"Hold hard, stranger. He looks mighty like Big Saxe to me, an’ if he is, I wants him. I got a warrant for him in my clo’es." The deputy sheriff started forward. "Wait!" commanded Hopalong. The deputy waited. "Tex, hold that train. You an’ me are goin’ th’ same way. Mr. Sheriff, I got a warrant ahead o’ yourn an’ I wants him. You ’ll find him at th’ Double Y ranch when I gets through with him." Slow Jack, the last of the Double Y punchers, loped up to the station, swung from his saddle and joined the interested group surrounding the disputants. "If that’s Big Saxe I wants him now an’ I ’m goin’ to take him." "Don’t you, son." Kind as Hopalong’s tone sounded, the deputy halted again. "Bow-Wow, hit th’ trail an’ have eyes in th’ back of yore head. Straddle, boys." The crowd scattered as the mounted punchers moved their ponies about, to open a clear space. Hopalong met the eye of the hunchback, whose clear, shrewd glance recognized the master of the moment. "Screechy! that pinto ’s a-waitin’ for you an’ if any son-of-a-gun gets there first, _you_ won’t need no bracelets. Git!" Struggling between indecision and duty, the deputy saw the group of punchers, the pinto in advance, turn into the Twin River trail. "Looky here!" he began fiercely to Hopalong, "’pears to me—" "Bah! Tell it to Schatz"; and Hopalong sprang up the steps, followed by Tex, to the outspoken regret of Wayback’s citizens there assembled. CHAPTER XXIV THE REBELLION OF COCK MURRAY The buckboard, wheeling off the trail, was lost to view almost as soon as Murray saw it. Rose and Margaret he had recognized at a glance but whose figure had been the second in the wagon? Suddenly misgiving assailed him. Forgetting Hopalong and his orders, he turned and followed them. Every step of his horse increased his anxiety and urged him forward; and twin-born with it smouldered a growing anger that held him back: he hesitated to have his fears confirmed in the presence of two women, one of whom—well, that was done with but it had left a scar that was beginning to throb again with the old pain. He rode slowly but gaining steadily on the trio ahead. When they reached the cabin, Rose called; receiving no answer she was about to go for help when she saw Murray and pointed to him. Margaret motioned and he hurried to obey the summons.