"No," he said, "I never heard of the Bassetts till I asked about the Basin in Tonto. And I never heard of the Scarboroughs until the livery-stable keeper recommended them highly as Southern gentlemen. It appears he was mistaken, for I never met men yet who were their match for out-and-out insolence; but did it ever occur to you that a man might be going through here on business that concerned no one but himself? You have been connected with the Bassetts, and the Scarboroughs have trapped you--very well, join whichever side you will. But I for one will never join either, for I know what these family feuds lead to. I have seen whole counties plunged into a war that has lasted for twenty years; I have seen brave men--yes, and women and children, too--shot down and their murderers unpunished. I left my own home to escape just such conditions as these Scarboroughs are trying to bring on, and, without professing any knowledge of the rights of the matter, I maintain that both sides are wrong. Whatever their differences they should endeavor to reconcile them before things have gone too far; for after the first shot, after the first man has been killed, his blood will cry out for more. Then brother must avenge brother and fathers their sons; and so on forever, as far as I know, or until God performs some miracle. And you, my friend, if you will take my advice, will withdraw from this quarrel now; because after the first bloodshed it will be too late--you cannot desert your friends. I know whereof I speak, for I come from Kentucky where there is never an end to these wars; and so I entreat you, for you seem a good man, to flee from this feud while you can." "For cripes' sake," muttered Meshackatee, "we must have caught a preacher." And then he raised his voice. "It's all right, boys!" he bellowed. "Come on in and turn us loose. He's nothing but a Christian gentleman." The stone against the doorway was thrown back with a thud and the Scarboroughs stepped in again, grinning. CHAPTER III THE NEUTRALS It was the evident purpose of the Scarboroughs to gloss over their misdemeanors by an affectation of jovial good-humor, but the victim of the jest sat back with narrowed eyes while he glanced from them to Meshackatee. "Oh, I see," he said, with a mirthless smile, "this is supposed to be a joke." "That's the idea," responded Meshackatee, "but it didn't work out. We thought all the time you was a Bassett." "And if I had been?" inquired Hall, and Isham looked up from where he was untying the ropes. "We'd a stretched your damned neck," he replied succinctly. "Plain shooting is too good for them rascals." "And what now?" went on the stranger, "do I get my horse back, with an apology for all this rough treatment; or must I----" "You do not!" returned Isham. "We don't apologize to nobody. You're lucky to git off alive." "Very well," answered Hall, and the tone of his voice suggested reprisals to come.