought Monty Price forward with a jump.  In these sudden jumps of Monty’s there was a suggestion of restrained ferocity.  Then Nels and Monty lined up behind Stewart.  It was a deliberate action, even to Madeline, unmistakably formidable.  Pat Hawe’s face took on an ugly look; his eyes had a reddish gleam.  Don Carlos added a pale face and extreme nervousness to his former expressions of agitation.  The cowboys edged away from the vaqueros and the bronzed, bearded horsemen who were evidently Hawe’s assistants.