"Oh, that preacher guy!" observed the sheepman sarcastically. "Well, what are _you_ doing up here?" "I'm a deputy sheriff," retorted McIvor. "What does your business happen to be?" "A de-puty sheriff!" whooped Grimes. "Hey, boys; here's a deputy sheriff!" He laughed and the gang of make-believe Apaches came riding up to join him. "Seems to amuse them," remarked Hall, and Meshackatee muttered an oath while the Bassetts looked on in grim silence. "Bunch of Mormons," growled Winchester, "rigged out with horsetails and handkerchiefs--kinder reminds me of the Mountain Meadow massacre." "All the same," spoke up Meshackatee, "we might use the danged jaspers. Git 'em to go down and clean up on the Scarboroughs!" "Why not?" chimed in Hall. "This is no time for petty differences. Shall I tell them we'll give back their horses?" "Sure," replied Meshackatee, "but they've got to prove ownership. Otherwise they'll claim the whole band. Go down and see what you can do." Hall swung up on his horse and rode down the trail, and as he came up to the Mormons they reined to one side, leaving Grimes to do the talking. "How'd do, Mr. Hall," he began, "do you know anything about our horses? So you're a deputy sheriff, hey?" "Yes, I'm a deputy sheriff," answered McIvor evenly, "and I can't see that it's in any way a joke. There are three more officers up there in the rocks, and I'd advise you to show a little more respect." "Oh, certainly!" mocked Grimes, "you're jest the _hombres_ we're looking for. A big gang of horse-thieves has been raiding our ranches and driving off our stock for a month. Not gitting any protection we have organized to run 'em down and hang every scoundrel we can ketch; but now, of course, all we have to do is to report our losses to _you_!" "Yes, that's right," said Hall, "just give me a list of the animals, so there won't be any mistake." "Any mistake!" repeated Grimes. "Well, by grab, it seems to me you look more like a horse-thief than we do. How's the Scarborough boys gitting along these days? But I believe you was staying with the Bassetts?" "Yes, I was staying with the Bassetts," replied Hall. "Anything more you'd like to know?" "I asked you," sneered Grimes, who seemed determined to pick a quarrel, "how your friends, the Scarboroughs, are gitting along." "Why, not so well," returned McIvor. "Red was killed only this morning. It was a case of resisting arrest." "Killed!" cried Grimes, and then he spurred forward and held out a hairy hand. "By hooky," he exclaimed, "I sure apologize, Mr. Hall, for any little thing I may have said. I'm sure glad to meet you, and my friends and neighbors here will be proud to shake your hand." He introduced the Mormon ranchmen, most of whom had laid off their disguise, and then returned to the matter at hand.