“It isn’t necessary for him to say anything about Nate, Perry,” returned the scout. “We’ll prove Nate’s innocence in another way. Anyhow, from the very facts of the case, it’s certain Red Steve had nothing to do with what happened to Jake Phelps. Red Steve was wounded by Red Thunderbolt several hours before that attack was made on Jake. That eliminates Red Steve.” A broken cry escaped Mrs. Dunbar. “Cheer up, Mrs. Dunbar!” said the scout reassuringly. “Nate will be freed of all suspicion absolutely. Just be patient.” “I said all along,” scowled Phelps, “that Red Steve wasn’t the one who made that attack on Jake.” “So did I,” seconded the sheriff. “But you said it was Nate, you fellows,” put in the scout, “and that’s where you were wrong.” “I’ll believe it when you prove it,” said Phelps, with a glaring look at Dunbar. “Hist!” breathed the doctor. All eyes turned to Red Steve. He was staring upward into the doctor’s face. It was plain to every one that he had not many minutes to live--perhaps not many seconds. “Steve!” called Lige Benner, bending down. “Don’t you know me?” “Share I know ye,” was the gruff response--as gruff, at least, as a feeble voice could make it. “Tell these people,” went on Benner, “who it was shot Ace Hawkins!” “It won’t do me any hurt ter tell that, I reckon,” answered Red Steve stumblingly. “Ye got it out o’ me at the ranch, Benner, an’ ye turned me adrift. It was yer fiend of a brother that put me up ter it. Jerry Benner said fer me ter do it. He didn’t think Hawkins was actin’ right, Jerry didn’t. He thought Hawkins was playin’ double with him an’ Lige. Lige said he wouldn’t stand fer no shootin’, but Jerry says fer me ter go ahead an’ never mind Lige. So I did, an’ it was me bored Hawkins.” “And I didn’t have a thing to do with it?” demanded Benner. “Nary a thing. Ye didn’t know it was done till ye found it out from Jerry. Then ye fired me. I expected ye would send me ter Hackamore, an’ hey me put in the lockup, an’ tried, so I hoofed it away from ther Circle-B. Then--then I met that ther horned killer in the road. I was on foot an’ couldn’t git away. He come at me--an’ right thar’s whar I got my gruel. I heered some’un in the trail behind me, an’ I was afeared it mout be some’un chasin’ arter me, so I crawled inter the gully, an’ ter this place.” Red Steve sank back weakly. Once more Bloom’s flask was used, and he revived a little. “Wild Bill Hickok,” went on Red Steve painfully, “has done a heap fer me sence he located me hyer last night. He ain’t got no cause ter think much o’ me, but he done all a feller could ter bring me back ter y’arth.” “I wanted to save you for the law, Steve,” said Wild Bill. “I know what ye wanted, but--I--fooled--” He paused and pulled himself together with a fierce effort. “I fooled the law,” he finished. “Allers--allers knowed I--I would.” Then, again, he dropped back. The doctor’s fingers touched his pulse.