"I aim to," smiled the Texan, and Grimshaw noted that behind the smile was a ring of determination. "So you've be'n kind of--of lookin' out fer her, Cass?" "Who the hell was they to do it, but me?" answered the man, roughly, "McWhorter's busy up to the lambin'-camp, miles away--an' she's there alone." The man paused, his face working strangely, "By God! If Purdy'd laid a finger on her I'd of--of _tore him to pieces_!" The Texan stared--surprised at the terrible savagery of the tone. The man continued, his voice dropped low: "It was that that outlawed me, years ago--killin' the damn reptile that ruined my little girl. I stood by the law, them days. He was arrested an' had his trial--an' they give him a year! _One year for that!_ She died before he was out--her, an' the baby both. An' he died _the day he got out_--an' I was outlawed--an' I'm damn proud of it!" The Texan reached out and gripped the man's hand: "I'm goin' after Purdy now," he said quietly. "But first, I'll help you with him." It was but the work of a few moments to raise the body of Long Bill to the bench by means of a rope, carry it to a nearby mud crack, drop it in and cave a ton of mud onto it. As they raised him from the coulee Grimshaw had removed his guns: "Better take one of these along," he cautioned, "Purdy packs two--one inside his shirt--an' the dirty hound carries a squeezer in his pocket--don't play him fer dead till he's damn good an' dead, or he'll git you. Better let me an' Bill go along--there's four of 'em--we'll leave Purdy fer you--he's the only one that kin shoot right good--but the others might edge in on you, at that." The Texan shook his head as he examined the guns, carefully testing them as to action and balance. He selected one, and handed the other to Grimshaw. "No, Cass, this is my job an' I'm goin' through with it." The outlaw gave minute directions concerning the lay of the land, and a few words of excellent advice. "I've got a little scoutin' around to do first," he concluded, "but sometime along in the afternoon me an' Bill will drift around that way to see how you're gittin' along. If they should happen to git you don't worry--me an' Bill, we'll take care of what's left of 'em." The Texan swung into the saddle: "So long, Cass." "So long, boy. Good luck to you--an' remember to watch Purdy's other hand." CHAPTER XXIII CINNABAR JOE TELLS A STORY Before Cinnabar Joe could fire again at the fleeing Purdy, his wife reached the door of the cabin and knocked his gun-barrel up so that the bullet sped harmlessly into the air. "Don't! Don't Joe!" she screamed, "he said--there was others, an' they'd----" "I don't care a damn what he said! If the others don't spill it, he will. It ain't no use, an' I'd ruther git it over with."