The marshal's wife, a thin, worried-looking woman, apologized for the untidy condition of her home, the reason for which she wished to make obvious. She was of the type which Shoop designated to himself as "vinegar and salt." "Reckon I better go in first, Annie?" "No." And Mrs. Adams opened the door indicated by the other woman. Shoop caught a glimpse of a white face. The door closed softly. Shoop turned to Ramon. "Let's go take a smoke, eh?" Ramon led the way down the street and on out toward the desert. At the edge of town, he paused and pointed across the spaces. "It was out there, señor. I found him. The others were not found until the morning. I did not know that they were there." "The others? How many?" "Three. One will live, but he will never ride again. The others, High of the Chin and his brother, were buried by the marshal. None came to claim them." "Were you in it?" "No, señor. It was alone that Señor Jim fought them. He followed them out there alone. I come and I ask where he is gone. I find him that night. I do not know that he is alive." "What became of his horse?" "Dex he come back with no one on him. It is then that I tell Dex to find for me the Señor Jim." "And he trailed back to where Jim went down, eh? Uh-uh! I got a dog myself." "Will the Señor Jim ride again?" queried Ramon. "I dunno, boy, I dunno. But if you and me and the doc and the señora--and mebby God--get busy, why, mebby he'll stand a chance. How many times was he hit?" "Two times they shot him." "Two, eh? Well, speakin' from experience, they was three mighty fast guns ag'in' him. Say five shots in each gun, which is fifteen. And he had to reload, most-like, for he can empty a gun quicker than you can think. Fifteen to five for a starter, and comin' at him from three ways to once. And he got the whole three of 'em! Do you know what that means, boy? But shucks! I'm forgettin' times has changed. How they been usin' you down here?" "I am sleep in the hay by Dex." "Uh-uh. Let that rest. Mebby it's a good thing, anyhow. Got any money?" "No, señor. I have use all." "Where d' you eat?" "I have buy the can and the crackers at the store." "Can and crackers, eh? Bet you ain't had a square meal for a week. But we'll fix that. Here, go 'long and buy some chuck till I get organized." "Gracias, señor. But I can pray better when I do not eat so much." "Good Lord! But, that's some idee! Well, if wishin' and hopin' and such is prayin', I reckon Jim'll pull through. I reckon it's up to the missus now." "Lorry is not come?" "Nope. Couldn't get to him. When does the mail go out of this bone-hill?" "I do not know. To-morrow or perhaps the next day." "Uh-uh. Well, you get somethin' to eat, and then throw a saddle on Dex and I'll give you a couple of letters to take to The Junction. And, come to think, you might as well keep right on fannin' it for Stacey and home. They can use you over to the ranch. The missus and me'll take care of Señor Jim."