The cattle barons branded him a thief, but his neighbors, many of them recognized as fair-minded, honest men, even by the said “barons,” declare that he was not a thief, but an honest, hard-working and conscientious citizen; that his life’s blood was wanted, not because he would steal cattle, but because his testimony, if given in court, would send two or more of the members of the robber gang to the gallows or to prison for cold-blooded crimes committed. Remembering that these people who thus think and talk have never committed a crime or broken a law of the state, and remembering also that murder, arson, body burning and many attempts to murder are known to lie against the cattlemen engaged in the raid, it seems impossible not to accept the verdict of Champion’s neighbors in preference to that of his murderers. The great body of the people have already decided this question and the decision is recorded in Champion’s favor. Nathan D. Champion was born in the country, seven miles from Round Rock, Williamson County, Texas, September 29th, 1857, being the sixth son of Jack Champion and Naomi Standerfer. The family is an old and well connected one, with no scandal attached to its record. By a second marriage of Nate’s father there are six sons, making twelve in all, beside six daughters, or a family of eighteen. Nate and his brother Dudley have been in Johnson County for a number of years, coming up with Texas cattle and serving as top hands on many of the big ranches. Nick Ray was a Missourian, who came to Wyoming as a cowboy and has done faithful work in that line for years. He was blackballed by the stockmen, but his neighbors say unjustly. CHAPTER VI. THE MARCH TO THE “TA” RANCH--INCIDENTS BY THE WAY--PREPARING FOR A SIEGE.