He grinned to himself. He had carried it off and besides he had learned one important thing. Every cow-puncher in the bunk house had cowered away from the killers except Maverick Ed Stone and two punchers by the names of "Flat-foot" and "Snoots" Stevens. At least he had learned that these three had nerve and were not friends of the McGills'. He was glad of this, for he felt that before many days passed, he would have need of men with nerve to help him. Spur Treadwell looked through the bunk-house door and said shortly: "Time for yuh boys who is ridin' to-night to get started." Several riders, among whom was Shorty, arose grumblingly to their feet and, taking coats and hats from pegs, went outside. Allen drifted out after them. He saw that four of the gunmen were also assigned to night herding. "Where yuh goin'" he asked, as he watched Shorty and three other riders as they saddled their horses. "The Double R cows is shrinkin' like snowballs in hell--so a dozen of the boys is put ridin' the range to keep the herd from shrinkin' complete," Shorty explained. "Spur is sure gettin' ready to go on the prod," another rider said with a laugh. "Yuh let me go with yuh?" Allen asked. After a moment's protest, Shorty agreed to allow the boy to accompany him. After Allen had retrieved his gun and shoulder holster, he saddled his gray and he and Shorty rode south from the ranch. There was a quarter moon, and the whole plain was covered with a deceptive light. "Why for don't Spur go an' talk personal with this Boston Jack?" Allen asked. "He done it just after ol' man Reed was downed, but didn't find nothin' a-tall. Boston just laughed at him--but one of his riders gets hot under the collar an' talks war to Sandy McGill, who drops him pronto. Just the same, I'm plumb curious an' I figger on amblin' some night into the Hard Pan an' havin' a look. Spur puts them gunmen of hisn over that way--but I don't trust them gents none a-tall!" "Spur gets 'em after the old man is downed?" Allen asked. "Naw, the old man gets 'em up from the border a couple of weeks afore he stops lead. Funny how he was wanderin' about by hisself when he runs into them rustlers what downed him. Yep, it's sure funny, 'cause I hears he hires them McGills as personal bodyguards. It would 'a' been positively ludicrous if Spur hadn't been there," Shorty said reflectively. "What yuh mean--Spur bein' there?" Allen encouraged. "'Cause I don't trust them McGills a-tall. But Spur is white an' ain't the sort to have no truck with rustlers. Then, besides, he's got money. An' ain't he goin' to marry Dot Reed? So he ain't goin' to steal what will be hisn some day," Shorty explained, as he deftly rolled a cigarette. Their horses slid into a deep wash floored with boulders. After they had picked their way across and climbed the opposite bank, Allen started to ply Shorty with questions again. "I hears Dot was goin' to marry this Slivers person?" he said.