Johnny went on, bit by bit, until he had not only divulged his information, but had convinced the attorney of the conclusions he had drawn. “Can I be wrong, Jim?” Johnny asked when he had finished. “I don’t think so. But you’ve got a house of cards. One absolutely provable fact is all you need to make your evidence steel proof. I’m willin’ to go ahead. I know Roddy, he ought to be recalled. Lord know’s you’ve got more than enough to arrest them on suspicion, but I wouldn’t do it that way. Charge Gallup with it. Facts come out in a trial that you never dream of. We’ll arrest the whole clique—Gallup, Gale, Kent, and even the Indian.” “I don’t want Kent charged with murder,” Johnny stated. “Can’t we scare him into turning on Gallup? Aaron’s the boy at the bottom of this pile.” “If you feel that way about it, Johnny, why not wait? Gallup will trip up if you give him time. Kent may put himself in the clear.” “No waitin’ now, Jim. Trouble has caught right up with us. Roddy, Kent, Gallup and some deputy are out gunning for me. They’ve got a warrant chargin’ me with abductin’ Miss Molly. Havin’ done it once, they’ve framed me into it again. It’s just a game. They’ve taken the girl themselves. If Roddy gits a gun on me and I move a finger—good night—I’m a dead man.” Kelsey was on his feet. “We’ll go. You get Ritter, maybe Scanlon, too. I’ll be at the hotel in fifteen minutes at the latest.” “Come armed,” Johnny warned. “This is goin’ to be a battle. Gale is no doubt on the Reservation. Gallup will bump him off if he gits a chance. The same goes for the chief. It’s a nice little way to shut men’s mouths. If we lose Gale or the Injun, we’re stuck.” “That is not what I’m afraid of,” Kelsey answered. “Gallup is over his head in going to Elk Valley. Thunder Bird has more power than you suspect. Gallup has humiliated and shamed him. It’s the one thing the old buck won’t overlook. You could put a regiment of troops in Elk Valley and Gallup would still be in danger. When it comes to a matter of tribal honor—look out! You can talk all you want to about civilization and its effect on the poor, downtrodden Indian; but he’s got a kick left in him still. Four or five men are all we need.” “That’ll be you, me, Doc Ritter, Scanlon, and Charlie Paul. We’ll be ready when you git there.” It happened, however, that when Kelsey rode up Vin had not returned with Charlie and Johnny’s horse. A few minutes later, though, they arrived. The delay had allowed a crowd to form, for, in spite of Johnny’s demand for secrecy, the news that a posse was being organized had spread. Heavily armed, the five men rode out of the Rock. Soon after the town was left behind, Kelsey held up his hand and brought them to a stop.