Surrounding the cabin, Hale waited, and on top of the mountain, above Lonesome Cove, the Red Fox sat waiting and watching through his big telescope. Through it he saw Bad Rufe step outside the door at daybreak and stretch his arms with a yawn, and he saw three men spring with levelled Winchesters from behind a clump of bushes. The woman shot from the door behind Rufe with a pistol in each hand, but Rufe kept his hands in the air and turned his head to the woman who lowered the half-raised weapons slowly. When he saw the cavalcade start for the county seat with Rufe manacled in the midst of them, he dropped swiftly down into Lonesome Cove to tell Judd that Rufe was a prisoner and to retake him on the way to jail. And, as the Red Fox well knew would happen, old Judd and young Dave and two other Tollivers who were at the cabin galloped into the county seat to find Rufe in jail, and that jail guarded by seven grim young men armed with Winchesters and shot-guns. Hale faced the old man quietly--eye to eye. “It's no use, Judd,” he said, “you'd better let the law take its course.” The old man was scornful. “Thar's never been a Tolliver convicted of killin' nobody, much less hung--an' thar ain't goin' to be.” “I'm glad you warned me,” said Hale still quietly, “though it wasn't necessary. But if he's convicted, he'll hang.” The giant's face worked in convulsive helplessness and he turned away. “You hold the cyards now, but my deal is comin'.” “All right, Judd--you're getting a square one from me.” Back rode the Tollivers and Devil Judd never opened his lips again until he was at home in Lonesome Cove. June was sitting on the porch when he walked heavy-headed through the gate. “They've ketched Rufe,” he said, and after a moment he added gruffly: “Thar's goin' to be sure enough trouble now. The Falins'll think all them police fellers air on their side now. This ain't no place fer you--you must git away.” June shook her head and her eyes turned to the flowers at the edge of the garden: “I'm not goin' away, Dad,” she said. XXVI