“Sanchez, throw their guns on the ground!” ordered Nabours suddenly. The young lieutenant nodded. “Don’t move, any of you, or we’ll have to shoot.” Quietly he sat his motionless horse while the old Mexican, dismounting, walked to each saddle of the herd cutters and, drawing out each rifle, threw it and the man’s pistols in a heap on the ground. “What does this mean?” demanded the burly leader of the invaders, still blustering. “We’re here peaceable. We’ve broke no law. We’re only after our own property that these men are about to drive out of the country.” “Back to Austin!” replied the armed youth tersely. “If there’s a court left worth the name I’m going to get justice for you some time, Mr. Rudabaugh.” “What on earth do you mean by that?” rejoined the ruffian. “We got papers to take up cows in these brands. Looky here. Don’t you never think you can hold up a state officer of Texas! I’ll have you damned rangers disbanded!” “All right,” replied the youngster. “We ain’t disbanded yet.” “But look here!” The leader produced from the long tin case at his cantle a series of papers purporting to be brand descriptions and authorizations. The impassive young lieutenant shuffled them through, his rifle across his saddle. “Yes?” said he. “Brands? What brands? Gonzales County? How old is the Six Slash E in Gonzales?” “Twelve years,” asserted the chief of the interlopers. “You’re a liar, Mister Treasurer,” smiled the boy. “There isn’t and never was any such brand in Gonzales. I think your names are forged. What are you doing in here, so far south?” The partisan showed a sudden perturbation in his eyes. “Well, who are you?” he demanded. “You seem to know mighty much for a upstart. I tell you, I’ll have you and your robbers all disbanded!” “Never mind! I just happened to meet up with these other boys. You ride along as far as Austin and rest your hat there a while. We’ll see what the court says, if there are any courts now. You’ve worked this range long enough and close enough.” The youth never lost his calm. “You’ll wish you’d never pulled this sort of play with me!” flared Rudabaugh. “I’ve got friends——” “Yes, the state treasurer does have friends. Don’t you steal enough that way, in your river-improvement ring and your other deals, without coming away south to rob a girl? What grudge you got against her or against her family? I wouldn’t let you cut that herd if I knowed it was full of brands besides the T.L.” “You’re getting out of your depth now, young fellow,” sneered Rudabaugh. “What’s more, this is Caldwell and not Gonzales. You got no right to arrest anybody here.” “As a state Ranger I shore have. I’m nastier to run on than any carpetbag sheriff that tallies in at Austin. “Take them in, boys,” he concluded. “Work the old _ley fuga_ if they break—but they’re damned cowards and will go quiet. Just make them ride in front.