"Now, then, you fellows! Begin at the beginning. Hales, you didn't know Adam, so you won't be so bad broke up as the others. Suppose you tell us what you know. Wait a minute. Sam, you be saddling up a horse for me. Now, Mr. Hales?" "We were looking out for that gang of saddle thieves. Went up 'Pache Cañon. Along in the park we saw tracks where two shod horses turned down into Redgate, and we followed them up. One of 'em had been chasing a bunch of cattle--or so we thought, though we didn't notice that part very close, having no particular reason for it then. We'd looked through two-three bunches of cattle ourselves earlier, for Jody's stuff." "Yes, and you had breakfast, likely--but what do I care? You get on with your story." "Say, old man," said Hales in some exasperation, "if you don't want this man caught, I'm satisfied. It's nothing to me. I didn't know Forbes. If you want this friend of yours to get away, I'm willing to get down and stay all night. You're pretty overbearing with your little old shotgun." He made as if to dismount. "Oh, I wouldn't do that," said Pete mildly. "Look at your friends, first. They're just as overborne as you are, likely--but you notice they are not making any complaints. They know me, you see. They know how Adam Forbes stood in Garfield, and what kind of folks live in Garfield; and they know that whoever killed Adam is in trouble up to his neck. You mustn't mind our little ways. However, as the witness is peeved, we'll try another. Jody, speak up and tell us." "You act like we was under suspicion," sneered Hales. "Sure, you're under suspicion! What do you expect? Everybody's under suspicion till we find the right man. I'm going to send word up and down to hold all strangers. That part is all right. Hello, Jerome! You missed most of the evidence! I'll tell you about it as we go up." "Now why the little gun?" said Jerome Martin, tranquilly. "Been holding an election. Now, Jody--your little piece." "There's not much to tell. We found Adam's body a little ways down the cañon, maybe a quarter or a little more; and just this side of it we found where a yearling had been branded, or a big calf; ashes still warm. Looks just like this fellow had been stealing one of Adam's calves, and Adam caught him at it." "But you said Adam was shot in the back at close range," objected Charlie. "Adam Forbes wouldn't turn his back to any man, under those circumstances. That won't work."