He watched until he saw the Circle L men sweep up the valley, following the direction taken by the herd.  He waited until he saw a woman emerge from the door of the ranchhouse.  The woman was carrying a lantern, and its fitful, bobbing glare marked the woman’s progress as she moved toward the bunkhouse—­in which a light still burned.  For an instant the light from the lantern disappeared, and then they saw it again as it bobbed toward the open where the herd had been when the rustlers had struck.  Several times Antrim observed that the lantern became stationary—­as though it had been placed upon the ground.  He grinned coldly as he spoke to Krell and Selden.

“That’s Lawler’s mother, I reckon.  She’s huntin’ for them boys that was foolish enough to try an’ stop Slade.  Looks like she’s findin’ ’em, too!”

Antrim watched until the light began to bob as its bearer went toward the ranchhouse.  He saw the door of the ranchhouse open and the woman enter.  Then he spoke shortly to the others and they rode down into the valley.  After they reached the floor of the valley Antrim spoke again, shortly: 

“Get busy; an’ keep back out of the light when you get ’em goin’.  Meet me back there where we was waitin’!”

Antrim urged his horse toward the ranchhouse, riding slowly.  When he reached the big porch he dismounted, and an instant later was pounding heavily upon the front door.

It was opened after an instant, and Mrs. Lawler appeared, pale, anxious.

“Oh!” she said, startled, when she saw Antrim’s face in the glare of light from within; “I thought you were one of the Circle L men!” She shrank back a little when Antrim grinned evilly at her, catching her breath with a gasp.

“What do you want?” she demanded.

Antrim crossed the threshold and stood inside, where the light was full upon his face.  Repelled—­almost terrorized by what she saw in his eyes, Mrs. Lawler attempted to retreat from him; but in an instant he had seized her arms, roughly and brutally crushing them against her sides, while he shoved her back against the open door; holding her in that position and grinning hideously at her helplessness.

“You know me?” he sneered, his face close to hers.  “I’m Antrim!” He laughed when she caught her breath; when he noted that she recognized the name.

“I reckoned you’d know me, when I told you,” he said.  “Luke Lawler knowed me—­an’ your son knows me!  I’ve never had no love for the Lawler breed, an’ I ain’t changed any.  But there’s a lot of things that I’m squarin’ up for!

“This is my night; I’ve been waitin’ for it!” he gloated.  “I’m cleanin’ up on the Lawlers!  I’m wipin’ Kane Lawler out—­cattle, buildings—­an’ him too, mebbe.  It ain’t goin’ to be a thing you ought to see.  You’re gettin’ away from here—­I don’t give a damn where.  An’ you’re goin’ now!”