“What of the feller that done it, Shorty?” he suggested.

“So help me God,” said the cattleman, with surprising softness, “the range ain’t big enough to keep him away from me.”

Drew, completing his bandage, said, “That’s enough of such talk, Nash.  Let it drop there.  Here, Kilrain, take his feet.  Help me into the house with him.”

They moved in, the rest trailing behind like sheep after a bell-weather, and it was astonishing to see the care with which big Drew handled his burden, placing it at last on his own four-poster bed.

“The old man’s all busted up,” said little Duffy to Nash.  “I’d never of guessed he was so fond of Calamity.”

“You’re a fool,” answered Nash.  “It ain’t Calamity he cares about.”

“Then what the devil is it?”

“I dunno.  We’re goin’ to see some queer things around here.”

Drew, having disposed of the wounded man, carefully raising his head on a pillow, turned to the others.

“Who saw Ben shot?”

“I did,” said Kilrain, who was making his way to the door.

“Come back here.  Are you sure you saw the shot fired?”

“I seen the tenderfoot—­damn his eyes!—­whip up his gun and take a snap shot while he was runnin’ for the door where Calamity stood.”

Nash raised his lantern high, so that the light fell full on the face of
Drew.  The rancher was more grey than ever.

He said, with almost an appeal in his voice:  “Mightn’t it have been one of the other boys, shooting at random?”

The tone of Kilrain raised and grew ugly.

“Are you tryin’ to cover the tenderfoot, Drew?”

The big man made a fierce gesture.

“Why should I cover him?”

“Because you been actin’ damned queer,” answered Nash.

“Ah, you’re here again, Nash?  I know you hate Bard because he was too much for you.”

“He got the start of me, but I’ll do a lot of finishing.”

“Kilrain,” called Drew, “you’re Calamity’s best friend.  Ride for Eldara and bring back Dr. Young.  Quick!  We’re going to pull Ben through.”

“Jest a waste of time,” said Nash coolly.  “He’s got one foot in hell already.”

“You’ve said too much, Nash.  Kilrain, are you going?”

“I’ll stop for the doctor at Eldara, but then I’ll keep on riding.”

“What do you mean?”

“Nothin’.”

“I’ll go with you,” said Nash, and turned with the other.

“Stop!” called Drew.  “Boys, I know what you have planned; but let the law take care of this.  Remember that we were the aggressors against young Bard.  He came peaceably into this house and I tried to hold him here.  What would you have done in his place?”

“They’s a dozen men know how peaceable he is,” said Nash drily.  “Wherever he’s gone on the range he’s raised hell.  He’s cut out for a killer, and Glendin in Eldara knows it.”

“I’ll talk to Glendin.  In the meantime you fellows keep your hands off Bard.  In the first place because if you take the law into your own hands you’ll have me against you—­understand?”