I'll
stay at this end. Keep your arms folded. Haines, you stand over there
an' count up to three. Then holler: 'Fire!' an' we'll turn an' start
shootin'. The rest of you c'n be judge if that's fair."
"Too damned fair," said Kilduff. "I say: String him up an' drill the
skunk full of holes."
Without a word Buck turned on his heel.
"One moment," said Haines.
"He ain't your meat, Lee," said Silent. "Jest keep your hand out of
this."
"I only wish to ask him a question," said Haines. He turned to Buck:
"Do you mean to say that after Barry's wolf cut up your arm, you've
been giving Whistling Dan a shelter from the law--and from us?"
"I give him a place to stay because he was damned near death," said
Buck. "An' there's one thing you'll answer for in hell, Haines, an'
that's ridin' off an' leavin' the man that got you out of Elkhead. He
was bleedin' to death."
"Shot?" said Haines, changing colour.
Silent broke in: "Buck, go take your place and say your prayers."
"Stay where you are!" commanded Haines. "And the girl?"
"He was lyin' sick in bed, ravin' about 'Delilah' an' 'Kate.' So I
come an' got the girl."
Haines dropped his head.
"An' when he was lyin' there," said Silent fiercely, "you could of
made an' end of him without half liftin' your hand, an' you didn't.
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